cannon fodder

Cannon fodder is an informal, derogatory term for combatants who are regarded or treated by government or military command as expendable in the face of enemy fire. The term is generally used in situations where combatants are forced to fight against hopeless odds in an effort to achieve a strategic goal; an example is the trench warfare of World War I. The term may also be used to differentiate infantry from other forces, or to distinguish expendable low-grade or inexperienced combatants from more militarily valuable veterans.