A True Chain of Command: Integrating AI and Players into the Same Military Hierarchy

I believe Arma Reforger could become significantly more immersive if Conflict had a proper military chain of command where human players and AI soldiers existed within the same hierarchical structure.

The current HQ Commander system is a great step toward organized warfare, but I think the next step should be making the entire faction function as an actual military organization rather than having players and AI operate as partially separate systems.

The Core Idea

Instead of having AI simply act as additional soldiers controlled by players, AI should occupy positions within the same chain of command as human players.

For Ex:

1. HQ Commander

2. Platoon Commander

3. Platoon Leaders

4. Squad Leaders

5. Fireteam Leaders

6. AI

A server could therefore have a mixture of human and AI personnel at every level.

A squad could consist of:

• 1 Human Squad Leader

• 1 Human Fireteam Leader

• 2–3 Human Soldiers

• 5–8 AI Soldiers

Another squad could be completely AI-controlled if there are not enough players available.

AI Should Not Simply Follow the Nearest Player. The important part is that AI should understand the chain of command.

For example,

The Platoon Leader could then order:

"1st Squad — assault from the west."

"2nd Squad — establish a support position."

"3rd Squad — remain in reserve."

Squad Leaders would then distribute orders to their fireteams and soldiers.

This would create an actual command structure instead of having every player independently deciding what to do.

Human Players Should Be Able to Replace AI

One of the most interesting parts would be the ability for players to join an existing AI formation.

For Ex:

→ A squad is commanded by an AI Squad Leader.

→ A player joins the squad.

→ The player becomes a normal soldier under that AI leader and receives orders from it.

→ If the AI Squad Leader is killed, the highest-ranking surviving member could take command.

→ A human player could therefore naturally rise through the chain of command during a battle.

AI Units Should Have Their Own Missions

AI formations should not simply wait for players to tell them what to do.

Commanders could assign missions such as:

• Defend a position

• Attack an objective

• Establish a blocking position

• Conduct reconnaissance

• Patrol an area

• Escort a convoy

• Reinforce another unit

• Withdraw

• Establish a defensive line

• Recover a position

• Provide fire support

• Logistics Support

The AI should then attempt to accomplish the mission using its own decision-making.

Why This Could Be Important for Reforger

This could solve one of the biggest problems with large-scale multiplayer battles:

Not every server has enough players to create a complete military organization.

With AI filling the empty positions, a server with 30 players could still feel like a much larger military operation.

For example 30 Human Players + 70 AI

could potentially create:

1. 1 HQ Commander

2. 2 Platoon Leaders

3. 6 Squad Leaders

4. Multiple Fireteams

5. Support units

6. Recon elements

7. Logistics units

8. Reserve forces

The AI would essentially fill the gaps between human players.

The Long-Term Goal

The real potential is making AI become part of the military simulation itself.

Human players and AI should belong to the same organization, follow the same hierarchy, receive missions from the same command structure, use the same resources, and replace one another when casualties occur.

That would make a battlefield feel less like: "Players fighting alongside some AI."

And more like:

"A real military operation where humans and AI are both personnel within the same force."