Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

So you’ve decided to run away and join the French Foreign Legion? Here’s how.
IO9 ^ | Dec 7, 2012 | Keith Veronese

Posted on 12/08/2012 1:18:07 PM PST by DogByte6RER

Normandy '12 - Day 5: Pointe du Hoc

So you’ve decided to run away and join the French Foreign Legion? Here’s how.

It's Earth's version of taking the Black and heading for the Wall, the way Jon Snow does in Game of Thrones. Joining the French Foreign Legion granted men a safe haven for many for decades. But what does it actually take to join the French Foreign Legion?

• Joining the Legion

The Foreign Legion, unfortunately, is portrayed in pop culture as packed mercenaries and vagrants — even Jean-Claude Van Damme takes up the cause in one film.

A safe haven for men looking for a new start in life for two centuries, the French Foreign Legion continues to take in soldiers with a variety of backgrounds from all across the world. A little over 7,000 soldiers strong, the organization is currently dispatched in multinational military engagements as well as patrols in French-controlled territories.

• Legion Life

You begin the process of joining the French Foreign Legion by stopping in at a recruiting center and passing a series of psychological and physical examinations. These centers, however, are only in mainland France, making for an expensive proposition for those overseas and looking to join.

Historically, the French Foreign Legion required new recruits to take on a new name for the first year of service. At the end of the first year, the member can take back their birth name or continue on under the pseudonym. Members sign an initial five-year contract, with the intention of earning French citizenship along the way.

Along with a their new name, the legionnaires receive a single item — a rifle — which is not to be left on the battlefield under any circumstance. To many within the Legion, this is a symbol of a primary tenet of their culture. Death in battle is far better than surrender.

Contrary to popular belief, the French Foreign Legion doesn't open its arms to murderers and escaped felons. It actually requires an extensive background check before a recruit is allowed to join. Members can begin the course to obtaining French citizenship after three years of service, but citizenship can be gained quicker in a grisly manner, by shedding blood in battle.

At then end of their initial five-year contract, legionnaires often continue on as a career soldier, with the armies of Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain often taking on off-contract legionnaires, or rising in the ranks of the Legion.

• Who joins the French Foreign Legion?

The numbers of the French Foreign Legion have historically swollen in response to population disruptions. A large number of individuals with Polish and Jewish heritage joined in the early days of World War II, while former members of the German army found the French Foreign Legion at the conclusion of the war.

Today, the Legion is primarily made of men (no women are allowed to join) who are looking to change the trajectory of their lives drastically. Members are currently dispatched in Afghanistan and South America.

Modern legionnaires earn a stipend of roughly $1400 a month, in addition to food and lodging — compensation on par with low-level members of the U.S. Military. All Legionnaires must communicate in French, which can pose a problem for some new recruits.

If you are looking for a major change (tired of being tied to a keyboard?), you can read a number of dedicated message boards on the subject of life in the Legion. Or check out the French Foreign Legion's site itself at Legion-recrute.com. It's "une nouvelle chance pour une nouvelle vie."


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous; Reference; Society
KEYWORDS: ffl; foreignlegion; france; frenchforeignlegion; frogs; legionnaires; mercenary; soldieroffortune; warfare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last
To: DogByte6RER
My brother has a French Foreign Legion cap almost the same as in the ones in the picture. In the late 70s there was a conflict in Zaire and the US military was sent in. I think it was part of a UN mission. He traded his Dallas Cowboys ball cap for the FFL cap. He said that reporters took pictures of the trade but we never saw them later anywhere.

My brother was in a large restaurant in Zaire and said that the Americans were treated well by the staff. Not so for the Legionaries. The staff ignored them. Tired of being snubbed one of them fired his machine gun in the air. The staff came quickly to take their orders.

21 posted on 12/08/2012 3:14:11 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gusty

Here is perhaps the greatest Legion battle in history, and it was right next door to us.

I celebrate it every April 30, having been introduced to it by some fine fellows in France.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Camar%C3%B3n
“The Battle of Camarón (French : Bataille de Camerone) which occurred 30 April 1863 between the French Foreign Legion and the Mexican army, is regarded by the Legion as a defining moment in its history. A small infantry patrol led by Captain Jean Danjou, Lt Maudet and Lt Vilain, numbering 62 soldiers and three officers was attacked and besieged by a force that may have eventually reached 3,000 Mexican infantry and cavalry, and was forced to make a defensive stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, in Camarón de Tejeda, Veracruz, Mexico. The conduct of the defence ascribed to the Legion a certain mystique—and Camarón became within Legion ranks synonymous with bravery and a fight-to-the-death.”


22 posted on 12/08/2012 3:25:15 PM PST by ansel12 (A.Coulter2005(truncated)Romney will never recover from his Court's create of a right to gay marriage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
The Battle of Camarón, an incredible story.

Unfortunately, Camarón is yet another example of how fine soldiers are put into ridiculous and unwinnable situations by stupid politicians (in this case, Napoleon III).

23 posted on 12/08/2012 3:35:50 PM PST by Leaning Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

The trade with the French was 3 MREs for one french daily ration. They had only 6 types of daily meal boxes and they liked the 12 different 1st gen MREs. They got more variety, more calories and a more consistent meals. I only remember the mutton meal and the mutton was extremely gristly. I blame the supplier for the quality for I was told that it was hit or miss if it was good. The rest of the ration was good. I liked the daily soldier ration in this order: German, British, then French.


24 posted on 12/08/2012 4:01:06 PM PST by Liaison
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DogByte6RER

Here’s a question for you; what if an 18-year-old American citizen, property owner, voter, and registrant with the selective service left the United States and joined the French foreign Legion? Would he, at the end of his enlistment, be only a French citizen an American citizen or both a French and American citizen (dual citizen)?


25 posted on 12/08/2012 4:04:58 PM PST by DCBryan1 (If there is ever another revolution, we need to decorate telephone poles with the MSM.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Liaison
did it come with wine??? i've read they did at least into the 90's
26 posted on 12/08/2012 4:15:42 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

I liked the Cognac, the full pack of smokes (20), and the cheeses and the Pate in the French rations.

My first one was the absolute best, until I was told that the box was for all three meals.

The soldiers were also allowed to fill their quart canteens with wine at that time, and carry them on their side, I don’t know if they can still do that.


27 posted on 12/08/2012 4:27:03 PM PST by ansel12 (A.Coulter2005(truncated)Romney will never recover from his Court's create of a right to gay marriage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DogByte6RER

There is a high desertion rate; violence is used very much in training.

If you are caught trying to desert, the punishment involves barbed wire (I think marching in a circle for a very long time wearing a heavy backpack load secured with barbed wire).


28 posted on 12/08/2012 4:51:02 PM PST by gaijin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chode

In the 1980s, the French ration came with a little bottle of Cognac, although it may have been brandy.


29 posted on 12/08/2012 5:55:02 PM PST by ansel12 (A.Coulter2005(truncated)Romney will never recover from his Court's create of a right to gay marriage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
there's nothing wrong with a little after dinner nip to help the digestion... 8^)
30 posted on 12/08/2012 6:04:45 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: redfreedom

I would like to see the American military patterned more on the Legion in regards to pay, and the warrior climate and ethic.

Our young enlisted should be single men who only get paid enough to live a soldier’s life for the first couple of years, the wife, families, and good pay can come after reenlistment, or attaining Corporal rank, or since this is America, something close to that goal.

We do not need the first 2 years of enlistment ranks filled with overpaid privates, husbands, single moms, wives and mothers, needing family housing, daycare, pay add-ons, separate rations etc., gynecologists, pediatricians and all the other stuff.


31 posted on 12/08/2012 6:18:57 PM PST by ansel12 (A.Coulter2005(truncated)Romney will never recover from his Court's create of a right to gay marriage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DogByte6RER

It really says something about a country when its toughest military unit is made up of a bunch of foreigners.


32 posted on 12/08/2012 6:54:53 PM PST by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

ansel12:

You described exactly what it was like when I first enlisted. I believe my first pay, by the month, was about $65.00 and out of that had to come hair cuts, shaving stuff, shoe polish etc. The barracks were open bay with rows of bunk beds, each man had a narrow wall locker and a foot locker. Latrines had a row of toilets with no privacy dividers. You needed a pass to get off post. If you wanted a car you pooled your money with one or two others to buy an old used car. If you wanted to get married, you needed permission from the CO. You were treated like a second class worm.

Todays American would not tolerate such “abuse”.

In Vietnam there was more freedom and respect for all, which is why I think so many volunteered for extensions. Of note we kept loaded M-14’s with us at all times, at night either beside us or in a wall locker. This contrasts today’s army in that I’ve read Afghan soldiers are not always permitted ammunition, which is stupid beyond belief.


33 posted on 12/09/2012 4:46:17 AM PST by redfreedom (The spineless RINO's have made themselves irrelevent and lost the country for us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: DCBryan1

Probably dual citizenship, unless France gets into a rumble with USA while you are serving in the FFL, particularly as an NCO. Which, despite our disdain for each other, isn’t particularly likely.

Possibly France has a requirement that foreign citizenship be renounced in order to become a French citizen. Don’t know about that.


34 posted on 12/09/2012 6:01:32 AM PST by Sherman Logan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson