boots on the ground

Etymology
First appears c. 1980 in the US. Attributed to the United States General Volney F. Warner, as quoted in the Christian Science Monitor (April 11, 1980) in reference to the Iranian hostage crisis:

Noun

 * 1)  The ground forces actually fighting in a war or conflict, rather than troops not engaged or other military action such as air strikes.
 * The Pentagon may say we have enough, but that's not what I'm hearing from the boots on the ground.
 * 1) The military policy of using ground forces.
 * 2)  Personnel operating in an area of interest.
 * 3)  The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.
 * 1)  Personnel operating in an area of interest.
 * 2)  The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.
 * 1)  The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.
 * 1)  The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.
 * 1)  The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.

Usage notes

 * Occasionally considered a form of dehumanizing language by some.