Certain military leader, informally

SARGE

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue:\n\n**\"Short for a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces.\"**\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the informal term for a military rank without directly repeating the original clue or giving away the answer. It narrows the focus to a specific type of leader while keeping it accessible."]

The clue **"Certain military leader, informally"** leads to the answer **"SARGE"** through the following breakdown: 1. **Military Leader**: The term refers to a high-ranking officer in the military, commonly a sergeant. 2. **Informally**: This indicates that the answer is a casual or shortened version of the formal term. 3. **Wordplay**: "Sarge" is a well-known informal abbreviation for "sergeant," a non-commissioned officer who often serves as a leader in military units. Thus, the clue cleverly combines the formal role ("military leader") with the informal abbreviation ("Sarge") to arrive at the answer.