Crossword Genius

The fighting force first needing soldiers to get electronic device (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thermistor

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'electronic device' is the definition.
'thermistor' can be an answer for 'device' (thermistor is a kind of device). I'm not sure about the 'electronic' bit.

'the fighting force first needing soldiers' is the wordplay.
'the fighting force' becomes 'therm' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles tst).
'needing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'soldiers' becomes 'OR' (military abbreviation for other ranks).
'therm'+'ist'+'or'='THERMISTOR'

'to get' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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