Well you can make a new SimpleObject or Bundle and use new "StandardMesh" geometry template and reference to those same meshes the soldiers use.
However, you CAN NOT have a bundle/simple object or non AnimatedBundle object in general use a AnimatedMesh geometry. Because the createSkeleton command only works on animatedBundles and BFSoldiers. An animatedMesh geometry template requires that the host object define the matching skelelton for it or else it will appear all jumbled up ingame.
So you can't have a projectile or SimpleObject directly use an animatedMesh. So you must make a new geometry template that isn't a AnimatedMesh. But that new template can use the same file as the animatedMesh one with no problem.
I did that with a few of the animatedMeshes I made of some Mario Kart objects. Before I had the animations ready I simply made the templates standardMeshes and had no issue using them on normal objects. Of coarse now I have animations and the like, so they are animated meshes now.
BUT, you still have to go into max and separate out all the arms and legs into their own meshes as the arms/legs are part of the 3pBody mesh and are not separate objects.