Military history has many pages in which various military formations are mentioned that are directly involved in hostilities and are located in the hottest spots of our planet. The most famous among them is the French Foreign Legion. This is a truly legendary military unit, whose military glory is covered in various myths and stories. Many books have been written about this elite unit and dozens of films have been made. For entire generations of men, service in this unit was considered the ultimate dream. Many have dreamed and continue to dream about how to become legionnaires and quickly put on a special military uniform. However, in reality, instead of bravado and ostentatious gloss, the foreign legion is hard service and work associated with constant risk and danger. Is a person ready to voluntarily give up all the advantages that civilian life promises, starting his military career in accordance with the harsh and strict military regulations?
You can refer to weighty arguments in favor of making such a decision: a good salary, full social security, the opportunity to subsequently obtain French citizenship. However, for all this one has to pay a high price: personal freedom, hard physical labor and deprivation, and finally, constant danger and threat to life, despite the fact that the romance of military service, future privileges and decent pay is a serious motivation.
French Foreign Legion - what is it really?
It should be noted right away that the legion is not a club of interests in which everyone does what they want. This is a full-fledged military unit belonging to the armed forces of the French Republic. Not only the military regulations apply here, but also a number of provisions that regulate the procedure for serving. Unlike traditional armed forces, the legion has a different recruitment and recruiting system. The military personnel of this unit undergo a completely different, exorbitant level of training. Subsequent service in the legion takes place in conditions as close as possible to combat, in various parts of the planet.
Only representatives of the stronger sex can become legionnaires. Women are not allowed to serve in the foreign legion!
The history of this legendary military unit goes back less than two hundred years. In 1831, King Louis Philippe I of France undertook an adventurous military operation in North Africa. The military campaign, according to the plan of the French court, was supposed to divert the attention of civil society from internal problems in the state. The purpose of the military expedition to Algeria was the declared expansion of the borders of the colonial empire.
This dubious event required a significant number of troops, which France clearly did not have enough at that time. In addition, the French generals were not delighted with the military adventure of the French king and in every possible way opposed sending units of the regular French army to overseas possessions. Life itself suggested a way out of this situation.
France in the first half of the 19th century was going through hard times. The economy was in decline and the country's population was in dire straits. The consequences of fifteen years of continuous wars that France waged under Napoleon Bonaparte were felt. A huge number of idle males appeared inside the country, looking for any ways and opportunities to improve their plight, without disdaining robbery. Neither the police, nor the gendarmerie, nor the army could cope with such negative phenomena. The only way out of this situation was a royal decree on the creation of a new paramilitary unit under the leadership of French officers, which could be staffed by people who had problems with the law.
In this way, it was possible to immediately solve two problems:
- by legalization, remove criminal and unreliable elements from the streets of French cities and roads;
- gather the required number of people for subsequent training and sending to the colonies.
The only condition stipulated in the royal decree was that the newly created paramilitary force could not be used on the territory of the metropolis. As a result of such actions, in just a few months the required number of people was recruited through recruitment centers. The set did not have any special requirements. The recruits were neither asked for their name nor their social background. To become a legionnaire, a man from the street only had to be in reasonable health and have an idea of how to hold a gun.
Shortly after the first months of basic military training, recruits were sent to Algeria to suppress the uprising of local natives and to participate in the expansion of colonial possessions. The new army was given the name Foreign Legion.
The first combat experience showed that the chosen tactics were completely justified. Legionnaires, unlike regular army soldiers, knew what they were fighting for. Having shown enviable ingenuity, tenacity and perseverance on the battlefield, the soldiers and officers of the foreign legion were able to quickly suppress not only pockets of rebel Arabs, but also establish a strict and harsh colonial regime in the colony. From that moment on, the foreign legion began to be involved in almost all wars waged by France. In the 19th century, legionnaires had to fight in Spain and Mexico. The French Foreign Legion also took part in the Crimean War, fighting Russian troops near Sevastopol.
In the next 20th century, legionnaires became participants in the largest military conflicts that affected not only France, but also shocked the whole world. The conquest of Indochina, participation in military operations in the French colonies in Madagascar, Morocco, then the First World War. Everywhere, in the most dangerous areas, soldiers and officers of the foreign legion were involved. The French Foreign Legion became a kind of special forces that solved the most complex tactical and strategic problems. At some points, the number of units of the Foreign Legion was about 50 thousand people. The soldiers of this unit had to serve in various parts of the world, from isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean to the dense jungles of South America and tropical Africa.
The essence of the Foreign Legion as a unit and how to get into it
Despite the fact that the Foreign Legion is officially part of the French army, in reality it is a separate military unit reporting directly to the head of state. At first it was the King of France, then the Emperor, and in modern times - the President of the French Republic. Neither army regulations nor orders of the Minister of Defense apply here. Today the legion has its own developed infrastructure. Each regiment that is part of the legion has its own quarters, with barracks, headquarters and even its own guardhouse. At its core, it is a closed organization, reminiscent in its structure of medieval orders of knighthood.
The legion is financed from the state treasury and through sponsorship. A significant part of the Foreign Legion's budget comes from financial and economic groups and lobbyists, who have great weight in the domestic and foreign policy of France. In other words, there are no permanent and fixed allocations for the maintenance of the legion. Unlike the regular French army, legionnaires do not have broad social government guarantees.
The French Foreign Legion is also distinguished by its military doctrine. There is an unspoken limitation on the equipment of the units that are part of the Foreign Legion. There are no full-fledged tank formations or its own aviation. Armed with armored personnel carriers, light artillery systems, and helicopters. The bulk of combat work has to be performed by infantry units. Today the legion includes:
- one armored cavalry regiment;
- two airborne units;
- engineer regiment;
- infantry and training regiments.
Some military units are stationed on the territory of continental France and on the island of Corsica. In the town of Aubagne, department of Bouches-du-Rhone, on the territory of the 1st regiment, the General Headquarters of the Foreign Legion is located. Other units are located in overseas territories controlled by France.
The procedure for recruiting military units belonging to the French Legion is curious. In contrast to previously used recruitment methods, when citizens with any reputation and any nationality could become legionnaires, today the conditions for recruitment into this elite unit have been tightened.
In order to become a legionnaire today, it is enough to know the mechanism of the admission procedure and have a relatively unblemished reputation. Gone are the days when the Legion was a convenient shelter for those who tried to hide from the law, even from another state. The main and main condition for starting the process is a voluntary desire, which must be shown along with your passport at the recruitment point. This is followed by a strict medical examination and assessment of your physical abilities. Today, the Legion is not ready to support soldiers who are in poor health and who do not fully understand what they will have to deal with. The first contract is signed for a period of 5 years, and the main article of the contract directly indicates that you will not have to sit out in the rear at a warm resort. The main function of legionnaires is to serve in hot spots, where the likelihood of hostilities and clashes is always high.
Not only a person of French origin, but also a foreigner can become a legionnaire. Over the years of the existence of this unit, representatives of more than 130 states served in the Foreign Legion. Only privates and sergeants are recruited into the Legion. Command at all stages is exercised by French officers, so French is the main command language.
After the end of the first contract, military personnel who have demonstrated valor, bravery and have an impeccable reputation receive either French citizenship or a residence permit in France. Having been wounded during operations, there is a chance to immediately receive not only French citizenship, but also a serious increase in salary. The service life of a legionnaire is limited only by the period of validity of the contract. In other words, if a legionnaire’s contract has expired and he is tired of fighting, he can leave. For those who served under the banners of the Foreign Legion for 19 years or more, a lifetime pension with the right to provide housing is assigned.
Despite the fact that today the number of military conflicts in which the French Foreign Legion participates is limited, the life of a legionnaire is not easy. In parallel with high salaries and relative comfort in peacetime, soldiers of the foreign legion, as before, experience the hardships and hardships of military service to a double or triple extent.
In the first third of the 19th century, France planned an invasion of Algeria. An expeditionary force was needed for a military operation. King Louis Philippe decided to create a new formation with the involvement of foreigners, of whom there were in abundance in the capital at that time. Thus, the government got rid of undesirable elements, including those who had problems with the law. From then on, it became a custom not to ask a new recruit’s name. The officers were appointed from Napoleon's former army. On March 9, 1831, the monarch decreed that the French Foreign Legion could only be used outside mainland France. Despite the fact that the unit is part of the French ground forces, in emergency cases it is subordinate to only one person - the head of state. The government can dispose of fighters without the approval of the National Assembly, which turns the Legion into a universal tool for achieving political goals.
Legendary Unit
Over the one hundred and eighty-four years of the expeditionary force's existence, about 650,000 people served in it. More than 36,000 of them died in battle. The unit was not spared by the colonial operations of France and not a single significant warrior in the world. The French Foreign Legion participated in two world wars and more than thirty local armed conflicts in Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East, and even in Mexico. He also happened to fight on Russian territory: in November 1854, the Legion took part in one of the episodes of the Crimean War - in the battle of Inkerman. It had its largest numbers at the beginning of the First World War - almost 43,000 fighters of more than fifty nationalities.
Elite armed forces of Europe
Over the decades, the French Foreign Legion has evolved from a gang of cutthroats and renegades into an elite unit of constant combat readiness. The personnel from 140 countries of the world includes 5,545 privates, 1,741 non-commissioned officers and 413 officers. 11 units of the Legion are deployed both on the territory of France itself (continental, on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia) and in overseas possessions. Among them:
- Kourou (French Guiana) - the European space center is located here.
- Mururoa Atoll in the Pacific Ocean is a nuclear weapons testing site.
- The island of Mayotte (Comoros archipelago) is an overseas department of France.
- UAE - protection of oil refining industry facilities.
Regiments are also deployed in Afghanistan, New Caledonia, Cote d'Ivoire and Djibouti. The French Foreign Legion carries out tasks to restore and maintain peace, and also carries out special operations in the interests of the state's foreign policy (fighting in the jungle, neutralizing terrorists, freeing hostages). Personnel are recruited to provide humanitarian assistance. The command is located in the city of Aubagne, 15 km from Marseille.
The unit is equipped with the most advanced combat and engineering equipment and small arms. The standard weapon is a French-made Famas G2 automatic rifle with a caliber of 5.56 mm. The fighters have at their disposal 81-mm and 120-mm mortars, effective sniper systems, guided anti-tank missile systems, automatic anti-aircraft guns, and armored personnel carriers. According to many analysts, the combat training of the foreign corps is significantly higher than that of similar formations in other European countries.
Heraldry, form and unique traditions
The emblem of the French Foreign Legion is a stylized 19th-century graphic of the rising flame of an exploding grenade. This unique coat of arms is also depicted on the formation’s standard. The flag is a diagonally divided vertical rectangle. The upper green segment means the new homeland of the legionnaires, the red one means the blood of the warrior. During the battle, the flag is turned over - blood is in the homeland.
The motto is the exclamation: “Legio Patria Nostra” (The Legion is our homeland). The uniform of the French Foreign Legion contains some extravagant attributes that at first glance have nothing to do with military affairs. Legionnaires marching in a ceremonial carriage are dressed in gray trousers. The waist is intercepted blue scarf made of sheep wool. Its length is exactly 4.2 meters, width - 40 cm. Legionnaires began to use scarves in 1930 in Algeria in order to protect the lower back from hypothermia in the sands at night. Headdress - a classic French cut, snow-white caps, protection from the merciless African sun. For decades, the boots of the French Foreign Legion have remained an unchanged attribute. The shoes are made of nubuck. Despite the apparent massiveness, they are very convenient for use in the desert. They are made in two standard colors: black and chestnut. The badge on the cap depicts the same a grenade explosion with seven flashes of fire.But that's not all.
Pioneer March
During parades and other special events, you can watch an exclusive sight: marching soldiers in strange equipment. By the way, the pace of the legionnaires is original, slow: 88 steps per minute - one and a half times less than traditionally accepted. This emphasizes the privilege and special mission of desert soldiers on distant frontiers. You can't really march on the sand. There is also a unique category of warriors called pioneers. The Pioneers of the French Foreign Legion are an elite unit that marches at the forefront of any parade. These warriors look terrifying: over their uniform they wear an apron made of buffalo leather with one strap, and a 1.5-kilogram ax rests on their shoulder.
But in reality there is no bloodthirstiness in this appearance. Pioneers are sappers, those who ensure the advancement of military units in any situation. They clear roads and build crossings, and take care of logistics. The sappers of the foreign corps are the only unit in the French army that has preserved the tradition of the procession of warriors with axes unchanged since the 18th century. Although there is still a hidden subtext: the French Foreign Legion is always ready to clear the way for the regular units of the French army following behind.
Where do they recruit?
The personnel is recruited from men aged 17 to 40 years. If anyone is interested in the question of how to get into the French Foreign Legion, then you should know that recruitment centers are located only in France. There are fifteen bureaus in major cities, including Paris. Embassies, consulates and the Legion itself do not provide any assistance in issuing migration documents. Moreover, a recruit intending to cross the threshold of a mobilization point must be in the country legally. We must not lose sight of the fact that mercenarism in many CIS countries is prosecuted by law, but there are legal loopholes. You can go on a tourist visa to one of the Schengen countries, and then take a train or bus to any recruiting point. The central filtration camp is located near Marseille, in the city of Aubagne. From collection points in French cities, volunteers are sent here once or twice a week.
Recruit trials
The requirements for recruits are simple: endurance and health. The candidate will undergo a physical fitness test, a standard general medical examination and psychological tests. The physical fitness exam consists of a cross-country race: you need to run at least 2.8 km in 12 minutes. You need to do pull-ups on the bar at least five times. Press press - at least 40 times. If the candidate is physically prepared, then the next step is a standard medical examination procedure to determine the absence of diseases or their complete cure. Medical records must demonstrate good health. The absence of 4 teeth is allowed, but the rest must be healthy. If you are not rejected at this stage, then you will then have to undergo a series of psychological tests, including mental stability and attentiveness. A volunteer who passes all three types of selection is offered a five-year contract. Knowledge of French is not required. The selection lasts for two weeks. After concluding the contract, the recruit’s identification documents are confiscated and in return they are given a so-called anonymous ID - a metric with a fictitious name, surname and place of birth.
Material reward
Service in this unit is very prestigious. All hired personnel (from privates to corporals) are provided with food, uniforms and housing. The Elysee Palace has long abandoned universal conscription. The recruitment of the armed forces is based on a contract basis. One of the highest paid military units of the armed forces of the Fifth Republic is the French Foreign Legion. Salary depends on many components. Recruits receive a monthly salary of € 1,040. Allowances are given for length of service, service in an airborne unit, in difficult climatic conditions of overseas departments, participation in foreign business trips and combat operations. The approximate range of material compensation after a year of service is as follows:
Military personnel are entitled to 45 days of vacation per year. After 19 years of conscientious service, legionnaires are awarded a lifetime pension in the amount of € 1,000. A former legionnaire can receive pension payments in any region of the globe.
Career growth
The first fixed-term contract is signed for five years. Upon completion, the serviceman, at his discretion, can extend the contract for a period of six months to ten years. Only persons with French citizenship who have graduated from military educational institutions can be officers in the Legion. During the first five years of service, a distinguished legionnaire can be awarded the rank of corporal, and after three years he is given the opportunity to request French citizenship or obtain a residence permit. In 1999, the Senate passed a law according to which a legionary who was wounded during combat has the right to obtain citizenship regardless of the length of service. The awards of the French Foreign Legion are the same as in other formations of the armed forces. As in any professional army, they do not provide any benefits. Statistics show that every fourth legionnaire reaches the rank of non-commissioned officer. In addition, if desired, military personnel can acquire civilian specialties: from crafts (mason, carpenter) to high-tech (system administrator).
Only chance
The principle of recruiting rank and file from foreigners continues to this day. For many residents of third world countries, service in the French Foreign Legion is the only chance to break out into the world. A third of the personnel are from Eastern European countries, a quarter are from the Latin American world, and the rest are French who want to start life from scratch. After five years of service, natives of the country are given the opportunity to change any two letters in their surname and receive new documents.
Our compatriots in the Legion
Russians first appeared in the French Foreign Legion in 1921, when the First Cavalry Regiment was formed from the remnants of Wrangel's defeated army. At the same time, the career of Ya. M. Sverdlov’s elder brother and M. Gorky’s godson Z. A. Peshkov began. Zinovy Alekseevich rose to the rank of lieutenant general. From 1917 to 1919, the future Marshal of the Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky served in the 1st Moroccan Division. Nowadays, according to various estimates, the Legion numbers about a thousand people from the CIS countries, including several hundred Russian speakers. Our compatriots are in good standing, many have real combat experience.
French Foreign Legion. Reviews. Service
Those who have dedicated many years of their lives to the Legion speak of a special atmosphere of military brotherhood. This spirit is cultivated in the first months of service by merciless drill. All concepts of a past life are mercilessly eradicated from the recruit. It is not for nothing that this squad is given unflattering comparisons: “a legion of lost souls”, “the grave of Europeans”. However, such psychological selection is quite natural for any special forces unit, which in essence is the French Foreign Legion. Reviews from mature and morally strong people are filled with different rhetoric, calling it a legion of honor, in which officers share with the soldiers all the hardships of service. Severe disciplinary measures are designed to instill iron will, devotion to the state and the dignity of a warrior. One of our compatriots said that here foreigners are given a great honor: to prove their loyalty to France by dying for it. The result of psychological treatment is best reflected by the anthem of the French Foreign Legion:
"A knight's share is honor and loyalty.
We are proud to be one of those
Who goes to his death."
At the same time, the military leadership pays enough attention to the recreation of legionnaires. The formation has its own hotels for organizing leisure activities. There is also a home for the disabled for lifelong examination of those who have received severe injuries.
It is difficult to say anything definitely on the topic of the Foreign Legion, since the information about it in different publications is different. I can only judge him from the stories of one of my legionary acquaintances, whom I know from Marseille. Let's call him Garibaldi, since they prefer not to give their name, and there is no need to do so. Before publishing this section, I gave him articles about the legion that you will read, to which his opinion was this: the author of the impressions was really in the legion, but he embellishes his merits and experience in some places, which is quite justified: this is a publication in newspaper. Other amendments were as follows: firstly, regarding money, a beginning legionnaire receives 6,000 francs, not 3,000, then the salary increases to 8,000, and when serving in certain regions of Africa, up to 20,000 francs per month. depending on the complexity of the service conditions. As a rule, the money does not end up in your hands, but falls directly into a housing savings account in a bank, so that you can later be able to buy an apartment or house. He is satisfied with his service and does not even think about returning to Russia: there is money, good food, company, adrenaline in the blood and the future of a French citizen, and this is a lot. Regarding advice to those who decide to take this step in their life, one piece of advice: get a tourist visa, take a ticket to Marseille and go. Everything else is up to you.
I would just like to note that the first article was written a long time ago, so some of the information is irrelevant, do not take everything literally.
What do you need to know about the Foreign Legion?
According to the laws of the Russian Federation, a Russian citizen does not have the right to serve in the armed forces of foreign states.
But this does not cancel the laws in force in other states. The French Foreign Legion is an integral part of the French army. In the legion, everything is arranged exactly the same as in other units of the French army; the same types of weapons are in service. And as far as strategic tasks are concerned, everything is the same.
Another thing is that they are achieved, so to speak, by the wrong hands: the foreign legion is made up of volunteers of any citizenship, nationality and religion, ready to serve France.
Enrollment
The legion enlists men from 17 to 40 years of age who are fit for military service due to their health. Applicants under 17 years of age require special permission from a parent or guardian. Knowledge of French is not necessary - you will learn it while you serve.
The first contract is for 5 years. The volunteer must come to France and come to the registration point. The Foreign Legion does not provide any assistance in purchasing tickets or obtaining a visa to those who want to serve in it.
After successfully passing the preliminary medical examination, the candidate is sent to the Headquarter selection center - this is in Aubagne, 15 kilometers from Marseille. There, the candidate will undergo a full medical examination and tests - IQ, psychological and physical fitness.
If everything is in order, a contract is signed with the candidate for 5 years. The contract states that during this period you are ready to serve under any conditions and under any circumstances wherever you are sent.
If the candidate does not pass the tests, he is told “no” - and he can go anywhere and think for himself about how much money he will use to return to the country from which he came.
Service
The first four months are preparation and training. Then the young legionary is sent to the Fourth Foreign Regiment, located in Castelnaudary. Promotion and assignment of ranks depends on the physical capabilities of the legionnaire, his IQ and ability to lead people.
After three years of service - if there were no claims against the legionnaire, and he has a certificate in his hands stating that he served satisfactorily - the legionnaire has the right to apply for French citizenship. Whether they will give it to him is still a question, but he remains with the right to demand consideration of his candidacy as a permanent resident of France for 10 years.
Code of honor
1. A legionnaire is a volunteer who serves France faithfully and with honor.
2. Every legionnaire is your brother in arms, regardless of his citizenship, nationality, training and religion. You must demonstrate this unwavering solidarity at all times and everywhere.
3. While remaining true to the traditions of the Legion, respect commanders, discipline and brotherhood. This is your strength, this gives you courage and faith.
4. Be proud of the title of legionnaire. Always and everywhere remember him. Conduct yourself with dignity under all circumstances. Always take care of your appearance.
5. You are a highly qualified, well-trained soldier, the elite. Always make sure that your weapon is in excellent condition, treating it as your greatest treasure. Treat your body the same way. Always be in shape, train your body and harden it.
6. Once you become a legionnaire, you become one forever. Everything that is assigned must be carried out under any conditions - at all costs and to the end.
7. All orders are carried out unquestioningly, regardless of your attitude towards them. Respect the winning enemy. Never abandon your comrade - neither wounded nor dead. Under no circumstances should you let go of your weapon.
Professions
During their service, legionnaires not only participate in special operations. They have the opportunity to obtain a specialty - military or civilian.
So you can specialize in military affairs (mortars, rockets, sniper art, diving, diving, parachute). Or you can acquire a completely peaceful profession: secretarial work; radio; telephony; lighting equipment and lighting technology; electrical engineering; equipment service; construction (bricklayer, plumber, electrician, carpenter, painter); car service (mechanic, electrical engineer, welder, car painting); musician; medical assistant; cook; photographer; computer's operator; sports trainer (instructor).
Career
Often, when participating in hostilities on the territory of foreign states, legionnaires wear uniforms without insignia.
Since the founding of the legion (1831), 902 foreign generals and colonels, 3,176 mid-level commanders and more than 30,000 ordinary legionnaires have died fighting for the interests of France.
The amount paid to a legionnaire depends on his rank and participation in special operations. An ordinary legionnaire receives an average of 5,500 francs per month ($894), a corporal - 6,000 francs ($975), a senior commander - l6,300 francs ($2,648).
After the expiration of the first contract, the legionnaire can sign the next one - for a period of 6 months to 3 years. A private can serve in the legion for up to 15 years. The service life of command personnel is not limited. However, after 15 years of service, legionnaires of any rank are entitled to a pension. But in France it will be paid only to those former legionnaires who receive French citizenship.
Legionnaires who return to their homeland - for example, to Russia - must apply for a pension from local social security authorities. Today, the minimum old-age pension in Russia for persons who do not have work experience earned on the territory of Russia (USSR) or on the territory of other states, but in the direction of Russian (Soviet) institutions and organizations is 94 rubles 29 kopecks.
In the event of the death or death of a legionnaire during his service - in the event that the body is discovered - the funeral is carried out at the expense of the French state.
Recruitment points for the Foreign Legion in France
Fort de Nogent (near Paris)
94120 Fontenay-Sous Bois
La Citadelle: 59000 Lille;
Quartier Lecourbe: Rue d'Ostende, 67000 Strasbourg;
Quartier Colbert:32 bis, avenue de la Paix, 51000 Reims;
Quartier Aboville: 86000 Poitiers
Quartier Desgrees-du-Lou: rue Gambetta, 44000 Nantes Armees;
Quartier de Lattre-de-Tassigny: 57000 Metz;
Caserne Mangin:8, rue Francois-Rabelais, 66020 Perpignan; rue du Colonel-Trupel, 76038 Rouen Cedex; 66, avenue du Drapeau, 21000 Dijon;
Quartier Vienot: 13400 Aubagne; 18, Quai de Lesseps, 64100 Bayonne; 260, rue Pelleport, 33000 Bordeaus;
Quartier General Frere: 69007 Lyon;
Caserne Filley: rue Sincaire, 06300 Nice;
Caserne Perignon: avenue Camille Pujol, 31000 Toulouse
Good afternoon. My name is Alexey, I'm 25 years old, I live in the suburbs of Marseille, France. I have been serving in the French Foreign Legion for four years now. I try to combine military service, with its specifics, its advantages and limitations, with the civilian life of a young man who loves traveling and evenings with friends. I would like to describe one of my weekdays, Friday, November 7, when I managed a little of everything. There are 37 photos under the cut.
(Total 37 photos)
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Source: Zhzhurnal/odin-moy-den
2. 6:00 The company duty officer whistles for the rise. To be honest, I usually allow myself to lie in bed for another five to ten minutes to finally wake up. Today was no exception.
3. One of my first army purchases was civilian bedding. Moreover, I often take a small pillow on long trips.
4. During the day, however, everything civilian is put away in the closet.
6:15 Morning roll call. In the warm season, legionnaires line up in front of the barracks building; in cold weather or during rain, more often in the building itself. During roll call, the platoon duty officer counts everyone living in the barracks and fills out a log with everyone present, absent for various reasons, sick, and so on.
5. 6:20 Shaving is an unchanging morning ritual of every soldier. I feel uncomfortable with stubble, but during vacation I always shave once a week. Because I can fucking afford it.
6. 6:30 Morning coffee. Breakfast in the French army is voluntary; I never have breakfast in the canteen. On the one hand, I wouldn’t voluntarily exchange my Italian camp coffee maker for anything. On the other hand, I’m not used to eating a lot in the morning; coffee and biscuit - that's my minimum and my maximum. Besides, during breakfast I like to look at the latest posts on LiveJournal.
7. 6:50 Cleaning. I live in a small room for two people (I’m lucky here; in the Legion they often live in groups of four); Despite the fact that I am the senior in rank, I always clean my half of the room myself. This is already a matter of principle.
8. 7:10 Another daily procedure is cleaning your shoes. In the French army, they don’t go too far on this issue; no one demands a mirror shine from their boots every second; after all, we don’t work in surgery. However, before formation and going to the canteen, the boots must be clean.
7:40 Rules of good manners - 15-20 minutes before the start of the working day, come to the bureau (each platoon has its own office) and say hello to your superiors. This is the moment when you can discuss upcoming matters, negotiate changes, and so on. Or just chat about the evening football match.
8:00 Daily company meetings, which serve as the beginning of the working day. At them, the company commander or his deputies often read out important information and make announcements.
9. 8:05 A huge advantage of the army is the opportunity to play sports during working hours. During vacation, when the whole day is left to me alone, I often don’t find time for sports. The French army is trying to diversify sports activities, while focusing on running. There are a lot of military activities - obstacle courses, races in ammunition, strength martial arts, and purely civilian ones - running, swimming, gym, bicycle. I love to play sports with full dedication.
10. 9:00 The duration of the session depends on the chosen lesson, but on average it is 45-60 minutes. This is followed by muscle stretching, reminiscent of yoga.
11. 9:15 Shower. If it were up to me, I would stand under a warm shower for half an hour.
12. 9:30 After sports, I drink a cup of coffee and change into my work uniform.
13. I have “civilian” and “military” cabinets. The military man is half full of dress jackets and dress shirts.
14. Contents of my pockets. A notepad, a couple of pens, a wallet, a small folder (or case?) for documents, change, keys, a knife. By the way, many military personnel always carry a knife in their pocket - a traveling habit that does not disappear even in the unit.
15. I carry exclusively military documents in my case - military ID, magnetic pass, military driver's license, insurance. The token is in the wallet.
16. 10:00 After the morning sports session, I get down to paperwork, of which there is a lot in the army. Too much. Sports and military statistics, medical files, acts, regulations and much, much more. I had the imprudence to boast of computer literacy, now a considerable part of all this rests on my shoulders. A week ago, the platoon leader pasted motivational messages on the paper racks.
17. 11:15 Meeting with an insurance agent. In a few months I will have a business trip to a distant and hot African country. I agreed that my insurance would be automatically doubled for this period. At the same time I received a keychain flash drive as a gift. It's a small thing, but nice.
18. 12:00 Lunch. The rank and file goes to the canteen in formation, and from the canteen everyone is on their own. Unfortunately, the army diet contains a lot of semi-finished products. Tasty, but not very healthy.
During training, I ate the slowest of all, but now my civilian friends laugh at the speed at which I absorb food. Now I eat quickly, even when I don’t need to rush anywhere, I can’t help it :)
19. 12:20 Upon returning to the barracks after lunch, the first thing I do is take off my combat boots.
20. In France, almost everywhere the lunch break lasts two hours. I usually either sleep or read at this time. Today I lost an hour and a half; I stopped at a very interesting moment last night.
21. 14:00 We go with the company to the armory, what is an army without weapons?! In a couple of weeks I will have to shoot a new Belgian machine gun, which is just being introduced into the French army. I already know the theory and technical characteristics; today I touch a weapon for the first time in a classroom.
22. 15:30 Coffee is my drug. In Russia I didn’t drink it even in the morning, but now I drink it five times a day. I take a short break and go to the platoon office to enjoy a cup of aromatic food.
23. 15:40 Again for weapons. This time I decide to disassemble/assemble and install/remove already familiar barrels on armored cars. Repetition is the mother of learning.
25. 16:30 Next week my company will have exercises, which will involve a lot of traveling. While the others are lightly lubricating and handing over their weapons, one of my colleagues and I are checking the cars to be completely sure that they are in good working order. I'm not very good at technology, as opposed to electronics, so my partner kindly takes care of all the mechanical part of the matter, leaving me the little things like radio and chemical protection.
26. 17:00 We finish with the cars and go up to the office. Starting next week I will work in the medical unit. I served in my current platoon for almost a year and a half, so I’m showing myself off to my comrades.
27. The guys wish me success in my new place and give me a ballpoint pen with a built-in flash drive. They all agreed today, or what? 🙂
28. 17:30 End of the working day and working week. I shake everyone’s hands and go up to my room to collect my things and change clothes. Many people are surprised that in my civilian life I prefer a classic style of clothing. Shirts, trousers, shoes. Well, I really can’t walk around in ankle boots.
18:10 I’m going to the station. During the first contract, legionnaires are prohibited from owning or renting housing. Of course, this causes inconvenience, but everyone wants to have their own corner. On the other hand, if it weren’t for this rule, I would never have been able to travel so much. I decided to spend this weekend in Lyon.
29. 18:40 At the Marseille train station, I have a favorite waiting room; By the way, the only place in France where I drink tea.
There is still almost an hour before the train to Lyon; I settle down to read a book. It might be stupid, but for the last couple of years I've been reading three books at once. One artistic in Russian and French, as well as one scientific in Russian. It's slowest in French.
30. 19:43 Departure of the train to Lyon. High-speed trains are my salvation; I, like all French military personnel, have a 75 percent discount on transport. Without her, again, half of my trips around the country would never have happened.
31. The ticket purchasing system in France is damn convenient. The entire procedure, from searching for schedules to checking tickets, can be completed via the Internet. I generally use the mobile application of the local railway company. Ticket - QR code on the phone screen.
32. I process photos on the road. I rarely get around to this matter, but an hour forty hours alone with a laptop is a sufficient argument to eventually open Picasa and GIMP.
33. 21:39 The train arrived in Lyon twenty minutes late. The railway networks in France are clearly overloaded; in my subjective opinion, on Fridays and Sundays one hundred percent of trains are out of schedule. Walking out onto the platform, I came across a very funny picture.
34. 21:50 The tram I need leaves right in front of my nose. In the evenings, public transport has a fairly long interval; the wait for the next tram is eighteen minutes. Google Maps says that it’s a nineteen-minute walk to your destination. Well, the choice is obvious :)
35. 22:10 I arrive at the hostel. I usually rent apartments on Airbnb - it's relatively inexpensive, but very convenient. However, this time I decided to try the hostel, I was won over by the flattering reviews about it.
36. 22:25 I register, throw my things into the room and come to the common room with the desire to enjoy fast Internet. There I come across a crowd of guys from the States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This is the beauty of hostels. Despite the fact that the level of my English has dropped significantly in France, I still communicate in it with almost no problems. A bottle of wine - and now I’m the life of the party :)
37. 23:10 After a hefty dose of alcohol, everyone sat down to play a card game unknown to me. Without knowing the rules, the main loser was always, of course, me.
23:51 It’s almost midnight, I have absolutely no energy left to continue the party, so at this point I decide to end my day and go to bed. Good night.
The French Foreign Legion is a unique elite military unit that is part of the French armed forces. Today it has more than 8 thousand legionnaires who represent 136 countries of the world, including France. What they all have in common is serving France at a high professional level.
The creation of the legion is associated with the name of King Louis Philippe I, who in 1831 signed a decree on the creation of a single military unit, which was to include several active regiments. The main purpose of the new formation was to carry out combat missions outside the French borders. To exercise command, officers were recruited from Napoleon's army, and soldiers accepted not only natives of Italy, Spain or Switzerland, but also French subjects who had certain problems with the law. Thus, the French government got rid of potentially dangerous people who not only had significant combat experience, but could also use it in conditions of political instability within the state.
This policy of the king was very logical. The fact is that the legionnaires were trained to conduct a large-scale campaign to colonize Algeria, which required a large number of troops. But at the same time, France could not send its subjects to Africa. That is why foreigners living in the vicinity of Paris were recruited into the legion.
Approximately during the same period of time, the tradition of not asking the real names of new soldiers arose. Many desperate people had the opportunity to start life anew, getting rid of their criminal past.
Today, the legion's rules also allow for anonymous recruitment of soldiers. As before, volunteers are not asked for their name or country of residence. After a few years of service, each legionnaire has the opportunity to obtain French citizenship and start a completely new life with a new name.
It should be noted that the first rule of foreign players is to never give up. The beginning of this tradition dates back to 1863, when three legionnaires held down more than 2 thousand well-armed soldiers of the Mexican army. But, taken prisoner, thanks to their courage and valor, they were soon released with honors.
As at the time of its founding, the French Legion is under the direct control of the head of state.
The modern Foreign Legion consists of tank, infantry and engineer units. Its structure includes 7 regiments, including the famous paratroopers with GCP special forces, one special detachment, one half-brigade and one training regiment.
Legion units are stationed in the Comoros Islands (Mayotte Island), in Northeast Africa (Djibouti), Corsica, French Guiana (Kourou), as well as directly in France.
The peculiarity of the French Legion is that women are not allowed into it. Contracts are provided exclusively to men aged 18-40 years. The initial contract is for 5 years. All subsequent contracts can be concluded for periods ranging from six months to 10 years. In the first five-year period, you can reach the rank of corporal, but only a person with French citizenship can become an officer. The main composition of the unit's officers are, as a rule, career military personnel who graduated from military educational institutions and chose the legion as their place of service.
Since mercenaryism is considered a criminal offense in many countries around the world, recruitment centers exist exclusively in France. For everyone who wants to join the legion, testing is carried out, which includes three stages: psychotechnical, physical and medical. In addition, each recruit is interviewed separately, during which he must clearly and truthfully tell his biography. The interview is conducted in three stages, and each new stage is a repetition of the previous one. Thus, a kind of check for lice is carried out.
Foreign volunteers can be easily identified by their white hats, although only privates wear them. The unit's colors are green and red.
Today, about 7 and a half thousand soldiers serve in the legion. The training of soldiers allows them to conduct operations in the jungle and in the dark. They are trained to carry out special operations to neutralize terrorists and rescue hostages. The main task of legionnaires today is to prevent military action. They are called upon to evacuate the population from the combat zone, provide humanitarian assistance, and restore infrastructure in regions of natural disasters.
Thus, there is information that the French Foreign Legion provided serious support in conducting ground operations during the events in Libya. In August 2011, the legionnaires managed to eliminate the fuel and food supply base, which was the main one for Gaddafi’s troops. According to some reports, several companies of the legion were transferred to Libya from Tunisia or Algeria. A little earlier, in the area of Ez-Zawiya, the Foreign Legion, with minor losses, managed to break into the city center, providing free access to fighters from Benghazi. The command of the legion hoped to raise the Berber population to revolt, but this was not possible.
The participation of the French Legion in the Libyan war is strongly denied by the official French authorities, despite the fact that the press is actively discussing this issue. This position of Paris is quite understandable, since any invasion of the territory of Libya would contradict the UN resolution regarding this state, which only refers to the closure of airspace. A similar situation had already happened before, when in 1978 in Zaire the French government recognized that the Foreign Legion took part in a military conflict only after the legionnaires had completed the mission assigned to them.
The Arab Spring showed that foreign military personnel are present in many conflict zones. In addition to Libya, the French Legion also took part in military operations in Syria. Thus, 150 French legionnaires, mostly paratroopers and snipers, were arrested in Homs and 120 in Zadabani. And although no one can confirm that these were exactly legionnaires, such an assumption is quite logical, since this unit is staffed by citizens not only of France, but also of other countries. Thus, France again has the opportunity to claim that there are no French citizens present in Syria.
Another place where the French Foreign Legion was also noted is the conflict that flared up in Cote d'Ivoire. One gets the impression that France has set itself the goal of creating for itself the most aggressive image on the entire European continent. Very often, Paris starts playing “big”, regardless of the interests of its allies in the North Atlantic Alliance. Thus, in April 2011, French paratroopers occupied the airport of the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan. Thus, the total strength of the French military corps located there was about 1,400 people.
The total number of UN peacekeeping troops in this country is 9 thousand people, of which only 900 were French. France independently decided to increase the size of its military corps, without coordinating the actions with the UN leadership. The basis of the French military corps is the military of the Foreign Legion, who have been taking part in Operation Unicorn for several years. In addition, the French government stated that the contingent that arrived in Côte d'Ivoire is coordinating actions with unoci troops, thus effectively recognizing that, in addition to the Unicorn, France is also conducting its own independent operation on the country's territory.
Thus, the French Foreign Legion is sent to those areas where France seeks to protect its interests within or “under the cover” of the European Union or the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as where there are certain historical obligations or a threat to the lives of French citizens.