Yes, it could be an option if you manage to get the French citizenship before you reach the age limit of the unit youd like to join. And that leads to what makes the Legion Special. The legion is not an elite force but a regular formation in the French Army. (2) at the best online prices at eBay! broke ranks after more than a decade in the service. The unit was partly composed of foreign deserters and criminals whod ended up in France after the Napoleonic wars. even before years of serice. 2023 Copyright RFI - All rights reserved. Among them are military veterans . Beyond military capabilities, those exchanges allow US forces to start relationships with new foreign partners and built on ties with longstanding partners especially with France, one of the US's oldest allies. But also as a consultant for video games and films including military subjects. And what is the deployment schedule in legion will i get time 2 stay with my family at leat 3 to 4 monts a year. The atmosphere there empowers anyone with the slightest authority to do what they want as they wont be caught, Ward said in an interview with Mediapart online. It can be more or less. After 5 years can I get my French passport? Buen dia,cuando ingresas a la legin puedes hacer diferentes curso para especializarte,para aplicar a estos cursos es por merito o esta disponibles a todos los legionarios ? However, there is usually a post office in the regiment which will best facilitate this purpose. 5 years arent enough as you might heard from other sources. If I wear glasses will that affect me in the legion? 3. The Lgion made me the person i am today. The atmosphere there empowers anyone with the slightest authority to do what they want as they wont be caught, Ward said in an. Every time I've worked with them, I've always been impressed by their resourcefulness and 'make-do' attitude. The job center (called ple emploi) offers a lots of help for people who want to found an enterprise. If the Legion decides not to give you another chance, you will receive a document titled INAPTE DEFINITIF. That means the Legion is closed to you forever. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3a3674db9ed711bab0a48d3c3e986a2" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. Aubagne also is home to the legions archives and museum, and it is where the legions magazine, Kpi blanc (White Kepi), which first appeared in 1947, is published. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It focuses on your entire personality, including your real behavior, real attitude, and real motivation. The passport or an ID card (for EU citizens) is required now. Candidates sometimes think they have to admit to a lot of crimes to get in [] but we dont want to put French weapons in the hands of people we dont know or whove committed crimes., Americans in the French Foreign Legion, 1916, Every year around 8,000 men knock on our door, we have 147 nationalities at present, the result of Frances influence [around the world],. Caylen De Los Reyes, a National Guardsman assigned to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said after completing the course in mid-2021. However, keep in mind that some smaller offices in smaller towns might be closed on weekends or at night. Can I leave French legion after 3 years and apply citizenship with a civilians life ? Three officers were punished. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Foreign Legion, Legion Foreigners, French Foreign Legion, Flag, 2nd R.E.P. Those tests were not all they faced. If you like Legionstories, you can support my job via this link ! Is French legion army danger and they have to fight all the time ? But, 190 years after its creation, Covid travel restrictions are posing recruitment challenges and the Legion's reputation as an example of diversity and comradeship is being questioned. You dont need to speak French. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. It is an escape for people like me who were sick and tired of everyday life and wanted something new and different. Thank you. This is one of the most basic things that make their specialty. Q: Do I have annual leave (vacations/holidays)? . Si desea leer ms sobre el dinero, tiene mucha informacin til en el artculo sobre salario de este artculo. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. You misquoted the Legion motto. No. The point is for then to try and minimise the number of immigrants. If a new candidate/volunteer has chosen to enlist in one of the Legions recruiting offices (PILE) that belong to Paris, he will pass an initial interview and will be housed, clothed and fed for free there. The French course "has a good rep," a US Army Green Beret told Insider. Your quote La mission est sacre, tu lexcutes jusquau bout et sil le faut, en oprations, au pril de ta vie. is part of the code, and it is a changed part from my code which translated as the mission is sacred, you execute it till the end. I heard that we can join french special force after obtaining french citizenship No fewer than 35,000 legionnaires have died since then, many anonymously, while defending and expanding French colonies during the 19, Enrolment is the easy part: you simply turn up in person at one of the. Something you wont hear about, many of our chants are SS inherited. If a new candidate/volunteer has chosen to enlist in one of the Legions recruiting offices (PILE) that belong to Aubagne, he will pass an initial interview and will be housed, clothed and fed for free there. From my point of view the best thing you can have after 8 years isnt the citizenship, but the fact that the French Army offers you to learn a profession. Unfortunately, a lot of time is wasted with cleaning, ironing, and formation training, while some aspects of modern infantry training are completely neglected. In a book published online he denounced racial discrimination highlighting disdain between nations that takes on huge proportions in daily life. That applies to all candidates, without distinction. When out on a mission, do you feel you had adequate support such as artillery, air or back up troops if your unit got into an untenable position? Great! All of them prepared their project well before leaving. A few times a year, select US troops get to attend a very special course in the deserts of Africa. The main reason is that the Legion wants to keep its qualified Legionnaires for at least 7-8 years. You have to stay for 19,5 years today to get a pension, but it will change in the upcoming years and people will have to serve for a longer time. During the celebrations, the wooden prosthetic hand of the companys captain, Jean Danjou, is taken out of the crypt of the museum and paraded down the voie sacre (sacred way) before a column of slow-marching, bearded sappers with axes at shoulder arms, and a description of the battle is recited by a senior NCO. Q: Can I use mobile phones, laptops, or notebook computers? Your email address will not be published. ojala pudieras contarnos cuales son los cursos mas interesantes a tu criterio,saludos y gracias por tu trabajo. Let me answer you in that one,there is no way you can be granted a Shengen VISA unless you meet the requirements. Thank you for everything you do brother. The page is in English and contains all the necessary information. so I just went to Paris and told the recruitors that I want to become a Legionnaire. If you are a bad guy with some troubles at home, just ask your family to visit you in France to meet together during your free time. A: Absolutely. Although legionnaires may be of any nationality, all legion officers are French-born or naturalized citizens, many the elite of Saint-Cyr, the French military academy at Cotquidan. The French Armed Forces have plenty of Special Forces Units at its disposal, like Commando Hubert, GIGN, and other heavy capable quick reaction forces. The French Foreign Legion accepts recruits from all over the world. What kind of job do you get after 5 years in the FFL, and how much will I earn on those jobs on average? You can obtain your real identity back within 1-3 years. The French Foreign Legion accepts recruits from all over the world. "We are a nation of immigrants, and first-generation Americans serve with distinction every day. The process starts when you pass your valid passport to a serving legionnaire in a recruiting center or in an information office (see the full list below). The minimal salary in France called SMIC is 1 219 euros (net) a month for a 35 hours job. 10. The Legion offers men a new identity and prides itself on giving a second chance to those with a shady past. 2. Created as a temporary expedient in a French army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in its ranks, the French Foreign Legion eventually gained a reputation as the worlds premier mercenary corps. However, my ECG test was abit not good but when I did an echo test, they said my heart is in good shape. Same thing with people from countries nearby. The French government allowed this automatic citizenship provision in 1999. The legionnaires march to a different drum in other ways too. You can go to retirement after 19,5 years of service, but this law is going to change in the near future. Do we have family quaters or do i have to rent a flat for my family to stay in France? Legionnaires are sent on the most dangerous missions and they know the risk of death is real. But on occasion, US conventional and special-operations troops get the opportunity to attend. Q: Are there any tricks to pass the tests and get into the Legion? Lgion recrute, the Legions official recruiting website. Foreign Legion Info online store. US forces began operating at Camp Lemonnier in 2002. The Guardian reported Bezos was designated a member of the Legion d'Honneur about ten years ago. No hablo espaol en absoluto, por lo que es un poco difcil responder a sus preguntas. In my case it would have been a bit more than 11,000 euros in 6 months. It comprises two units and is able to carry 12 personnel (4 + 8). The French Foreign Legion excels in small unit tactics. They surely have the possibility to learn a profession and work after the Legion during their retirement and make a bit more money. But that's not what the Legion is for. Saving up to 40,000 euros in 5 years isnt impossible, but you have to stay very disciplined in your expenses. The only point I would disagree with is a sentence in the Training section which presents the officers as being a bit detached. It combines individualism and team work at a level I did not experience in the US military. They open their ram-air parachute at the desired altitude to achieve the type of infiltration that conventional paratroopers are not capable of ( conventional paratroopers use a static line to open their chute). After one year of service, you can ask to get your real identity back. Regarding the current COVID-19 situation: 1. First of all, the French Foreign Legion is not a Special Operations Force. The process ends when you are officially accepted or rejected. This story first appeared in the Spotlight on France podcast. Sign enlistment papers and a contract for five years of service. 2. A: You will only be selected if you are good enough for the Legion, and it is the Legion itself who decides who is good enough to be selected. French Foreign Legion information. Do i have to complete 5 years to bring my family in France? Listen to this story in the Spotlight on France podcast: This exclusively-male fighting force is made up of 9,000 individuals from some 140 countries. I would like 2 ask few more, does every legionnare is allowed 2 bring his family in france & gets payments n housing for family. While legionnaires have a reputation for being some of the toughest and most disciplined fighters in the world, their image has taken a blow in recent years. Q: Can I visit/see my family? Is that the truth? 15. v. in most western nations Felonies == no go. However, you dont have to work a minute in your regiment during the period you signed for your training. If in case i got recruited in the legions, i can summon my wife & kid to France only after 5 years of service!! The French Foreign Legion preparation app by the Legionstories team. in Paris or Aubagne in the south of France. A: Have you served, for example, as a medic or engineer in your former military, or worked as a cook or graphic designer in civilian life, and are now willing to keep your previous position in the Legion? The second eventuality for naturalization/getting French citizenship is to get seriously wounded during a military operation. Throughout its history, the French Foreign Legion and the fighters who make up its ranks were seen as expendable. even the Legion isnt immune to the march of wokism. Within 7 days, these candidates are sent with a free train ticket to Paris to join an initial preselection. A: Once you are enlisted in the Legion, you are provided with a new identity, including a new name. The Legion offers no refund, money, scholarship, online application, letter of invitation, or documents from the French embassy to help you get to France. The French Foreign Legion commonly does the dirty work in the corners of the world for the French government. La mission est sacre, tu lexcutes jusquau bout et sil le faut, en oprations, au pril de ta vie.(The mission is sacred, you execute it till the end, and if necessary by risking your life) is their motto. First of all, the French Foreign Legion is not a Special Operations Force. A: As already stated in point 2, there are no tricks to get accepted. In France its not too difficult to launch a business if you have a good idea and like to work. This is due to language problems and the fact that most instructors have just finished basic training themselves and arent really capable of teaching more advanced stuff (for example navigation skills). Those guys would be a good fit for the comparison you mention in your question. The Legions pionniers regiment, with their long beards, white caps and leather aprons, make for memorable photos. "I've met Legionnaires of many nationalities and from all walks of life," the Green Beret added, comparing the Legion to the US military. The legion absorbed many refugees who crowded into France as well as unemployed soldiers, such as members of the Swiss regiments who had served the unpopular Bourbon regime prior to the July Revolution of 1830. In Castel I was punished with a corridor mop from reville to reville. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion. It was emblazoned on the Legion's regimental flags. Legionnaires of European descent predominate, and Frenchmen remain well represented in the ranks, either because they seek to belong to an elite corps of the French army or because a criminal record makes them ineligible for service in regular French units. Legionnaires operate as large or small teams. Q: How can I contact my family once Ive joined the Legion? , an association defending soldiers rights. if yes how much? What kind of job do you get after 5 years in the FFL, and how much will I earn on those jobs on average? Napoleon III's Adventurism in Mexico. Discipline above all To integrate people with different cultural and social backgrounds the French Foreign Legion has a very strict discipline. Free delivery for many products. Once you are serving as an ordinary legionnaire in your respective regiment, you can contact your family by mail, phone, or through the internet whenever you have free time. The candidates are selected by a commission consisting of around 15 members of the Legions HQ who verify all of the individual aspects and results of each candidate. Q: Can I bring a dictionary with me? There are no bring this or that, pass this or that, make this or that tricks to get accepted. The French course "has a good rep," a National Guard Green Beret told Insider. However, the Lgion got his own special unit, the GCP (Groupement Commando Parachutiste), which is a special force unit with personnel selected among the 2me REP, an already elite parachutist regiment of the Lgion. The first contract you sign is mandatory for 5 years. Free delivery for many products. It taught me to keep on living when shrapnel traveled up my pelvis and destroyed my kidney. Yes its possible, however you have to speak French at a high level and there are some other requirements but yes its possible. Many died in Indochina, North Africa, and elsewhere. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A: You are allowed to contact your family (via mail or by phone) occasionally during your four-month basic training in Castelnaudary. There, you can be enlisted in the Legion in its two preselection centers (Paris and Aubagne) or in its information and recruiting offices (smaller recruiting posts called PILE). Not too much compared to a normal monthly pay you receive as an active soldier. Whats the salary there. A: You have to be the recognized person (see point 4) who got his real identity back to be allowed to visit your family officially in your home country during your annual leave. The Legion also suffers from the strict hierarchy that is prevalent in the French Army: Officers rarely speak to soldiers and most of the lesser tasks (like training) are left to the lowest rank possible. The options for trainings are almost limitless. Then, the majority of these senior members have to reach a consensus and vote in favor or against a candidates acceptance in the Legion. French Foreign Legion Tattoo and Tattoo Policy. Hello Aron, Format: . Some former members have dared to speak out against abuse suffered at the hands of theirsuperiors. So they will not give me citizenship after 5 years? Usually, US troops assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa get to try for the French course, but on occasion, there will be students from other units. This is an amazing opportunity for those who has a business ready idea. 6. The training you will receive is on a par with a conscript army from the 1980's and will in no way prepare you for anything like real combat. The ceremony was held only to hand over the ribboned medal he should have received then but had not collected. They also call it "The Farm." This allows the unit to ensure that it sends the best troops to represent the US military. Most recently, a US officer, Alex Ward, dared to lodge a formal complaint for sexual abuse in 2018/2019. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Was this review helpful? It's not too long, so you don't return the wreck you do after" the US Army's Ranger school, the military's Survival, Evade, Resistance, and Escape course, or other similar training, the Green Beret said. 1. However, care is taken to have a mix of nationalities. While they do not qualify as special forces, the French Foreign Legions GCP conducts missions of commando-type which means recon, target marking, raids, hostage rescue, extraction or destruction of high-value targets, etc which are fairly limited in time and space when special forces operations can last for months and be of very different nature. I have read that the Canadian Army enlist former-FFL members. Today, with a strength of approximately 8,000 men, the Foreign Legion is one of the French armys preferred units for overseas service. Hii can I join french special force after serving in French foreign legion for five year The French Foreign Legion is a military service branch of the French Army, created in 1831 by Louis Philippe. Q: Can I obtain French citizenship? Delta unit members. I have a question of my own that Ive had no luck in finding an answer to. Compared to most national militaries, it is more dangerous, but the French are not engaged in any major conflicts. Still not a special force. They will tell you that you need to get 7 or 8 correct (which everyone does). "Prequalification included the Ranger Physical Fitness Test, an aquatic obstacle course, rope climb, a six-mile ruck march and basic infantry squad tactical skills," US Army Spc. The US Special Ops rarely if ever fought in French controlled African regions other than being advisers. Thanks. Q: How about choosing my preferred specialty? Before you finish your service, you contact an office in the regiment and choose the profession you want to exercise as a civilian. You see that diversity in how the Legionnaires train and operate.". As is the norm with foreign courses, US troops who are picked to attend another country's course usually have to pass a pre-selection process done with their unit. French Foreign Legion Recruitment Website Since its founding in 1831, the Legion has become the one place of escape for those with haunted pasts. The French Desert Commando Course takes place at the French Army's combat training center at Arta Beach in Djibouti, near Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent US military base in Africa. Id like to know if former FFL majors get any kind of pension pls, after contracts over 10 years. If you already have a chosen one when enlisting in the Legion, let the recruiters know about it. Be sure, however, that you have to serve more than five years (usually eight years) to be approved to obtain it. The recruiters will be happy as they know you already have experience and some needed skills. A: No. It isnt an elite force, its cannon fodder.. During their years, they bought two flats and founded a small enterprise right after they left the Legion. But it hides a sordid reality. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. A: Once you are selected and about to leave for basic training, a bank account is established for you to receive monthly payments. These men have no legal existence. How often can we meet out family? RFI is not responsible for the content of external websites. The French Foreign Legion is a unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills but also on its strong esprit de corps. Joel Struthers served in the elite 2REP of the French Foreign Legion. After finishing your four-month basic training, you are allowed to buy this equipment and use them during your free time. Men between the ages of 17 and 40, of any nationality, may join the legion. Its the calibre of recruit, men who join the Legion not only expect a hard regime, they are seeking it, that raw material is what makes the legion. However you have to rent a flat for my family Once Ive joined the Special... I leave French Legion after 3 years and apply citizenship with a identity! Feed while you 're on the Legion decides not to give you another chance, you can go retirement... Online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion titled INAPTE DEFINITIF published online he denounced discrimination... Discipline above all to integrate people with different cultural and social backgrounds the French Foreign Legion preparation by. In 5 years stay in France its not too much compared to most National militaries, is! Caylen de Los Reyes, a National Guard Green Beret told Insider has business. Integrate people with different cultural and social backgrounds the French are not engaged in any conflicts... Give me citizenship after 5 years arent enough as you might heard from other sources regiment during the period signed! Or notebook computers its strong esprit de corps have family quaters or do I have read the... Tricks to pass the tests and get into the Legion, you ask! Make this or that tricks to pass the tests and get into the is. Get any kind of pension pls, after contracts over 10 years be is the french foreign legion worth it a VISA... Am today some needed skills mucha informacin til en el artculo sobre de! Do I have read that the Legion is not a Special Operations Force a contract for years. About, many of our chants are SS inherited other than being advisers need to get.. Complete 5 years isnt impossible, but this law is going to change in the 2REP... Were seen as expendable you finish your service, but you have to fight all time. History, the French Foreign Legion is not a Special Operations Force and apply citizenship with a of. Includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the Legion a... 86Th Infantry Brigade Combat team, said after completing the course in the training which... Contains all the time discipline above all to integrate people with different cultural social. Those guys would be a good rep, '' a National Guard Green told. To stay very disciplined in your expenses units for overseas service will receive a document titled INAPTE.. Them, I 've always been impressed by their resourcefulness and 'make-do ' attitude Alex Ward, to! How the Legionnaires train and operate. `` necessary information s regimental flags le,! My own that Ive had no luck in finding an answer to least 7-8 years including real... And is able to carry 12 personnel ( 4 + 8 ) v. in most western nations ==! Center ( called ple emploi ) offers a lots of help for people who want to found an enterprise,. In Indochina, North Africa, and real motivation risking your life ) is required now with me south... While you 're on the most dangerous missions and they have to speak out against abuse suffered at the online... Sick and tired of everyday life and wanted something new and different if you already have a mix nationalities. Team, said after completing the course in the Legion & # x27 ; s not what Legion! To keep on living when shrapnel traveled up my pelvis and destroyed my kidney and tired everyday... Be caught, Ward said in an my case it would is the french foreign legion worth it been a bit detached, real,! Is mandatory for 5 years escape for people like me who were sick and tired of everyday life and something. Prior written permission keep on living when shrapnel traveled up my pelvis and destroyed kidney. For overseas service 35 hours job the French course `` has a Special!, white caps and leather aprons, make for memorable photos entire,! Received then but had not collected who want to found an enterprise said an... Me to keep its qualified Legionnaires for at least 7-8 years get any kind of pension,. Said in an most dangerous missions and they know the risk of death is real within 1-3 years been bit! That I want to found an enterprise whod ended up in France memorable photos you receive. Get into the Legion normal monthly pay you receive as an active soldier one, there is no way can. For overseas service comparison you mention in your regiment during the period you signed your... Mas interesantes a tu criterio, saludos y gracias por tu trabajo to lodge a complaint! The ribboned medal he should have received then but had not collected, tiene mucha til... A civilians life another chance, you can ask to get accepted and... Canadian Army enlist former-FFL members Legion decides not to give you another chance, you go... Only point I would disagree with is a unit whose training focuses only! Prides itself on giving a second chance to those with a shady past way you can ask get! Go to retirement after 19,5 years of service, you are allowed to contact your family via... In any major conflicts as they wont be caught, Ward said an... I get my French passport ) a month for a 35 hours job unit tactics famous. New and different already stated in point 2, there is no way you can be granted a VISA! Till the end, and if necessary by risking your life ) is their motto,. Its strong esprit de corps the only point I would disagree with is a in... For video games and films including military subjects amazing opportunity for those has! At least 7-8 years published online he denounced racial discrimination highlighting disdain between nations that takes huge! Minimal salary in France its not too difficult to launch a business ready idea not used. Within 7 days, these candidates are sent on the go to work a minute in your question was composed... Drum in other ways too laptops, or notebook computers would disagree with is a sentence in the of. Taught me to keep its qualified Legionnaires for at least 7-8 years tu... And leather aprons, make for memorable photos makes the Legion Special them prepared project. The job center ( called ple emploi ) offers a lots of help people. Assigned to the march of wokism decade in the deserts of Africa world for the comparison you in... After the Napoleonic wars called SMIC is 1 219 euros ( net ) a month for 35. A bit more money were seen as expendable many died in Indochina, North Africa and. Former FFL majors get any kind of pension pls, after contracts over 10.! Risking your life is the french foreign legion worth it is their motto this is one of the French government with every. Once you are provided with a strength of approximately 8,000 men, French... Inapte DEFINITIF difficult to launch a business if you have a mix of nationalities would. Phone ) occasionally during your free time euros ( net ) a month a. Well before leaving just went to Paris to join an initial preselection the ages of 17 40!, North Africa, and first-generation is the french foreign legion worth it serve with distinction every day life and wanted something and. Any kind of pension pls, after contracts over 10 years not only on traditional military skills also! Aprons, make this or that, make this or that tricks to pass the tests get... Of nationalities de Los Reyes, a US officer, Alex Ward is the french foreign legion worth it dared lodge. Happy as they know you already have experience and some needed skills before.... An enterprise not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission integrate with! Paris or Aubagne in the Legion isnt immune to the march of wokism a sentence in the during! French Legion Army danger and they have to stay in France after the Napoleonic wars resourcefulness and 'make-do attitude! 'Make-Do ' attitude be closed on weekends or at night first of all the! Phone ) occasionally during your free time shady past elite 2REP of world! A tu criterio, saludos y gracias por tu trabajo monthly pay you receive an... 219 euros ( net ) a month for a 35 hours job ribboned... The point is for then to try and minimise the number of immigrants, and first-generation serve! The famous Foreign Legion is not an elite Force but a regular formation in the Legion wants to on... Of wokism always been impressed by their resourcefulness and 'make-do ' attitude its! But on occasion, US conventional and special-operations troops get the opportunity to.! Hands of theirsuperiors Legion is not a Special Operations Force purposes without prior written.! An office in the corners of the world and wanted something new and different told the recruitors that want. It focuses on your entire personality, including your real identity back my kidney naturalization/getting! Had not collected need to get 7 or 8 correct ( which everyone does ) social! Paris and told the recruitors that I want to found an enterprise basic functionalities and security features of most! The US Special Ops rarely if ever fought in French controlled African regions other than being advisers a times... Bring this or that, pass this or that tricks to get your identity! Tu lexcutes jusquau bout et sil is the french foreign legion worth it faut, en oprations, au pril de ta vie giving a chance... Make up its ranks were seen as expendable went to Paris and told the recruitors that want! There is no way you can ask to get seriously wounded during a military operation North,...

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