Quote Originally Posted by 2E Phoinex View Post
Still, isn't the game flooded with 0th level soldiers and watchmen? The impression I've gotten from the rules is that an army of even 1st or 2nd level fighters should be considered an elite group indeed.
Yes. Most watchmen, guards, and even professional warriors are "0-level men" (who use that 0-level fighter attack row). This includes, for instance, all those mercenaries you can hire (1E DMG page 30, 2E DMG somewhere in there).

AD&D 1E DMG, page 30: "Note that regular soldiers are 0 level men-at-arms with 4-7 hit points each." Serjeants are 1st-level fighters, lieutenants are 2nd-3rd level fighters, and captains are 5th-8th level fighters.