Has anyone here ever thought of joining the French foreign legion?
Not much point joining the FFL now. Friend of mine joined back in the 1950s and spend a number of years in Algeria shooting a lot of people dead during which time the French Government [ha! there’s a lafff] tried to sort things out. Not sure exactly what happened but think de Gaulle got called back to take over as President, blah etc. If anyone is thinking of joining the Foreign Legion, it’s dead simple, you just walk into their office in Paris or wherever and sign up, no questions asked. Bear in mind this is a ‘tough as hell’ force. Be ready for monster long marches in full battle order in the sweltering sun with no water allowed in your bottle. The French Foreign Legion Have you ever dreamed of leaving it all behind and running away to join the French Foreign Legion? Site promotes book assisting potential Legion enlistees. http://www.foreignlegionlife.com Join The French Foreign Legion@Everything2.comAnd are welcomed into
yep thought about it, very hard training on a par with UK Royal Marines sorry to the US Marines but they are not in the same league as the Legion. The story about criminals joining to hide is no longer true as they will hand you over to the Police if they find out, you can join under a alias if you wish but they give you the name your not aloud to pick your own. The pay is low so you ain’t gonna be rich.If you survive the 5 years min contract you can rise through the ranks and even become c.o. the boss when i was there was a ex German paratrooper. first step get yourself to Paris or Marseilles these are the only two places you can sign up, Fitness test first then an exam they don’t take thickos anymore either and also don’t like nutters either apart from that your not really fighting for France your fighting for your comrades these are guys you can trust with your life. Its hard but if you want it go for it.
Thinking and doing are two separate realities. 1. A basic understanding of French is required, and you are expected to learn it very quickly during training as you will be expected to recite the Legions history and sing the Regimental songs. 1a. Knowledge of German is handy as well as it is the unofficial second language of the Legion. 2. You belong to them for the next 5 years. Body and Soul. 3. Desertion if you fail will get you serious time in a Legion Penal Battalion in TCHAD 4. They have a major dislike for Americans since one managed to desert basic training and run home to America and write a derogatory book about his 4 week experience in the Legion. (The author has an open arrest warrant on him in all French Territory for life, even transiting through a French Airport will get him arrested.) 5. No amount of crying to the U.S. counsol will get you out.
I actually did, but when I was living in France I once saw the foreign legion doing an end of training ceremony. The soldiers were marching up and down a long city street in Beziers. It was really neat, the part that convinced me never to join was the fact that all the soldiers were really beat up. Black eyes, bandaged heads, broken arms were visible on a lot of the soldiers. I later talked to a friend who had tried to join and he said that he quite after a few weeks because they really beat him up.
