NationStates Jolt Archive

I've seen a lot of threads in this forum from former and current members of the US and British military (of which I am one - Royal Navy 89-94) and was wondering if there are any former Legionnaires out there. I served a five year contract in France and Djibouti between 1994 and 1999 and would be interested to hear from other former Legionnaires, or take part in a discussion on the Legion's pros and cons.

I'm not a legionnaire. I just want to know what being a legionnaire is like. Is there a boot camp? What do you guys do on a day to day basis? What's the pay like?

I'm not planning to join or anything. I'm just curious.

Being a Legionnaire is being a member of the French Foreign Legion. I left the Royal Navy in 1998 soon after one of my children died. I tried to re-inlist but due to a drunken brawl during my grief I was refused re-entry. As my marraige had broken down I thought I had nothing left to lose, and caught the Eurostar train to Lille, where I went to the recuitong office and chanced my arm.

I was repeatedly questioned about my motives for joining, and was completely honest with them. After hanging around for three days being used as a kitchen orderly I signed for five years, got a new name, a new life and was sent for preliminary training, which you americans refer to as Boot Camp. The Legion calls it "The Farm", and it was physically and psychologically the ost difficlut thing I have ever done. You are expected to observe a 16 hour working day and basically lose your individuality. All of your belongings you have with you except cigarettes and money are taken and given to the Red Cross, and you are not allowed to wear anything except a uniform for your first years service. Only then do you qualify for leave, which is the only time you are allowed out of uniform. Living facilities are VERY basic, and all laundry has to be done by hand to military standards. You also have to undergo questioning by "the gestapo", who will question your motives for joining and your general psychological background. In addition to the physical and military trainiing undertaken at the farm, you also have to learn French, as most officers refuse to speak anything other than French - if you don't grasp the basics pretty quick your in real trouble. The pay at the time equated to about $1000 a month, which is pretty low, but the only thing you had to spend it on was toiletries, cigarettes and chocolate (not sure if my conversion rates are right there - it was about 8000 francs).

On a day to day basis, it's real tough, but the respect you earn from other members of the military, not just French, is immense, and the feeling of brotherhood amongst the Legionnaires far surpassed any spirit of camaraderie I experienced in the Royal Navy. Training is harsh and brutal, with no second chances, but it's essential for the Legion to maintain the standards it has brought itself up to. If it hadn't been for my wife making contact and wanting to re-establish our marraige I probably would have stayed.

If you really want to join think long and hard about it. The financial reward isn't that good, and it will totally seperate you from your friends and family - but then the idea is to start a new life. At the end of your service you can even keep your new name and get French citizenship in that name. Being a Legionnaire was without doubt the toughest, but most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.

None out there then?

I saw a programme about it on the history chan.

I don't remember...

None out there then?

Two questions:

1. Which part of the legion did you serve with? (I have heard that they have all kinds of really cool specialities within the legion, like jungle warfare and airborne).

2. Do they still regularly beat the snot out of legionaires until they make corporal, or is that just an urban myth?

http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/ is a good place to get a basic idea if that chap doesn't come back to answer straight away.

I don't remember...

Hahaha! :D

I quite often go to the British Legion, is that the same :D

I've never been in any military myself, but have numerous relatives who have served in Army, Coast Guard, Navy . . . (All US that is.)

However, the university I attended had (and still has) a very interesting professor who teaches both the French and the German classes. He grew up in Germany and first was in the Hitler youth. He later got captured and became a POW in France. He knew French so well that he somehow got into the French Foreign Legion. He served them so well that they rewarded him by offering to pay his travel to whatever nation he wanted to go to for his college education. He chose the United States. While here, he got drafted into the US military -I forget which branch. So you could say he's "been around the block" a few times when it comes to military service.

Two questions:

1. Which part of the legion did you serve with? (I have heard that they have all kinds of really cool specialities within the legion, like jungle warfare and airborne).

2. Do they still regularly beat the snot out of legionaires until they make corporal, or is that just an urban myth?

1. After basic at the farm I served with 4eme Regiment (Infantry) where all new recruits serve. After that I was lucky enough (extra pay) to be transfered to 13e Demi Brigade (Mechanized) in Djibouti, Africa. I knew some guys who did the jungle commando course in French Guiana - real tough stuff.

2. If you don't make corporal, then tough shit. However, fuck something up and you won't have a drill sergeant shouting in your ear, someone will beat the snot out of you.

Dont they get Liquidated or sent to Belgian Controled Congo to fester in Holes of calcuta?

Dont they get Liquidated or sent to Belgian Controled Congo to fester in Holes of calcuta?

What exactly are you talking about?

What exactly are you talking about?
Nothing its just that i didnt believe there was anything after the Legion you leave when you die.-Or was the JCVD movie misleading. :rolleyes:

what would happen if France fought England? would you be A POW or would you be forced to fight for the French

(I personally would never fight under a foreign flag especially are old enemy's the French)

was you a regular marine or where you a specialist?

what would happen if France fought England? would you be A POW or would you be forced to fight for the French

(I personally would never fight under a foreign flag especially are old enemy's the French)

was you a regular marine or where you a specialist?

Firstly, in that hypothetical situation, I would be a French citizen with a new name and new identity. No-one would even know I was English unless I told them.

Secondly, when you join the Legion, you do not fight for France. You fight for the Legion. we regarded ourselves as seperate entity from the rest of the French military.

Thirdly, I was an Infantry soldier. the Legion does maintain a small force of marines and divers, but most of its troops are mechanized infantry, paratroopers and jungle warfare commandoes.

They don't take everyone (in contrast to common believe).
Yuo have to be quite tough to enlist, e.g. long distance running, swimming.
If you don't pass the test, they send you home.
:( or :) , I can't tell.