The FFL is not cannon fodder. It is a crack infantry brigade and more. It is also one of the few places that will take people who have been living on the edge of society and give them a fresh start. In times past if you hit a rough patch in life or had a scrape with the law, you could just move and change your name. Not anymore.
The FFL is one of the very few exceptions. If your life is in the gutter and you want to hit the reset button, they will give you that chance.
That all said, they are simply not supported, are given sh*t assignments, and left to die if overrun. Cannon fodder. Romantic bravado aside.