Thinking of joining the French Foreign Legion.

Rossonero

I'm at the first major crossroads of my life. It's looking like I'm going to fail all my exams at college. It will be the 3rd course I've failed. I don't think I can afford to repeat.
I don't want to go back to my old job in a pharmacutical factory. The only thing I really want to do is to be a wild-life film-maker or to join the army. Since I wouldn't be able to afford the first, I'm thinking of the latter.
I could try for the Irish army, but I don't want to be surrounded and counting by my family, whom have helped me too much financially up to now. But then, I don't want to abandon them after them helping me so much.
I feel, though, that I need to break free, I need a change. I'm not a happy soul at the mo. By joining the FFL, if I'm capable, would give me a chance to start afresh in a new country.
Then, there's a feeling of letting my own country down. But, there's a contradicting feeling that I would be just representing my country in the FFL. It would feel as if I'm helping a bond form.

But, it's so hard to let go. reminds me of a lyric by U2 in the song 'Numb'(i think); "A man will dream of leaving, but always stays behind".I know how easy it is to write about this, whereas it will be so hard to do it.
If I do decide to up and go, i am thinking of going without telling anyone, maybe just a note on the kitchen table. I would of course, get into contact with home, once I'm established.

It would probably be more honourable, personally, to talk about it as a soldier, rather than someone who is about to run away. ( don't think I described that very well)

I keep saying to myself, there's only one life, and it's short enough! It would be an adventure. I've quit my job before to go on a spontaneous sailing trip to France for 5 weeks, the next day. It's not the same scale, but i do have the courage in me to up and go.
But, i did tell my family i was going.
i also refer to nature when looking on life. Many animals hunt their young out of the nest, sometimes ruthlessly. It's a fact of life. Life goes on. It's just a case of taking that first step, a leap of faith if you like. Young birds making their first leap from the branch, and hope they can fly. Ignoring all dangers just so they can move on.


I would greatly appreciate any comments and opinions. Thanks for reading

TerrorFirmer

Joining the FFL is not easy.

They are not as acceptable of anybody as they used to be.

I think you should greatly think about what you are doing. The FFL requires that you learn the French language in a short period of time and is physically super demanding, in such a way as to make the Irish army childs play.

There was a video of the FFL out a while back, in alot of stores, but I don't think they stock it anymore.

Anyway, you'd be doing well to read up extensively on the subject before making any truly rash decisions.

This sounds to me like your trying to salvage what is a pretty uneventful life with some kind of male bravado image.

TCP/IP

May I ask what age you are if you dont mind. If you feel the need to get out by all means do it, the reason I ask your age is that it would be a very imature thing to just run off especaillay as you say your family has been so good to you. Think long and hard but dont just run off, be a man and explain your actions.

WhiteWashMan

Rossonero wrote:

I'm at the first major crossroads of my life. It's looking like I'm going to fail all my exams at college. It will be the 3rd course I've failed.

why have you failed so much?
is it laziness or stupidity or some other factor?

Rossonero wrote:

I
I don't want to go back to my old job in a pharmacutical factory. The only thing I really want to do is to be a wild-life film-maker or to join the army. Since I wouldn't be able to afford the first, I'm thinking of the latter.

or maybe you just havent found anything you like doing yet?

listen, i could go on a disect your post line by line, but i wont.
ive read enough of your post to understand that you are young, that you havent a clue what it is you want, and havent got a clue how to get there.

you will grow up one day,and then you can decide to do something. until then, stop throwing around stupid notions like joining the french foreign legion. i seriously doubt you understand what that actually entails, but its not all Beau Geste and frilly sleeves. i think its a minimum of 15 years living in a desert in africa.
stop overanalysing your life everytime something happens that you cant control. learn to control the things you can, and learn not worry about those you cant.
seriosuly, youre still a kid. if you know what you want to do when you are 40, you will still be ahead of most people.

and get your finger out and actually study. you wont believe how helpful that is in passing exams...

pwd

The only remotely sane reason for joining the FFL would be that it offers French citizenship as a reward after a specific term of service to someone desperate to get out of their own country.
You are part of the EU so you can live in France already.
I actually looked into this myself fairly recently. It isn;t a good idea.
You get paid very poorly.
It attracts scum by its very nature. The French know this and treat them accordingly. They will favour using Legionairres over regular soldiers for missions where the likelihood of death is high.
You get fed badly.
They still have some corporal punishment.
You cannot become an officer.
You pay all your taxes at once at the end of your term of service. If you have not been careful with your wages you might not be able to pay them and effectively trapped into serving another term.

You can join the British army, since your grandparents were born British citizens. Lots of Irish people do. If you do not have political objection sto this course it seems like a sane alternative.

edit:
they even have at least one Irish regiment

Rossonero

TCP/IP wrote:

May I ask what age you are if you dont mind. If you feel the need to get out by all means do it, the reason I ask your age is that it would be a very imature thing to just run off especaillay as you say your family has been so good to you. Think long and hard but dont just run off, be a man and explain your actions.

almost 21.

koneko

Out of interest, why do you want to join the army?

jman0

I know somebody that was in the FFL for 10 years and they swear by it. But they left the FFL probably 25 or 30 years ago, i think they are a much different force today.
Hecktor paid them a visit on his show, he gave it the thumbs down. There was an irish lad there however. But generally the weather was really hot and humid and instead of kicking back with a beer, these folks in the FFL were having to do all sorts of military drills and crap like that in sweaty miliary fatigues. Anyway you should seen the episode.
Maybe you should pay them a visit and actually SEE the place and what they do before signing up.

Rossonero

WhiteWashMan wrote:

why have you failed so much?
is it laziness or stupidity or some other factor?



or maybe you just havent found anything you like doing yet?

. i seriously doubt you understand what that actually entails, but its not all Beau Geste and frilly sleeves. i think its a minimum of 15 years living in a desert in africa.
learn to control the things you can, and learn not worry about those you cant.
seriosuly, youre still a kid. if you know what you want to do when you are 40, you will still be ahead of most people.

and get your finger out and actually study. you wont believe how helpful that is in passing exams...

I have read up on it. A book by someone who joined it. I haven't found anything I like doing, you're right. But I've always had an interest in becoming a soldier and discipline.

Prerequisits are (at time book was published, a while ago)
-a 12 mile run with ease
-a 100m dash with a 40 kg sack of sand. <20 sec is aimed for.
-a run carrying a heavy weight on your back for as long as you can. 2800< is a good run
-30 pushups, 50 situps, 8 chin ups with palms facing away
-climb a rope without using legs. Up and down as many times as possible.

Rossonero

koneko wrote:

Out of interest, why do you want to join the army?

I just have a fascination with the life of a soldier.
Need to be, and would like to be seriously and ultimately disciplined.
Self-control, orderly and mentally strong.
I'd be suited,IMO, to the mental strains and battles.

Rossonero

pwd wrote:

You get paid very poorly.
They will favour using Legionairres over regular soldiers for missions where the likelihood of death is high.
You get fed badly.
They still have some corporal punishment.
You cannot become an officer.
You pay all your taxes at once at the end of your term of service. If you have not been careful with your wages you might not be able to pay them and effectively trapped into serving another term.

You can join the British army, since your grandparents were born British citizens. Lots of Irish people do. If you do not have political objection sto this course it seems like a sane alternative.

edit:
they even have at least one Irish regiment

-Death doesn't scare me. I'm not saying that to be macho or anything. Seriously, I often ponder what it feels like, or what's after, but I can accept death very easily.

-Money doesn't matter to me. Taxes or no taxes, **** pay or no pay. I'm in it for self-fulfillment.

-I would like to serve for as long as possible.

-I do not wish to be an officer. If I exelled, they might make an exception.

-British army is an option. I have no political objection to that. But, I would rather serve France than Britain.

magpie

FFL attracts the scum of the earth; escaped cons and felons in the main part as they can join up no questions asked. Why would you willingly choose the path that is a last resort for so many people? Go and join the Irish Guards if you're dead set on joining the army. In fact, we might even have a sort of army right here in Ireland you could join.

pwd

Be the best

Rather than the cannon fodder.

Just a suggestion.

A journalist in America suggested they form a mercenary legion there. The "Freedom Legioin" is quite a believable concept. Already they turn a blind eye to immigration papers while recruiting foreign nationals, and reward three years service in a war zone with a US visa.

British army is better though. And you wouldn't be surrounded by Americans.

Rossonero

pwd wrote:

Be the best

Rather than the cannon fodder.

Just a suggestion.

A journalist in America suggested they form a mercenary legion there. The "Freedom Legioin" is quite a believable concept. Already they turn a blind eye to immigration papers while recruiting foreign nationals, and reward three years service in a war zone with a US visa.

British army is better though. And you wouldn't be surrounded by Americans.

I heard about that, but is it true, you have to be resident in the US for 2 years before acceptance?

magpie

You could try studying harder for your exams? Try to think "What would the French Foreign Legion do if they had to pass some hard exams" :rolleyes:

jman0

pwd wrote:

Be the best
British army is better though. And you wouldn't be surrounded by Americans.

Better than what? They still shoot civilians and torture detainees.
They're crap at war too, sure the Yanks were in the middle of Bagdad while the Brits were still pussy-footin around Basra (Shiite/anti-Saddam city in the south, after having had it surrounded for several weeks!)

pwd

They won't make an exception, no matter how good you are, about making you an officer. You would not be a French soldier. You would be a foreign mercenary. I think they have an equivalent rank to lieutenant for exceptional Legionnaires, but you would not be a proper officer.

You want to do it for personal growth. The French Foreign Legion is not the way to go. Lack of sleep and good food will prevent you from developing physically. Your role would be essentially "someone to die so a French person won't have to". You would be serving with the worst scum, who would steal your property. You would never be seen as being as good as a native French soldier. The only argument for joining where gaining citizenship is not relevant, would be a real abhorrence of yourself.

Join the British army and you will have the same status of anyone else there. You will be get the best military training in the world. You want to risk your life, you say you want to be posted to a warzone. I can't see them refusing. You can ask not to serve in NI if you are Irish also. They offer huge oppurtiunities for personal development and training and offer extremely good compensation for your efforts.

Try to join the Royal engineers and become a bomb disposal expert.

pwd

jman0 wrote:

Better than what? They still shoot civilians and torture detainees.
They're crap at war too, sure the Yanks were in the middle of Bagdad while the Brits were still pussy-footin around Basra (Shiite/anti-Saddam city in the south, after having had it surrounded for several weeks!)

Yes they pussy foot around not killing anything that moves including their own troops.
The americans approcach to battle is to kill anything that moves, and blow up anything that doesn't.

pwd

Rossonero wrote:

I heard about that, but is it true, you have to be resident in the US for 2 years before acceptance?

yes, but they turn a blind eye if you don't have papers apparently. Don't know if that means they accept people who haven't been resident at all, or only ones who have been there illegally though.
If anybody knows if they do accept people who haven't been there at all perhaps they'd post here.

Rossonero

pwd wrote:

They won't make an exception, no matter how good you are, about making you an officer. You would not be a French soldier. You would be a foreign mercenary. I think they have an equivalent rank to lieutenant for exceptional Legionnaires, but you would not be a proper officer.

You want to do it for personal growth. The French Foreign Legion is not the way to go. Lack of sleep and good food will prevent you from developing physically. Your role would be essentially "someone to die so a French person won't have to". You would be serving with the worst scum, who would steal your property. You would never be seen as being as good as a native French soldier. The only argument for joining where gaining citizenship is not relevant, would be a real abhorrence of yourself.

Join the British army and you will have the same status of anyone else there. You will be get the best military training in the world. You want to risk your life, you say you want to be posted to a warzone. I can't see them refusing. You can ask not to serve in NI if you are Irish also. They offer huge oppurtiunities for personal development and training and offer extremely good compensation for your efforts.

Try to join the Royal engineers and become a bomb disposal expert.

Joining the British army is getting more appealing, but coming from a Gaeltacht region, I'd probably be killed by the IRA!

US army also appeals, but I think the FFL would better serve the reasons why I would want to become a soldier.

magpie

Info here http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/

Blub2k4

magpie wrote:

FFL attracts the scum of the earth; escaped cons and felons in the main part as they can join up no questions asked. Why would you willingly choose the path that is a last resort for so many people? Go and join the Irish Guards if you're dead set on joining the army. In fact, we might even have a sort of army right here in Ireland you could join.

Do you actually know anyone who is in or was in the legion?
I do and I can guarantee that the guy is not scum, he is one of the most upright people that I know.

Rossonero, if you think it's for you then go for it, my mate loved it and he is still working in that branch, as a civilian now but his clearances and CV means that he gets very high level security work. If you want a challenge and to be one of the best soldiers in the world then try it out.

ykt0di9url7bc3

What about joining the UN, do some third world aid work

Kingsize

The americans approcach to battle is to kill anything that moves, and blow up anything that doesn't.

which is why they seem to kill as many of the people on their side as the enemy do.

I think I experienced the same feelings as the OP a couple of years ago,thankfully i never acted on them.
I knew a gang of lads (a few yrs older than me) back in the day who went to join the FFL, one of them a really intelligent (& actually very effeminate guy) dropped out of college just to be with his mates.
he was the only one to be selected but afaik didnt last the pace.
this was back in the late 80's its gotten even tougher now.
seriously im sure the cameraderie is great & the work is "character building" but cowering behind a wall in some sh-thole looking for your testicles that have just been blown off is no life for a young man.
Dont be fooled

Rossonero

magpie wrote:

Info here http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/

Thanks magpie. That's exactly the one I had looked up.

Rossonero

Blub2k4 wrote:

Do you actually know anyone who is in or was in the legion?
I do and I can guarantee that the guy is not scum, he is one of the most upright people that I know.

Rossonero, if you think it's for you then go for it, my mate loved it and he is still working in that branch, as a civilian now but his clearances and CV means that he gets very high level security work. If you want a challenge and to be one of the best soldiers in the world then try it out.

No. Only reference I looked was at the above link that magpie has posted.

Thanks for the encouragement.
Actually the first thought of joining the FFL was when a friend asked me "Why don't you join the FFL?"
I'm not one to go, "Oh yeah I can do that".
It was a year ago he mentioned it.

Rossonero

Kingsize wrote:

seriously im sure the cameraderie is great & the work is "character building" but cowering behind a wall in some sh-thole looking for your testicles that have just been blown off is no life for a young man.
Dont be fooled

Actually, the thought of being in the middle of a heavy gun battle, strangely makes me feel excited about the whole thing.
I don't really want to compare it too movies, as it's totally different being in the situation, but in films like "The Deer Hunter", "The Thin Red Line", "Saving Private Ryan", "Downfall" really inspire me.

But it's a book that really brought me to my line of thinking; "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. He was born in France, but fought for the Germans on the Eastern front, in the midst of probably the hardest conditions that a soldier could possibly encounter.
Sometimes, I wish I could have fought alongside him as the account went on.

BaZmO*

Rossonero wrote:

I'm at the first major crossroads of my life. It's looking like I'm going to fail all my exams at college. It will be the 3rd course I've failed. I don't think I can afford to repeat.

Rossonero wrote:

Self-control, orderly and mentally strong.
I'd be suited,IMO, to the mental strains and battles.

Tbh, it doesn't sound like you're particulary mentally strong at all.
From reading your posts it just sounds like you're a kid that doesn't know what he wants to do (like most of the people in the world!!) and likes the idea of playing at being a soldier!

B.

Blub2k4

Rossonero wrote:

No. Only reference I looked was at the above link that magpie has posted.

Thanks for the encouragement.
Actually the first thought of joining the FFL was when a friend asked me "Why don't you join the FFL?"
I'm not one to go, "Oh yeah I can do that".
It was a year ago he mentioned it.

I was actually referring to the silly statement by Magpie that they are all scum, I think he's been watching too many films.
My mate did it as a bet and ended up 8 years in the legion and he loved it.

Ancient1

I dont think the foreignlegionlife.com link is entirely up to scratch...

If you are really serious about doing it, you might get better advice by asking on http://www.socnetcentral.com/vb/ if they let you post there.

That site is frequented by active unit members from various branches (mostly SF or SF-capable) as well as former and current SOF (special operations forces) operators.
If these guys cant give you real advice on what to expect by joining (not if you should or shouldnt join the FFL), then no one can.
I hope you find some useful info there.

WhiteWashMan

join the FCA for gods sake, if you want comradarie, but first thing you should really do is think about passing exams, and stop making excuses for yourself to fail all the time.
becuase thats all you are doing.

running away to the army to make yourself feel better about not actually making an effort with your studies. i mean, you completely ignored anything i said about it earlier. and i think thats your issues. you just want a way to get out of failing, but not have any sort of guilt trip. well, you will probably have to just face up to it at some point. i mean, at some point, we all have to face the things we dont want to.

you have recently broken up with a girl as well, youre all emotional.

as pointed out, youre not mentally strong, you are indecisive, and more than a little melodramatic.
i sure as hell wouldnt want you behind me in a bunker with a loaded gun.

make more of your life as it is. stop thinking about running away to avoid excuses.

LegacyUser

I know it sounds obvious but if you join the FFL you'll be surrounded by few fluent english speakers, this could make it even more lonely than say if you joined the british or irish army, at least if you joined either of the latter you'd be able to talk to others when your morale is low and they'd know what your on about.

Is there a minimum time you must serve once you've enrolled (joined, whatever the term is?) You don't want to join, then 2 months later say to yourself wtf have I got myself into, only to be told you've X months left to serve.

e38418

Rossonero wrote:

I could try for the Irish army, but I don't want to be surrounded and counting by my family[/B]

you could do a lot worse, go along to your local barracks and tell them youre considering it. you would have enough independance and money.unless your family are mojorly involved in the army youll have the discipline and structure youre looking for. i was at a loss with what to do with myself last year but dont worry it'll pass. to be honest i dont think youve really sat down and considered your options in regard to which army would suit you best. you seem frustrated enough never mind adding in a different country culture and language with it

pwd

Why does the FFL suit your objectives better than other armies?

A 5 week sailing trip around france is a holiday. That is a very silly comparison to make here.

Your motivations seem childish really. You sound more like you're trying to cut the apron strings than making an adult decision.

Even so, joining the army might be quite a positive step. You obviously lack direction and self-discipline, you would gain that during military training.

The only reason I can see for you choosing the FFL is the dramatism of it tbh.
Do you imagine your family reading the note you leave? People you know talking about you after you've gone? You dismiss the British Army because of how people would react. How people are going to react doesn't matter a damn you fool. If you join the FFL you will nbot see them for so long that you will no longer know them anyway.

Take a leap into the dark by all means. And when you fall on your face get the funk up and say hah I've got some balls trying that and gather yourself to take another leap. Any sort of sane risk will stimulate you and lead to personal growth.

Joining the [Irish/British/US] army is a sane risk with obvious possible benefits.

Joing the FFL is childish and silly.

Chucky

I am in a similar type of situation as you. I dropped out of college during fourth year however, because I hated the course (I should have left much earlier).

Anyway, I have looked up the British army and the Irish army in great detail. The British army is being restructured at present (Maybe it's already done?) so recruiting foreigners there might be a bit difficult at the moment. The Irish army is well structured - You are almost guaranteed to be abroad for a long time during your younger service years. You would build up connections that you wouldn't even dream of now.

Plus, once in the Irish army you could apply to join the Irish Rangers. These guys are world renowned and have won awards recently for being the best specialist force in the world.

pwd

Chucky wrote:

The British army is being restructured at present (Maybe it's already done?) so recruiting foreigners there might be a bit difficult at the moment. QUOTE]
Irish people are not considered foreigners in this context because our grandparents were born British.
Irish people are eligible to serve in most areas of the British Armed Forces. There are some things which only British people can do (like man a nuclear submarine).
Exceptions are made for recruiting foreigners. It is treated on a case-by-case basis, and depends on circumstances and selection.
There is a chatroom on the site I linked to where you can ask soldiers any question you may have. (that is the source of most of the information in this post).

BuffyBot

You sound like you don't have much direction in life, and after failing 2/3 courses you're floundering...


...joining an army may not be the best idea.

Captain Trips

Rossonero wrote:

I just have a fascination with the life of a soldier.
Need to be, and would like to be seriously and ultimately disciplined.
Self-control, orderly and mentally strong.
I'd be suited,IMO, to the mental strains and battles.

But dude, you are not suited to the order and self-control to pass even one course and have or almost have failed out of three!??!

Surely you must have the insight to see above how you say you can't do this or that, don't have the mental strength to say all this to your family and then you think you can live in the desert for 15 years so that once a year you bomb the crap out of a bunch of alergians?

Victor

Sign up to www.irishmilitaryonline.com and copy what you posted here there.

I'm not saying your ideas are wrong, but they do seem misguided and melodramatic.

Dinner

As WWM said your probably best to join the FCA first and get a taste for military life. If you like it then join the Irish army and if your looking for a challenge apply for the Rangers. You'll still get to travel, you'll be around people you have more in common with, and your family will be near by while your training.

dawballz

pwd wrote:

Yes they pussy foot around not killing anything that moves including their own troops.
The americans approcach to battle is to kill anything that moves, and blow up anything that doesn't.

Thats pretty much what I was going to say.... You're dead right.
And yes, the British Army are one of the best trained armies in the world.
IMHO American army is full of rookies.

abccormac

Listen to white wash man.

Actually, the thought of being in the middle of a heavy gun battle, strangely makes me feel excited about the whole thing.
I don't really want to compare it too movies, as it's totally different being in the situation, but in films like "The Deer Hunter", "The Thin Red Line", "Saving Private Ryan", "Downfall" really inspire me.

I just have a fascination with the life of a soldier.
Need to be, and would like to be seriously and ultimately disciplined.
Self-control, orderly and mentally strong.
I'd be suited,IMO, to the mental strains and battles.

-Death doesn't scare me. I'm not saying that to be macho or anything. Seriously, I often ponder what it feels like, or what's after, but I can accept
death very easily.

-Money doesn't matter to me. Taxes or no taxes, **** pay or no pay. I'm in it for self-fulfillment.

-I would like to serve for as long as possible.

-I do not wish to be an officer. If I exelled, they might make an exception.

I don't mean to be harsh, but you sound like a bit of a Walter Mitty type. If you don't have the disciplne to finish a course in college, how would you manage in a foreign country, in a foreign army, while being shot at?

oas

I've been watching this thread with interest and would just like to add in my 2 cents, I came to France in 95, I was 18 at the time, had a good leaving cert and but wasn't interested in university, was bored, looking for adventure so.... off to France I went !!

First of all, for fairness (and pride) I would like to try and clear up some points that have been made,
1.The legion is not full of scumbags, there is a minority element, as you would find in all walks of life.
Iit is not full of criminals, you will not find yourself amongst wanted serial killers for example, the legion is forgiving of minor indiscretions, but if you are a wanted person you are too hot to hold, despite what people think the legion does care about its image. Yes there are unsavoury types and assholes, there also solid people and great friends to meet.
2.Discipline and disciplinary measures have been brought into line with regular French army codes. In times past the legion was a separate armed branch, these days it is an integral component of the army, same equipment, rules (or almost), missions etc.
3.As a foreigner you CAN become an officer, this is contingent on taking French citizenship, passing through military academy etc, obviously you need to be an exceptional soldier to get this far.
4.The legion is NOT cannon fodder and in fact competes for the prime missions with Marine Infantry and the Paras, which like any other professional military units, are looking for a chance to practice their “métier” or trade.

The legions officer cadre is French, primarily these officers are the cream of the St Cyr graduates, legion time for an officer is a fast track to the top. All this means that the legion is well run compared to other units and components of the regular army (and other French armed forces) there is a high level of professionalism and this gives credence to the “elite” status the legion enjoys, however this status demands a high physical and psychological engagement. A lot of the military ranks are also French, but are signing up as Swiss, Belgian etc.

My advice if you do decide you want to do it is:
Do learn some French before you go.
There are barracks in Paris easily accessible from the metro system (RER).
Don't lie to the recruiters.
The contract is for five years. When you get to Aubagne you will be hanging around doing nothing for a few weeks to a month and half doing SFA, you can drop out at any time here and be paid for your trouble. After basic training is your last chance, if you “leave” after its desertion and while they want come after you its better to avoid having the record.
Have patience, lots and lots of patience, nothing is going to happen straight away (this is a much by design as by bureaucracy, to hopefully weed out the walter mitty / rambo types)
Daily life will consist of a lot of cleaning, sweeping, drilling and then some.
Keep your head down, your **** together and don't complain, grin and bear it.
Go for 2 REP, the parachute regiment, you'll find most anglophones here and they tend to get the better missions. If you are really, really good you might get a chance at GCP, Groupement de Commando Parachutistes (called CRAPs in my time !!) the SAS of the French army (as I said the legion itself is already considered elite)
Be prepared to not see or communicate with your family for at least the first six months and then only sporadically after that. They don't encourage contact, they want you to consider the legion as your new family, your loyalty will only be to them.
Stop thinking, the legion does not want an independent mind, deep thinkers or “philosophy of life” types.
Remember its the military, the mind set is pretty much the same in all occidental armies.


I could not advise you to go for it or not, thats up to you and part of being in the army is taking responsibility for your actions, my story is that today, ten years on I'm still in France but am long out of the legion, I am two years into a degree course in an Irish university, looking back I probably should have done it before, as you get older, reality, experience and long term objectives have a funny way of changing that ideal vision we have of the world, mais ça c'est la vie !! I'm 28 now and not missing a beat, I've had a good time and have a few stories to tell, would I have preferred the British army or marines to the legion ? I honestly can't say but I would definitely consider it, especially taking into account the more practical things such as pay, location, equipement, language etc, I know you might think these mundane and insignificant, but believe me, the ideal does wear off and you really do need to consider them if you are serious about a career in the military, in fact it would cost you nothing to call a UK armed forces recruiter just to discuss your options. If you would like more info from me just send a PM.

And last thing, if you do go for the legion, I hope you like singing, you will absolutely have the chance to practice !! voilà du boudin, voilà du boudin, ahhhhh the memories !!

Info and links at the bottom: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Foreign_Legion
Official site: http://www.br-legion.com/ang/index.html

Santa Claus

pwd wrote:

The only remotely sane reason for joining the FFL would be that it offers French citizenship as a reward after a specific term of service to someone desperate to get out of their own country.
You are part of the EU so you can live in France already.
I actually looked into this myself fairly recently. It isn;t a good idea.
You get paid very poorly.
It attracts scum by its very nature. The French know this and treat them accordingly. They will favour using Legionairres over regular soldiers for missions where the likelihood of death is high.
You get fed badly.
They still have some corporal punishment.
You cannot become an officer.
You pay all your taxes at once at the end of your term of service. If you have not been careful with your wages you might not be able to pay them and effectively trapped into serving another term.

OK, Firstly, you have to be french to be eligable to be an officer, so after you've done your initial 5 year stint and get your french citizenship you are then eligable to become an officer.
Secondly, While you get paid monthly in the legion they merely show you the money and then take it back to mind it for you. You get your money at the end of your service so that's why you get hit with you tax bill at the end of your service.

My cousin was in the legion for 5 years and had a great time. He was stationed in some amazing places all over the world. They only time legionaires are allowed in france once they've completed their training is on bastille day to take part in the celebrations, so basically 364 days of the year you're in north africa or french polynesia or on active service in bosnia etc.

They are a very well equipped force and while it's true that the french goverment send them in to place where they wouldn't send french soldiers (after all the families of the french soldiers have votes so they don't want them getting killed) the legion is certainly not used as cannon fodder and is often seen as far superior to the regular army.

If you're serious about it drop me a PM and I can put you in touch with my cousin, I'm sure he'd meet up with you for a chat and let you know what you'd be letting yourself in for (Remember once you're in you're in for the full term. If you desert then technically you can never set foot in france again as you face prison if caught so it's not something to do on a whim).

Also, you should contact the french embassy and ask to speak to the military attache who can give you information on how you go about applying etc..

oas

To the OP, there is whole lot of "mistruths" out there so you really need to beware, example:

Santa Claus wrote:

They only time legionaires are allowed in france once they've completed their training is on bastille day to take part in the celebrations, so basically 364 days of the year you're in north africa or french polynesia or on active service in bosnia etc...

(not meaning to pick on you Santa Claus, you're not alone, but its a glaring example, half the units are based on mainland France, the rest in DOM-TOM so it would be kind of hard to staff these if you're not allowed in France !! also there's nothing in North Africa, you did have some other correct info though)

I would suggest you look at the official sites, or post specific questions here:http://cervens.net/legionbbs/

The legion, while not a combined arms formation (no air or sea element) is relatively self sufficient for a ground combat unit, it has its own engineer and cavalry for example, it is an integral part of the French order of battle and so it might be a good idea to look up the French military as whole to understand how the legion fits in and what role it plays (in French) URL=http://www.defense.gouv.fr]http://www.defense.gouv.fr[/URL]

Make your choice based on whether you think a military life in general is for you and don't limit yourself to the legion or nothing, soldiering can be a vocation, and some days its really tough or boring, other days its exciting and easy, in the end its also a career choice and like any career choice choose that which has the best prospects (longterm??) for you or best satisfies your demands and ambitions.

Von Manstein

Join the German Army - Bundeswher

Hell they keep on beating the French Army

Kingsize

The type of "high attrition" warfare on the easetrn front & in saving private ryan doesnt really happen anymore.so the gun battle fantasy of the OP may never come to fruition regardless of who he joins
As i said i know the feelings you are going through.
Just dont do something you regret , based on some book from the last century.

jman0

dawballz wrote:

Thats pretty much what I was going to say.... You're dead right.
And yes, the British Army are one of the best trained armies in the world.
IMHO American army is full of rookies.

Sure didn't the yanks rescue Britian in WWII?
Best trained my arse! Sure they couldn't fight on their own against anybody. I doubt the Brits could even invade a 3rd world country like Afghanistan or Iraq on their own.
The yanks have, and are. Lets face it the Brits presense in Iraq is a token force, to give the operation a shread of international legitimacy. So Bush can pretend there's an international Coalition.

magpie

Of course the Legion isn't full of scum http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/chapter5.htm#theft

Join the German Army - Bundeswher

Hell they keep on beating the French Army

Sure didn't the yanks rescue Britian in WWII?

Yes, that's exactly the way it happened. :rolleyes:

Blub2k4

magpie wrote:

Of course the Legion isn't full of scum http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/chapter5.htm#theft

Yes it's on the internet it must be true, how silly of us.
I was in one of the top boarding schools in Ireland and theft was rife as well, possibly because oppurtunity presented itself a lot, the school was possibly full of scum :rolleyes:

bonzai bob

jman0 wrote:

Sure didn't the yanks rescue Britian in WWII?
Best trained my arse! Sure they couldn't fight on their own against anybody. I doubt the Brits could even invade a 3rd world country like Afghanistan or Iraq on their own.
The yanks have, and are. Lets face it the Brits presense in Iraq is a token force, to give the operation a shread of international legitimacy. So Bush can pretend there's an international Coalition.

Just to let you know, WW2 ended 40 years ago. Things *might* have changed since then.