понедельник, 29 сентября 2008 г.

Where to enlist ?

Aubagne 0
13998, Marseille Armйe - Quartier Viénot,
BP 38


Bordeaux
33800 - 260, rue Pelleport


Lille
59998 Lille Armee- Caserne Négrier


Lyon
69998 - Quartier Général Frère


Marseille
13007 - La Maimousque - 18, chemin du Génie


Nantes
44998 - Quartier Desgrées du Lou, 110, rue Gambetta


Nice
06300 - Caserne Filey - 02, rue Sinclaire


Paris
94120, Fontenay-sous-Bois - Fort de Nogent


Perpignan
66020 - Caserne Joffre - rue Jean Vielledent, BP 917


Strasbourg
67000 - Quatier Lecourbe, 1, rue d'Ostende


Toulouse
31998, Toulouse Armйe - Caserne Prignon, avenue Camille Pujol, BP 22

Pay

During your first years as a legionnaire, up to the rank of corporal (2 to 4 years), uniforms, meals and lodging are provided for you.



Starting wages : 1043 € / month fed and lodged.

Recrutement




Leave 45 working days in a year.



Examples of wages
(per month - Wages on November, 2007)

RANK SERVICE 1°RE 2°REP * 3°REI ** 13°DBLE ***
Legionnaire 10 months 1205 € 1460 € 1433 € 3567 €
Corporal 03 years 1226 € 1480 € 1452 € 3626 €
Senior corporal 10 years 1303 € 1607 € 1600 € 3939 €
Sergeant 7 years 1351 € 1648 € 1650 € 3929 €
Staff sergeant 10 years 1779 € 2095 € 1945 € 4186 €
Adjudant 17 years 2007 € 2140 € 2180 € 4748 €
Regimental sergeant major 21 years 2078 € 2427 € 2477 € 4818 €


Net pay (after various deductions, excluding social security deduction)

  • * Parachute bonus
  • ** Overseas allowance (French territories)
  • *** Overseas allowance (abroad)

Various compensations are added to the pay.

воскресенье, 28 сентября 2008 г.

Conditions for joining French Foreign Legion

You can only enlist in mainland France 

(Free board, lodging and clothing are immediately provided)
Preselection is carried out in our recruiting offices throughout France;
Selection is carried out in Aubagne near Marseille : 
psycho-technical tests
medical tests
sports tests (luc-leger "navette")
If your candidature is upheld, the first contract is minimum for 5 year
Successive contracts are for six months, up to 5 years


You must be successive contracts are for six months (for minors under 18, parental consent is required on a form available in French Gendarmeries or Embassies outside France) 
  
Whatever your marital status is (single, married, divorced..) you will be enlisted as a single man 
 
You must have a valid ID 

You must be physically fit to serve at all times and in all places 

 Chronological progression
Course of the candidatePhase Information Duration

In a legion Information Center 1 day
Reception Information
Constitution du dossier d'engagement
Preselection 1 to 3 days
In a legion Recruitment Center (Paris - Aubagne)
Confirmation of motivation Initial medical check-up Finalizing enlistment papers
Signing contract of service (5 years)
Selection 1 to 10 days
In the Center of Recruiting and Selection in Aubagne
Psychotechnical tests : 
logic tests, no education required
Thorough medical check-up Sports tests Motivation and security interviews
Personality tests (complementary to the psycho-technical tests)
Selection
Signing and handing-over of the contract of service (5 years). 7 days
Incorporation

Instruction programmePhase Basic training with the 4th foreign Regiment Duration

 Initial training.
Initiation to military lifestyle. Outdoor and field activities. Comradeship. Learning legion traditions. 4 weeks
March "Képi Blanc" and graduation ceremony. 1 week
Technical and practical training (alternatig barracks and field training) 3 weeks
Mountain training (Chalet at Formiguière in the French Pyrenees) 1 week
Technical and practical training (alternating barracks and field training) 2 weeks
Examinations and obtaining of the elementary technical certificate (CTE) 1 week
March ending basic training 1 week
Light vehicle / trucks school 1 week
Return to Aubagne before reporting to the assigned regiment 1 week
Reporting to one of the 11 regiments of the foreign Legion. 

суббота, 27 сентября 2008 г.

Legionnairès code of honour

Article 1

Legionnaire,
you are a volunteer,
serving France with
honour and fidelity .

Recrutement


Article 2

Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show to him the same close solidarity that links the members the same family.

Recrutement


Article 3

You respect your traditions and your superiors. Discipline and friendship are your strengths. Courage and honesty are your virtues.

Recrutement


Article 4

You are proud of being a legionnaire. You are always well mannered and smart. Your behaviour is of the best. You are always modest and your quarters are always clean and tidy.

Recrutement

Article 5

You are an elite soldier
who is rigorous with himself.
You consider your weapon as your most precious possession.
You constantly maintain your physical fitness.

Recrutement


Article 6

Your mission is sacred. It is carried out until the end, in respect of the law, the customs of war International Conventions, if needs be, at the risk of your own life.

Recrutement

Article 7

In combat you act without passion or hatred. You respect vanquished enemies. You never surrender
your dead,
your wounded,
or your weapons.

Recrutement

пятница, 26 сентября 2008 г.

The French Foreign Legion today

A total strength of 7699 men, made up of 413 officers, 1741 N.C.O.S. and 5545 legionnaires divided into 11 regimental formations.

Be a part of the news that makes the headlines !

By joining the French Foreign Legion, you are sure to be a part of the news that makes the headlines either in France on manoeuvres, or on external operations in French territories abroad... (French Guyana, New Caledonia, Mayotte, la Reunion, the French West Indies...)

Recrutement
Recrutement
Recrutement

External operations

Whether restoring or keeping the peace, or exercising crowd control, the Legion has been able to adapt to all situations in all theatres of conflict (the Gulf War of 1990-1991; Kampuchea, Somalia in 1992-1993; Rwanda in 1994; Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia in 1993 to 2003; Central African Republic in 1996...)

Recrutement
Recrutement


Today, the legionnaires are engaged in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Chad, the Ivory Coast and anywhere else they might be needed by France.


The legionnaire's code of honor guides him wherever he may be asked to serve, in France or on operations abroad.

Recrutement
Recrutement

среда, 24 сентября 2008 г.

Disbanded unit and attempted coup

The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1e Régiment Étranger Parachutiste, 1e REP) was established in 1955 during the Algerian War and disbanded in April 1961 as the entire regiment rose against the French government of Charles de Gaulle (Algiers Putsch), in protest against moves to negotiate an end to the Algerian War.

Following Algerian Independence in 1962, the Legion was reduced in numbers but not disbanded like most other units comprising the Armée d’Afrique: Zouaves, Tirailleurs, Meharistes, Harkis, Goums, Chasseurs d'Afrique and all but one of the Spahi regiments). The intention seems to have been to retain the Foreign Legion as a professional force which could be used for military interventions outside France and not involve the politically unpopular use of French conscripts. The subsequent abolition of conscription in France in 2001 and the creation of an entirely professional army might be expected to put the Legion's long-term future at risk, and indeed when Paris contributed a 2,000-strong contingent to the U.N. force in Lebanon in 2006, it included only 200 Legion engineers.

Current deployments

Paratroopers in Djibouti.
Paratroopers in Djibouti.

These deployments are current as of October 2007:

Note: English names for countries or territories are in parentheses.

Units
Acronym French Name English Meaning
CEA Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appuis Reconnaissance and Support Company
CAC Compagnie anti-char Anti-Tank Company
UCL Unité de commandement et de logistique Unit of Command and Logistics
EMT État-major tactique Tactical Command Post
NEDEX Neutralisation des explosifs Neutralization and Destruction of Explosives
OMLT Operational Monitoring and Liaison Team (The official name for this branch is in English)

Recruitment process

First Day - In a legion Information Center for Reception, Information, and Terms of contract

Preselection - 1 to 3 days In a legion Recruitment Center (Paris - Aubagne) for Confirmation of motivation, Initial medical check-up , finalizing enlistment papers, and signing 5 year service contract

Selection - 1 to 10 days In the Recruitment and Selection Center in Aubagne for Psychological tests, Personality tests (complementary to the psychological tests), logic tests (without minimum education requirements), medical exam and physical condition tests, motivation and security interviews, and finally confirmation or denial of selection.

Final Selection - 7 days Signing and handing-over of the five year service and Incorporation into the Legion as a trainee.

Legion basic training

Basic training is conducted in the 4th Foreign Regiment with a duration of 15 weeks:

  • Initial training of 4 weeks - initiation to military lifestyle; outdoor and field activities; learning legion traditions.
  • March "Képi Blanc" and graduation ceremony - 1 week.
  • Technical and practical training (alternating with barracks and field training) - 3 weeks.
  • Mountain training (Chalet at Formiguière in the French Pyrenees) - 1 week.
  • Technical and practical training (alternating barracks and field training) - 2 weeks.
  • Examinations and obtaining of the elementary technical certificate (CTE) - 1 week.
  • March ending basic training - 1 week.
  • Light vehicle / trucks school - 1 week.
  • Return to Aubagne before reporting to the assigned regiment - 1 week.

Recruitment chart

American poet Alan Seeger in his Legion uniform
American poet Alan Seeger in his Legion uniform

The following is a chart showing the national origin of the more than 600,000 Legionaries of the force from 1831 to 1961, which was compiled in 1963. It should be noted that, at a given moment, principal original nationalities of the foreign legion reflect the events in history at the time they join. The legion allows men to escape from the worries of war, especially if their native country has lost. The large numbers of Germans joining in the wake of WWII led to the misconception that the Legion was full of former Waffen SS and Wehrmacht personnel. It is not surprising to see that a large number of German enlistments in the period following WWII, but the figures do not show whether or not the post-WWI period had a similar boost. Bernard B. Fall, writing in the context of the First Indochina War, has called the notion that the Foreign Legion was mainly German at that time:

"a canard . . . with the sub variant that all those Germans were at least SS generals and other much wanted war criminals. As a rule, and in order to prevent any particular nation from making the Legion into a Praetorian guard, any particular national component is kept at about 25 percent of the total. Even supposing (and this was the case, of course) that the French recruiters, in the eagerness for candidates would sign up Germans enlisting as Swiss, Austrian, Scandinavian and other nationalities of related ethnic background, it is unlikely that the number of Germans in the Foreign Legion ever exceeded 35 percent. Thus, without making an allowance for losses, rotation, discharges, etc., the maximum number of Germans fighting in Indochina at any one time reached perhaps 7 000 out of 278 000. As to the ex-Nazis, the early arrivals contained a number of them, none of whom were known to be war criminals. French Intelligence saw to that. Since, in view of the rugged Indochinese climate, older men without previous tropical experience constituted more a liability than an asset, the average age of the Legion enlistees was about 23. At the time of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, any Legionnaire of that age group was at the worst, in his "Hitler Youth" shorts when the [Third] Reich collapsed. [5]

When looking at the overall recruitment chart, one must keep in mind that the Legion accepts people enlisting under a nationality that is not their own. The large number of Swiss and Belgians are actually more likely than not Frenchmen who wish to avoid detection.[6]

The amount of Germans in the Foreign Legion, especially in the past.

Rank ↓ Country of Origin ↓ Total numbers ↓
1 Germany 210000
2 Italy 60000
3 Belgium 50000
4 France 50000
5 Spain 40000
6 Switzerland 30000
7 Poland 10000
8 Russia 6000
9 Austria 5000
10 Hungary 4000
11 Greece 4000
12 Czechoslovakia 4000
13 Netherlands 3000
14 Yugoslavia 3000
15 Luxembourg 2300
16 United Kingdom 1500
17 Romania 1500
18 Portugal 1300
19 Denmark 1000
20 Turkey 1000
21 United States 700
22 Bulgaria 500
23 Finland 500
24 Sweden 500
25 Algeria 500
26 Vietnam 200
27 Morocco 200
28 Tunisia 200
29 Argentina 100
30 Brazil 100
31 Japan 100
32 Canada 100
33 Lithuania 100
34 Latvia 100
35 Norway 100
36 Egypt 100

Regarding recruitment conditions within the Foreign Legion, please see the official page (in English) dedicated to the subject: [1]. However, with regard to age limits, recruits can be accepted from ages ranging from 17 ½ (with parental consent) to 40 years old.

Uniforms

Légionnaires in modern dress uniform. Note the green and red epaulettes and the distinctive white kepi. They carry France's standard assault rifle, the FAMAS.
Légionnaires in modern dress uniform. Note the green and red epaulettes and the distinctive white kepi. They carry France's standard assault rifle, the FAMAS.

From its foundation until World War I the Legion wore the uniform of the French line infantry for parade with a few special distinctions. The field uniform was often modified under the influence of the extremes of climate and terrain in which the Legion served. Shakos were soon replaced by the light cloth kepi which was far more suitable for North African conditions. One short lived aberration was the wearing of green uniforms in 1856 by Legion units recruited in Switzerland for service in the Crimean War.

In the early 1900s the Legionnaire wore a red kepi with blue band and piping, dark blue tunic with red collar, red cuff patches, and red trousers. The most distinctive features were the green epaulettes (replacing the red of the line) worn with red woolen fringes; plus the embroidered Legion badge of a red flaming grenade, worn on the kepi front instead of a regimental number. In the field a light khaki cover was worn over the kepi, sometimes with a protective neck curtain attached. The standard medium-blue double breasted greatcoat (capote) of the French infantry was worn, usually buttoned back to free the legs for marching. Around the waist was a broad blue sash, copied from that of the Zouaves. The blue sash provided warmth and support as well as (supposedly) preventing intestine diseases. White linen trousers tucked into short leather leggings were substituted for red serge in hot weather. This was the origin of the "Beau Geste" image of the Legion.

In barracks a white bleached kepi cover was often worn together with a short dark blue jacket ("veste") or white blouse plus white trousers. The original kepi cover was khaki and due to constant washing turned white quickly. The white or khaki kepi cover was not unique to the Legion at this stage but was commonly seen amongst other French units in North Africa. It later became particularly identified with the Foreign Legion as the unit most likely to serve at remote frontier posts (other than locally recruited tirailleurs who wore fezzes or turbans). The variances of climate in North Africa led the French Army to the sensible expedient of letting local commanders decide on the appropriate "tenue de jour" (uniform of the day) according to circumstances. Thus a Legionnaire might parade or walk out in blue tunic and white trousers in hot weather, blue tunic and red trousers in normal temperatures or wear the blue greatcoat with red trousers under colder conditions. The sash could be worn with greatcoat, blouse or veste but not with the tunic. Epaulettes were a detachable dress item worn only with tunic or greatcoat for parade or off duty wear.

Officers wore the same dark blue (almost black) tunics as those of their colleagues in the French line regiments, except that black replaced red as a facing colour on collar and cuffs. Gold fringed epaulettes were worn for full dress and rank was shown by the number of gold rings on both kepi and cuffs. Trousers were red with black stripes or white according to occasion or conditions. All-white or light khaki uniforms (from as early as the 1890s) were often worn in the field or for ordinary duties in barracks.

Non-commissioned officers were distinguished by red or gold diagonal stripes on the cuffs of tunics, vestes and greatcoats. Small detachable stripes were buttoned on to the white shirt-like blouse.

Prior to 1914 units in Indo-China wore white or khaki Colonial Infantry uniforms with Legion insignia, to overcome supply difficulties. This dress included a white sun helmet of a model that was also worn by Legion units serving in the outposts of Southern Algeria, though never popular with the wearers.

During the initial months of World War I Legion units serving in France wore the standard blue greatcoat and red trousers of the French line infantry, distinguished only by collar patches of the same blue as the capote, instead of red. After a short period in sky-blue the Legion adopted khaki with steel helmets, from early 1916. A mustard shade of khaki drill had been worn on active service in Morocco from 1909, replacing the classic blue and white. The latter continued to be worn in the relatively peaceful conditions of Algeria throughout World War I, although increasingly replaced by khaki drill. The pre-1914 blue and red uniforms could still be occasionally seen as garrison dress in Algeria until stocks were used up about 1919.

During the early 1920s plain khaki drill uniforms of a standard pattern became universal issue for the Legion with only the red and blue kepi (with or without a cover) and green collar braiding to distinguish the Legionnaire from other French soldiers serving in North African and Indo-China. The neck curtain ceased to be worn from about 1915, although it survived in the newly raised Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment into the 1920s. The white blouse (bourgeron) and trousers dating from 1882 were retained for fatigue wear until the 1930s.

At the time of the Legion's centennial in 1931, a number of traditional features were reintroduced at the initiative of the then commander Colonel Rollet. These included the blue sash and green/red epaulettes. In 1939 the white covered kepi won recognition as the official headdress of the Legion to be worn on most occasions, rather than simply as a means of reflecting heat and protecting the blue and red material underneath. The 3rd REI adopted white tunics and trousers for walking out dress during the 1930s and all Legion officers were required to obtain full dress uniforms in the pre-war colours of black and red from 1932 to 1939.

During World War II the Legion wore a wide range of uniform styles depending on supply sources. These ranged from the heavy capotes and Adrian helmets of 1940 through to British battledress and US field uniforms from 1943 to 1945. The white kepi was stubbornly retained whenever possible.

The white kepis, together with the sash and epaulettes survive in the Legion's modern parade dress. Since the 1990s the modern kepi has been made wholly of white material rather than simply worn with a white cover. Officers and senior NCOs still wear their kepis in the pre-1939 colours of dark blue and red. A green tie and (for officers) a green waistcoat recall the traditional branch colour of the Legion. From 1959 a green beret became the ordinary duty headdress of the Legion, with the kepi reserved for parade and off duty wear. Other items of dress are the standard issue of the French Army. Officers seconded to the Foreign Legion retain one Legion button on the vests of their dress uniforms upon returning to their original regiments.

Equipment

Marching step

Also notable is the marching pace of the Legion. In comparison to the 120-step-per-minute pace of other French units, the Legion has an 88-step-per-minute marching speed. This can be seen at ceremonial parades and public displays attended by the Legion, particularly while parading in Paris on 14 July (Bastille Day). Because of the impressively slow pace, which Legionnaires refer to as the "crawl", the Legion is always the last unit marching in any parade. The Legion is normally accompanied by its own band which traditionally plays the march of any one of the regiments comprising the Legion, except that of the unit actually on parade. The regimental song of each unit and "Le Boudin" (commonly called the blood sausage or black pudding song) is sung by Legionnaires standing at attention. Also, because the Legion must always stay together, it doesn't break formation into two when approaching the presidential grandstand, as other French military units do, in order to preserve the unity of the Legion.

Contrary to popular belief, the adoption of the Legion's slow marching speed was not due to a need to preserve energy and fluids during long marches under the hot Algerian sun. Its exact origins are somewhat unclear, but the official explanation is that although the pace regulation does not seem to have been instituted before 1945, it hails back to the slow, majestic marching pace of the Ancien Régime, and its reintroduction was a "return to traditional roots". [7]

References in popular culture

The existence of the French Foreign Legion has led to a romantic view that it is a place for a wronged man to leave behind his old life to start a new one, but also that it is full of scoundrels and men escaping justice. This view of the legion is common in literature, and has been used for dramatic effect in many films, not the least of which are the several versions of Beau Geste.

See also

Notes

  1. Porch p. 2-4
  2. Porch p. 17-18
  3. "About the Legion". Retrieved on 2007-03-09.
  4. "Frequently Asked Questions About the Legion (French)". Retrieved on 2008-09-10.
  5. Bernard B. Fall, Street Without Joy, pp. 279-280
  6. Evan McGorman, Life in the French Foreign Legion, p. 21
  7. Szecsko, P.17

References

  • McGorman, Evan. Life in the French Foreign Legion: How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There. Hellgate Press, 2000. ISBN 1-55571-633-4
  • Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. ISBN 0-06-092308-3
  • The French Foreign Legion in Kolwezi Roger Rousseau, 2006. ISBN 2-9526927-1-8
  • Szecsko, Tibor. Le Grand Livre des Insignes de la Légion Etrangère. Aubagne, I.I.L.E / S.I.H.L.E, 1991. ISBN 2-9505938-0-1

External links

Books