I have no problem (while I consider it a bit like cheating, but sometimes I need it to try and refine some tactics) saving the game the current way. Save and exit, copy the saved game's folder, paste it somewhere else.
In italy it is called "being able to take your finger out of your ***"... sorry, a terrible image, i know
For the unit dismissal, there's the mod, but really I never had so much problem suiciding my chaff somewhere
