I agree with Norfleet. These volunteers are a real pain in the neck. I suspect this is even true in real life
I find the trick is to recruit a low-cost local commander, bring them to the front and then send along as a missile screen to some battle, preferable with only one nation or two nations to run to.
I wish it would be possible to disband troops. A good solution would be one troop->one point of unrest. I find this realistic, even.