X-Com Rookies
X-Com is not kind. Rookies are sort of like those throwaway melee units you have in RTS games. UFO Defense has a massive fatality rate, in that you WILL lose almost every unit after every engagement, unless by random chance or total technological superiority (or by reloading the game) you wipe out all alien forces before everyone dies. Unfortunately, raw recruits have horrible aim. Give them a bad weapon and it becomes even worse. Give them a low-tech explosive weapon and you can kiss the rest of your men goodbye.