noun
volunteer corps; military unit of volunteers for dangerous missions
Refers to a military or quasi-military unit formed by volunteers, often for high-risk tasks. The term carries a historical and somewhat formal tone, commonly appearing in accounts of wartime or special operations.
彼は挺身隊に志願して、危険な任務に就いた。
He volunteered for the volunteer corps and undertook dangerous missions.
戦時
During the war, many young people joined the volunteer corps.
特攻隊 specifically denotes a suicide attack unit, whereas 挺身隊 is a broader term for volunteer units, not necessarily suicide missions.
Composed of 挺身 (volunteering, offering oneself) and 隊 (corps, unit). The term emerged in military contexts to describe units formed by volunteers for hazardous duties.