NationStates Jolt Archive

Tried this when I first started on NS so I'll try again. Any former (or serving) Legionnaires out there?

I served my five year contract 1987-92 with 2me Parachute Regiment

*waits for some dickhead to announce that the Roman army has been gone for millennia*

The Imperial Army has been gone for millenia.

The Imperial Army has been gone for millenia.

Your officially a dickhead;)

I served in the French Foreign Legion from 1920 until I was killed in 1925. When I was reincarnated I became a Monk and served with the Thai Army until I was killed, then....:(

I served in the French Foreign Legion from 1920 until I was killed in 1925.
My bad.

When I was reincarnated I became a Monk and served with the Thai Army until I was killed
My bad.

then....:(
Uh... my bad.

An old girlfriends father stole one of their hats during the French-Indochina war. Does that count?

An old girlfriends father stole one of their hats during the French-Indochina war. Does that count?

What did the hat look like?

What do they actually do?

They legion.

Massive legionage..
Some air is usually involved.

What do they actually do?

you dont know what the legion is :eek:

What do they actually do?

Le Legion Etranger de France is an integral part of the French army, often seen as an elite force. They have taken part in nearly all the armed conflicts that France had been involved in in the 20th and 21st century. Nowadays they act as a "first in" unit within the Franch military. They took a very active part in the first gulf war (I was there) and have been involved in various peacekeeping efforts in Africa. They are also responsible for national defence for the nations of French Guiana and Djibouti.

What did the hat look like?

He described it as one of the old styles. As he said, he looked like he stepped out of a movie.

The kid started crying because he said he was going to be in huge trouble if he showed up without it.

They felt bad and gave it back.

He said they stayed in touch until Dien Bien Phu.

What do they actually do?

Who, people who steal hats or people who served in the Legion? The former are thieves, the latter soldiers.

He described it as one of the old styles. As he said, he looked like he stepped out of a movie.

The kid started crying because he said he was going to be in huge trouble if he showed up without it.

They felt bad and gave it back.

He said they stayed in touch until Dien Bien Phu.

Well before my time, but the hats been the same since the 1930s. The "Kepi", classic French style round flat topped cap. The Legion wear white.

you dont know what the legion is :eek:

Yes, they were a bunch of criminals who joined up to avoid jail. Real bad assed people kind of like the Dirty Dozen. :eek:

Yes, they were a bunch of criminals who joined up to avoid jail. Real bad assed people kind of like the Dirty Dozen. :eek:

True until the 1960s. The recruitment process was and still is very thorough, including checks with interpol.

Yes, they were a bunch of criminals who joined up to avoid jail. Real bad assed people kind of like the Dirty Dozen. :eek:

you dont need to tell me that i know
iam just sitting think of who the best of legion is

Sounds like a grand ole time...

I'd thought about joining the Legion for a while, but I've been a civilian for 3 years now and am starting to like it. Also, the Legion is pretty damned hard from what I've heard, and even though I spent 4 years in the US Cavalry (3rd ACR) it's rather harder than I'd like. From what I've heard you can't wear civilian clothes during your first five years, which kinda sucks. I've also heard they can involuntarily reenlist you after your first five years, but I don't know if that is true. I'm going to France for my next spring semester and I'd briefly considered just joining the Legion then, but I decided against it.

I'd thought about joining the Legion for a while, but I've been a civilian for 3 years now and am starting to like it. Also, the Legion is pretty damned hard from what I've heard, and even though I spent 4 years in the US Cavalry (3rd ACR) it's rather harder than I'd like. From what I've heard you can't wear civilian clothes during your first five years, which kinda sucks. I've also heard they can involuntarily reenlist you after your first five years, but I don't know if that is true. I'm going to France for my next spring semester and I'd briefly considered just joining the Legion then, but I decided against it.

The first part is true about the civvie clothes, but the re-inlistment part is bullshit. The civvie clothes never bothered me, as the uniform gets immense respect from the locals in France.

The first part is true about the civvie clothes, but the re-inlistment part is bullshit. The civvie clothes never bothered me, as the uniform gets immense respect from the locals in France.

I thought the reenlistment part was a bit suspect, thanks for the confirmation.

I'd imagine that the kepi blanc would get immense respect damned near anywhere.

Have you seen this site? Would you consider it to be accurate?

http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/

i hear the old Legionnaires in france make good wine

I have a foreign legion lapel pin that I found in a second hand shop around here somewhere.

I thought the reenlistment part was a bit suspect, thanks for the confirmation.

I'd imagine that the kepi blanc would get immense respect damned near anywhere.

Have you seen this site? Would you consider it to be accurate?

http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/

Seen that. Its from a book written in the 1980s. The changing nature of the military and its roles nowadays is reflected in the Legion. I would still say that there is a certain amount of brutality still there in the training process but as a job its one of the best going if you like that sort of thiung. Its one of the last refuges for the world's born "adventurers".

i hear the old Legionnaires in france make good wine

Theres a home for retired Legionnaires in the south of France. When your on leave you can visit there and talk to the old guys. They have their own vinyard but I don't know what its like.

I'd imagine that the kepi blanc would get immense respect damned near anywhere.

...not in America. Liberals would hate it because it's associated with the military, and conservatives would hate it because it's associated with the French...

...not in America. Liberals would hate it because it's associated with the military, and conservatives would hate it because it's associated with the French...

The only things I kept were my kepi blanc and my green beret. Conservatives in the US would probably love it. In the Legion's history only one man has ever been made an honourary Legionnaire, and that was Norman Schwartzkopf.

Seen that. Its from a book written in the 1980s. The changing nature of the military and its roles nowadays is reflected in the Legion. I would still say that there is a certain amount of brutality still there in the training process but as a job its one of the best going if you like that sort of thiung. Its one of the last refuges for the world's born "adventurers".

Yeah, in the 80s there was a certain degree of brutality in the US Army as well, but that's been much reduced. In some jobs in the military you'll always need ways to reinforce the lessons in a quick and complete fashion because letting someone figure it out in their own sweet time isn't conducive to not getting killed.

I may go talk to the Legion offices when I'm over there, who knows. I do really miss the whole military thing, as much as I try to convince myself I don't. And besides, five years really isn't that long. One of my long term goals is to teach English in France (I'm studying French in college), and having been a Legionaire certainly wouldn't hurt. We'll see, I'm not scheduled to come back to the States until June so I've got a while to think about it.

Conservatives in the US would probably love it.

Really? Huh, from what I've heard, most conservatives don't give a damn about our own soldiers (though, this opinion is largely based on the memoirs of Tim O'Brien), and I know a lot of them actively dislike the French. *shrug*

Yeah, in the 80s there was a certain degree of brutality in the US Army as well, but that's been much reduced. In some jobs in the military you'll always need ways to reinforce the lessons in a quick and complete fashion because letting someone figure it out in their own sweet time isn't conducive to not getting killed.

I may go talk to the Legion offices when I'm over there, who knows. I do really miss the whole military thing, as much as I try to convince myself I don't. And besides, five years really isn't that long. One of my long term goals is to teach English in France (I'm studying French in college), and having been a Legionaire certainly wouldn't hurt. We'll see, I'm not scheduled to come back to the States until June so I've got a while to think about it.

If you are going to join (I really wouldn't reccomend it) then heres some advice.

1 - have your affairs at home completely sorted. The only contact you will have will be by phone or letter so don't leave any issues at home simmering.

2 - don't take anything of value with you. The only personal effects you are allowed to keep are photographs, cigarettes and food. Everything else (including your clothes) are given to the Red Cross when you sign your contract.

3 - after passing basic try to choose service with a para unit. They are commonly known as the "mafia anglais" and it is where most of the English speaking legionnaires serve.

4 - before joining get yourself to a reasonable level of both physical fitness and French linguistics. It will help a great deal.

If you are going to join (I really wouldn't reccomend it) then heres some advice.

1 - have your affairs at home completely sorted. The only contact you will have will be by phone or letter so don't leave any issues at home simmering.

2 - don't take anything of value with you. The only personal effects you are allowed to keep are photographs, cigarettes and food. Everything else (including your clothes) are given to the Red Cross when you sign your contract.

3 - after passing basic try to choose service with a para unit. They are commonly known as the "mafia anglais" and it is where most of the English speaking legionnaires serve.

4 - before joining get yourself to a reasonable level of both physical fitness and French linguistics. It will help a great deal.

Thanks for the advice. I probably won't end up joining, I go through bouts of military nostalgia every few months or so, I'm sure this one will pass like the others have.

Thanks for the advice. I probably won't end up joining, I go through bouts of military nostalgia every few months or so, I'm sure this one will pass like the others have.

Like I say I really wouldn't recommend it. Just remember if you want to be part of the military that involves killing people. Taking other human being's lives. Whether actively or in a support role. Its something you need to think hard about. If thats something you can't handle then stay a civvie. Its why I'm a civvie now.

Like I say I really wouldn't recommend it. Just remember if you want to be part of the military that involves killing people. Taking other human being's lives. Whether actively or in a support role. Its something you need to think hard about. If thats something you can't handle then stay a civvie. Its why I'm a civvie now.

Yeah, that's in large part why I'm a civvie as well. I was in Iraq during OIF 1 in Ar Ramadi and Habbiniyah as a cavalry scout. As they say, you never remember the shit times when it comes time to reenlist.

oh my god I am so nieve. I so thought the Foriegn Legion was disbanded!!! Wow, I didnt they still exsisted and were still hardass as hell. Its probably the only part of the french military left thats still held in high esteem. If my life ever goes to shit, sure, I'll join...