Unit veterancy is also available, however I didn't find it made a huge impact. Maybe I just didn't notice the true effect those vets were having, or maybe I was using my vets as cannon fodder too much. New to the series is the inclusion of waypoints, and they are done extremely well. Instead of having the waypoints tied to a specific unit, the waypoints are tied to the ground. So you can tell any number of units to follow a specific waypoint path, without having to set the exact same path for each individual unit.
Units can attack, guard, explore, or just patrol.
Waypoints can be added, deleted, and moved with ease, making this one of the most intuitive waypoint systems made to date. Many times optional missions are available, which makes the following mission much easier. Reinforcements are sent mid-level at times, and objectives can change on the fly do to circumstances. It comes in both blue and green flavors now, with blue being worth more. NOD opts for more stealth units, like the subterranean APC, which can burrow underground and pop up anywhere.