(Bought up this old post form Ninor, a former Legioniare...)A BRIEF HISTORY.
The Legion was created by King Louis Philippe in 1831 to reinforce his military which was being decimated overseas by disease and losses in battle. Like everyone else at the time there was a struggle for world domination and the French were in the Ivory Coast, Tahiti, South America etc. It was a politically expedient move also because many political refuges and fugitives had taken up residence in France. To sweeten the pot he offered a deal, if you do five years in the Legion, we won't ask any questions about your past and we'll grant you French nationality at the end of your contract. (Of course, it was a pretty safe bet then because very few people made it through the five years).
They've fought in Mexico (More on these battles later), Kolweizi, and in every major conflict that France has been a part of since their inception. The most famous part of all this was that in WWII the Legion actually fought the Legion. The part of the French govt that had gone over to Germany's side ordered their Legion troops to Africa to fight alongside the Afrika Korps. On the other side, fighting for the Free French were the Legion troops still loyal to them fighting beside Monty's guys and the Aussies.
BATTLES FOUGHT
The most famous battle as far as the Legion is concerned was Camerone. It's a small town in Mexico where a Legion convoy taking pay to the troops was jumped by 2,000 Mexican troops. The Legion fought to the finish i.e. 3 guys were left without ammo so they did a bayonet charge on the remaining Mexicans. The Mexican commander was so impressed he let them go. The Captain in charge - who was killed during the battle - had a wooden hand from a previous conflict. The three survivors brought it home with them and it now resides in the Legion's museum.
NATO rated them the best anti terrorist force in the world back in the early eighties based on the battle for Kolweizi. Simba rebels were raping and killing French and Belgian civilians in Zaire. The French were the only people willing and able to go in a short time. 24 hours later they did a parachute drop into Kolweizi and started killing the rebels and rescuing everyone.
They've been fighting ever since their formation - most times on CNN when you hear about French troops going in somewhere i.e. Desert Storm, Ivory Coast, Tahiti, Kosovo etc it's the Legion. France is pretty clever when it comes to this because there's no furore at home when the troops start dying because they're all foreigners (more on that in a bit).
JOINING
There are as many reasons for joining as there are troops. Some are wanted, some are avoiding child support, some owe money to heavies, some want French nationality, others go for the adventure. To join you have to go to one of 16 induction centers in France. From there they send you to Aubagne (Legion HQ) where you spend 3 weeks passing a battery of physical, psychological and background checks. The Legion no longer takes serious criminals. They work hand in hand with Interpol so if you're wanted for murder, drug smuggling, kidnapping etc you will be handed over to the authorities. They do still take petty criminals and in fact judges in France often offer miscreants the choice jail or join the Legion.
In the old days French weren't allowed to join. Now there's a lot of them but, to get around the rules, your I.D. card says you're Swiss, Canadian or Belgian. Foreigners make up about 55% the majority being Brits, Germans and Spaniards. Depending on what's happening in the world will be reflected in the makeup. I.e. right after WWII it was full of Waffen SS and Gestapo avoiding prosecution for war crimes. When the Russians invaded Hungary loads of Hungarians joined. After the Falklands confliict loads of British soldiers looking for more excitement swelled the ranks. Currently it's many East Europeans looking for French nationality in case the Iron Curtain ever comes down again. (No one likes the East European being there. In the old days most guys were motivated by the fighting and adventure. These guys just want a passport and do the bare minimum to get it. Years of living under a govt that did everything for them has left them very unmotivated).
REGIMENTS
If you're accepted the contract is for 5 years. When you come out of basic - which is 4 months long - you get a choice of where you go (not always guaranteed of course). Regiments in France include Basic Infantry, Cavalry, Training, HQ and River Franchisment and Anti-Mining and Ship Board Security. Overseas is the Parachute Regiment (on Corsica where it must stay by French Law. They'd love to come to mainland France but because of the military mutiny after Algeria in which they threatened to remove De Gaulle the government keeps them as far away as possible). There are also regiments that provide security in French Guyanne, (Sth America), Madagascar, Djibouti, Chad, Tahiti and reinforcement ops in Bangui (Africa). Those regiments, companys and Brigades etc only number about 9,000 men.
I went to the Parachute regiment after basic. It's made up of 5 companies. Co 1 specializes in Night Combat and Anti Tank. Co 2 is the mountaineering company. Co 3 (where I was) is the amphibious group. 4th Co does Sniper/Sabotage and the 5th is made up Mortars, Milan, Support and Behind Lines Deep Penetration Pathfinder unit.
I was trying for the latter (you have to be there 3 years before you can attempt the selection test) but was thrown out for constantly being injured during jumps. I was 10kgs over the safe weight limit when I joined and despite being the last one out of the plane I'd usually hit the ground first and sprain or twist my ankles.
I got my choice and went to Djibouti (Small country right under Ethiopia and above Somalia). France granted them independence in 78 but stays to keep out all the commies that surround them i.e. Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen etc. Little known fact, the Legion were the first into Somalia during the Blackhawk down period and drew first blood when a truck load of technicals attempted to run a road block.
After Djibouti I returned to France and served the last year and half of my contract in the military police as an patrolman and unarmed combat instructor at the Legion HQ in Aubagne (right next to Marseille)
CHANGING YOUR NAME ETC.
The Legion still gives you the option of changing your name. That way, if someone turns up at the door with a lawyer and papers to serve one "Bob Smith" to appear in court to pay child support for example the Legion can open their books and declare, hand on their heart, "we don't have any Bob Smith here." After a certain period you can have your old name back if you want.
If you want nationality you must apply for it at the end of your five year contract. If you have an honorable discharge it will be granted. I wasn't wanted when I joined so I didn't apply for the name change and, stupidly I didn't hang round for the six months it would have taken to get my nationality as I had a job offer bodyguarding in London to.
WHAT THE LOCALS THINK
It's funny...in the North of France I've met people who didn't believe the Legion still existed or, in one case, ever existed at all. Some parts of the country hate us because many of them are extremely left and the Legion is the darling of the Right. The Gendarmes love us because we're all in the Ministry of Defense. Some of my English Legion mates were in Paris drunk in a bar raising Caine and fighting the locals. The Gendarmes and CRS turned up to quell the trouble, found out our guys were all in the Legion, so they drew their batons, beat the crap out of the locals, ordered the barman to hang out the closed sign and all got drunk(er) together singing old Legion songs. Turns out one of the Gendarmes was a Legionnaire in his youth.
If you walk through Paris on Bastille Day in your uniform you will not have to pay for drinks. All the old veterans will grab you, drag you into bars and buy your drinks. Walking through the airport once in uniform and I was escorted directley to the plane by the airport security who couldn't understand why I thought I should have to go through a security check....very cool. Never see that here. I think it's ridiculous to see TSA guys searching soldiers at our airports.
A LAW UNTO ITSELF
The Legion used to be very much a law unto itself. It's motto is "Legio Patria Nostra" The Legion Is My Fatherland. Recently moves are being made to bring them more into line with the regular French troops. In my day the sign on our gear said "Legion Etrangere.' Now, all of our equipment is marked "Armee du Terre." and our uniforms are the same with the exception of the Kepi.
MARCH OR DIE
Our unoficial motto is March or Die because of the Legion's reputation for marching. I had to laugh at some former Marines who joined and were stunned when we'd march ninety miles to go somewhere. They couldn't understand why we didn't order up the choppers. Basic training is culminated with a 120 mile march done over 3 days. If you complete it you then have the right to wear the kepi blanc. (which is black in colour once you attain the rank of Sgt).
Apologies for any typos...I'm doing this fast because I have to pack. if you have any specific questions about any aspect of it or life in their, pay etc just let me know here and I'll gladly answer them.
Vive la mort, vive la guerre,
Vive la sacre mercenaire
If you go to the link below it will take you to a page they put together on Legionnaires. If you drag your cursor over the medals etc it will tell you what they are for etc.
www.amicale-online.ca/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=215
