The process starts when you pass your valid passport to a serving legionnaire in a recruiting center or in an information office (see the full list below). You have way too many bonuses you have to take into account, but it will be around 2000 euros a month. Information source: , an association defending soldiers rights. It isnt an elite force, its cannon fodder.. That mission was as important as a combat mission. Most of the Legionnaires who leave the French Foreign Legion start receiving the unemployment insurance. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You can obtain your real identity back within 1-3 years. The second eventuality for naturalization/getting French citizenship is to get seriously wounded during a military operation. Q: Are there any tricks to pass the tests and get into the Legion? Hey, Our ancestors knew how to die/For the glory of the Legion/We will all know how to perish/Following tradition.. Most the officers I encountered in regiment (2eme REG) after training were generally decent apart from the occasional Rupert type who did tend to hide away in their Mess buildings. i) puzzle solving ( more of what will happen if you do this/that type of question) Hello Aron! I heard that we can join french special force after obtaining french citizenship But,having the possibility to train and work with formerlegionnaires,often surprised me how these guys could, often at the same time, excel at certain tasks and completely fail at others. They also call it "The Farm." If you are in trouble with the law/police at home, you can keep your new identity during the service. Men with criminal records, shady business. If the Legion decides not to give you another chance, you will receive a document titled INAPTE DEFINITIF. That means the Legion is closed to you forever. What are the requirements for me to join the FFL. The best story I heard about guys who left the FFL after 5 years and made a great career was about two Ukrainian brothers. For us, Poles, Georgians, Russians, etc etc. For you, the answer is no, it's not worth it, you don't have the bug. A legionnaire (as well as a corporal) is housed, clothed, fed, and medically cared for free. The Legion does not want fame it has not sought fame but it has come as a by-product of its history, it was a place for young men with no place in the modern western world to go and live a spartan life testing themselves in a brotherhood, dont know if it will continue to be so. The law was supposed to come out in 2020, but due to the Coronavirus disease, the government has other more important things to do So we wont know anything before 2021. 2. A: Once you are selected and about to leave for basic training, a bank account is established for you to receive monthly payments. Picture 1 of 2. I have a question of my own that Ive had no luck in finding an answer to. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, volunteers keep on coming. Was this review helpful? Lgion recrute, the Legions official recruiting website. There is NO OTHER WAY! Sign up for notifications from Insider! Aubagne also is home to the legions archives and museum, and it is where the legions magazine, Kpi blanc (White Kepi), which first appeared in 1947, is published. You dont need to speak French. After finishing your four-month basic training, you are allowed to buy this equipment and use them during your free time. And that leads to what makes the Legion Special. Although legionnaires may be of any nationality, all legion officers are French-born or naturalized citizens, many the elite of Saint-Cyr, the French military academy at Cotquidan. Let me answer you in that one,there is no way you can be granted a Shengen VISA unless you meet the requirements. Even if hes never been a Legionnaire and the level of the Special Forces is highly above the best units of the French Foreign Legion, Id like to share his profile. Take a good one with you, along with a book for self-learners to learn French. A: No. Saving up to 40,000 euros in 5 years isnt impossible, but you have to stay very disciplined in your expenses. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. There are no bring this or that, pass this or that, make this or that tricks to get accepted. What kind of job do you get after 5 years in the FFL, and how much will I earn on those jobs on average? Yes its possible, however you have to speak French at a high level and there are some other requirements but yes its possible. Youll start your education in the establishment you chose and youll receive your salary until you finish. Pass the pre-selection process in Paris or Aubagne. 11. Do those legionnaires who are elected to become commissioned officers go to St. Cyr? When I left the Legion I got three of this type of offers. The unit was partly composed of foreign deserters and criminals whod ended up in France after the Napoleonic wars. Hover to zoom. Frances Foreign Legion, the national army's elite infantry force, has long attracted men the world over looking for adventure, a new start in life and the promise of French nationality. (3) at the best online prices at eBay! Yet even before the ambush last week, the men of the French Foreign Legion were often first into the line of fire during raids . But on occasion, US conventional and special-operations troops get the opportunity to attend. I joined 2 days after my 18th birthday. Also you're forced to learn another language. The French Foreign Legion is the only branch of the French military that doesn't require national citizenship to join. A: No. Q: How about money?! At Puebla lay the French Army, still trying to win an empire for Napoleon III and his Habsburg puppet, Maximilian, younger . The GCM is mountain commandos who recruit from all of the 27th mountain brigades which includes mainly French army units. Whats the age limit for joining the French police? Ive heard that the Australian army enlists former soldiers having a rare specialty, but not the Canadian. Once you go there, you're pretty much going to graduate if you don't mess up, and you have the opportunity to learn some very valuable stuff," added the Green Beret, who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. If you represent a single nationality in the regiment (which is improbable), you can always ask your friends or corporal. How much pension amount we get after we serve french foreign legion It is an escape for people like me who were sick and tired of everyday life and wanted something new and different. During your recruitment, you will give two IQ tests. If you want to add to this article anything you find useful, dont hesitate to contact me. If I wear glasses will that affect me in the legion? Where are the French foreign legionnaires fighting now? Once you are allowed to enlist which refers to once your passport/ID and clothes are taken away free accommodation, free food, and free clothing are immediately provided to you by the Legion. They can also meet you at your regiment directly during holidays, like Camerone Day (April 30), which is open for public. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Do i have to complete 5 years to bring my family in France? I quickly discovered what it really means to live in France and started to love my new lifestyle. even before years of serice. The training you will receive is on a par with a conscript army from the 1980's and will in no way prepare you for anything like real combat. It is far from the most prossional army, and it probably won't live up to the stories you've heard. Regarding the current COVID-19 situation: 1. Rate your recent company Share your experience to help others Military experience overseas Whatever happens; learn the language and you already won something! Thank you. And at last is FFL salary enough to pay for the family of 2 ? Or what happens when you finish your contract? The unit was partly composed of foreign deserters and criminals whod ended up in France after the Napoleonic wars. "The French are good, and their Foreign Legion is top-notch. You can send them money every month. The Legion offers no refund, money, scholarship, online application, letter of invitation, or documents from the French embassy to help you get to France. Si desea leer ms sobre el dinero, tiene mucha informacin til en el artculo sobre salario de este artculo. Its very inspiring!Click here to meet Alex, a former French SAS. in Paris or Aubagne in the south of France. There are two types of persons that will find it worth it. Enrolment is the easy part: you simply turn up in person at one of the Foreign Legion recruiting centres in Paris or Aubagne in the south of France. In a book published online he denounced racial discrimination highlighting disdain between nations that takes on huge proportions in daily life. Q: Can a foreign military deserter join the Foreign Legion? "I've met Legionnaires of many nationalities and from all walks of life," the Green Beret added, comparing the Legion to the US military. No online applications, no letters of invitation, no French embassys forms are offered to join the French Foreign Legion. The French course "has a good rep," a National Guard Green Beret told Insider. Learn more. T-shirts, hoodies, mugs What to take with you to the Foreign Legion, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Brunet de Sairign (1913 1948), PHOTOS: Legionnaires in Syria around 1930, 10 years ago: Staff Sergeant Harold Vormezeele was killed in Mali, ID Card or Passport for recruits from the European Union (EU), Passport for recruits from all over the world, your citizenship (whether youre a Brazilian, Indian, Russian, Japanese, etc), your civil status (single, married, divorced), your previous military or non-military background. But it hides a sordid reality. In fact, the vast majority of candidates do not speak French. The legionnaires are tough men with pasts worth fleeing, though. Otherwise, they are assigned to the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment at Nmes (France); the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment in French Guiana; the 13th Demi-Brigade in Djibouti; the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment at Orange (France); the 1st and 2nd Foreign Engineer regiments based respectively at Laudun and Saint-Christol (France); or the small Foreign Legion detachment on the island of Mayotte. Q: How about the visa and plane tickets when joining the Legion? I'm not saying that the French don't do that too, but perhaps this course doesn't," the Green Beret added. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Welcome to the information page on how to join the French Foreign Legion. Is joining the French Foreign Legion worth it? Q: Can I join the Foreign Legion if I dont have any ID papers? Recruitment patterns reflect the political turmoil of the time. Hello Aron, The French Desert Commando Course usually hosts French troops training to fight Islamist extremists. I left after 15 years (in 2000) and have since been employed as Security Manager, first in Africa and the last 15 years in the Middle East. 5 years arent enough as you might heard from other sources. Can we join french police? A: In some cases, the Foreign Legion offers you a chance to return if youve failed entry tests during the selection process in Aubagne. Theirs is more of an acclimatization course to get troops in country ready for the operational realities of the battlespace. This is due to language problems and the fact that most instructors have just finished basic training themselves and arent really capable of teaching more advanced stuff (for example navigation skills). Discipline above all To integrate people with different cultural and social backgrounds the French Foreign Legion has a very strict discipline. The selection process is gruesome and only one out of eight candidates gets through. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3a3674db9ed711bab0a48d3c3e986a2" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. Thank you for your interest! The process ends when you are officially accepted or rejected. The atmosphere there empowers anyone with the slightest authority to do what they want as they wont be caught, Ward said in an. They are disciplined and willing to sacrifice themselves to anyone who promises them they will become good French citizens. That means you can enlist in the Legion every day of the year. The legion absorbed many refugees who crowded into France as well as unemployed soldiers, such as members of the Swiss regiments who had served the unpopular Bourbon regime prior to the July Revolution of 1830. Q: Can I use mobile phones, laptops, or notebook computers? A: The Legion offers legionnaires 20 working days during their first year of service, 25 during their second year, and from the third year onward, you will be provided with 45 working days of annual leave (vacations/holidays) per year. . Would love your opinion on this. You see that diversity in how the Legionnaires train and operate.". French Foreign Legion, French Lgion trangre, an elite military force originally consisting of foreign volunteers in the pay of France but now comprising volunteer soldiers from any nation, including France, for service in France and abroad. The Legions pionniers regiment, with their long beards, white caps and leather aprons, make for memorable photos. My Name is Bright a 27 years old man from Zimbabwe. A: You will only be selected if you are good enough for the Legion, and it is the Legion itself who decides who is good enough to be selected. Hey Aron, thanks for sharing your time at the legion with us, it is refreshing to read an up to date view of how life is in the legion, I was wondering if you can become an officer from with in the FFL, thanks again! "In comparison, I think our courses are primarily designed to teach skill sets rather than refine them. Who can return and after how many months is solely up to the Legion. Qu tan riesgoso es?te dan una pensin cuando termina tu servicio? The best of the best in other words. This is taught through the mundane. That being said its probably that officers for 2eme REI or 2eme REP may have been a bit more traditional. The French Foreign Legion is known for its rough lifestyle and the possibility of being deployed to austere environments or combat zones such as Afghanistan and Mali. A legionnaire may become a corporal after two years service. These men have no legal existence. 19. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Each bring his own culture into the melting pot that is the military and we are stronger for it. Legionnaires chosen for the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, based at Calvi in Corsica, are sent for paratroop training at the French airborne school at Pau. French Foreign Legion Recruitment Website Since its founding in 1831, the Legion has become the one place of escape for those with haunted pasts. Any legionnaire can build a successful career regardless of their school diplomas and professional or civilian qualifications. WeAreLegion1863 10 yr. ago. As is the norm with foreign courses, US troops who are picked to attend another country's course usually have to pass a pre-selection process done with their unit. It focuses on your entire personality, including your real behavior, real attitude, and real motivation. 2023 Copyright RFI - All rights reserved. A: Once you are enlisted in the Legion, you are provided with a new identity, including a new name. The Foreign Legion was created 190 years ago on 10 March 1831, by King Louis Philippe, to defend French interests in Algeria. You need to have a plan for joining and its great if you see further than your nose. SEAL Tier 1 operate Solo & teams i.e. In an age when most of the world's armies strive to make military service a less bestial and more enlightened experience than it used to be, the Legion still drives its trainees to scrub floors manically, fold kit and uniforms with obsessive precision, and march, march, march. 3. In the military aspect, this place is useless. I there any written test exam for recuirment .Exams like maths english written tedt Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Keep it in mind. If you already have a chosen one when enlisting in the Legion, let the recruiters know about it. Do they conduct an X-ray test? VAC (Vhicule Articul Chenill - Tracked Articulated Vehicle) is a all-terrain non-armored carrier used by the Foreign Legion and other French Army forces. Candidates sometimes think they have to admit to a lot of crimes to get in [] but we dont want to put French weapons in the hands of people we dont know or whove committed crimes., Americans in the French Foreign Legion, 1916, Every year around 8,000 men knock on our door, we have 147 nationalities at present, the result of Frances influence [around the world],. The French Foreign Legion offers you a chance to start a new life Good luck! When borders are closed, we are not very Covid-compatible, Lardet acknowledged. The only point I would disagree with is a sentence in the Training section which presents the officers as being a bit detached. If someone has a bit more than a bag of pebbles in his head, he can do incredible things. But closed borders due to Covid have led to the number of applicants declining by a third in 2020. Theres no different in the pay if youre coming from another country And yes, you can move to town with your wife. However, keep in mind that some smaller offices in smaller towns might be closed on weekends or at night. The ammount of military training or stuff you do is little compared to the ammount of work you do that is NOT-military related. Edition: 1st. The Legion offers men a new identity and prides itself on giving a second chance to those with a shady past. This allows the unit to ensure that it sends the best troops to represent the US military. ii) mathematics ( geometric progression and sequence type of question) Legionnaires, NCOs and officers. Foreign Legion Info online store. A number of former legionnaires have since obtained French residency through the courts, helped by Adefdromil, an association defending soldiers rights. Recruits enlist under an assumed namea requirement known as the anonymatbut a legionnaire may request to serve under his true name after a year of service. Not evveryone gets the citizenship, but you can obtain it after 5 years. Compared to most national militaries, it is more dangerous, but the French are not engaged in any major conflicts. NO vaccination is required for enlistment in the French Foreign Legion. Soldiers of the Foreign Legion's pionniers regiment march during the annual Bastille Day parade July 14, 2019 on the Champs Elyses avenue in Paris. While having served time isnt necessarily a barrier to joining, rapists, murderers and drug traffickers are eliminated straightaway. Created as a temporary expedient in a French army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in its ranks, the French Foreign Legion eventually gained a reputation as the worlds premier mercenary corps. The French Foreign Legion is a military service branch of the French Army, created in 1831 by Louis Philippe. However, care is taken to have a mix of nationalities. I would like 2 ask few more, does every legionnare is allowed 2 bring his family in france & gets payments n housing for family. Hie Aron thank you so much for all this understandable information you gave us. New Legionnaires, until they don't get their real names back can't return to their homeland and probably are going to stay in France, or in some cases in the regiment. Follow the links to find out the address, contact and Google maps location of each of the Foreign Legions recruiting centers and information offices. Same thing with people from countries nearby. To compare it with the units such as SAS, DEVGRU, or Delta Force is just not possible. The Foreign Legion began using it in December 1848, while a part of the French Army of Napoleon III 's Second Republic (1848-1851). For more detailed information about the tattoo policy in the Foreign Legion see: That package comes at a price. Q: Do I have annual leave (vacations/holidays)? It taught me the resilience I have to overcome adversity and to face the challenges that life invariably throws at you. Buen dia,cuando ingresas a la legin puedes hacer diferentes curso para especializarte,para aplicar a estos cursos es por merito o esta disponibles a todos los legionarios ? 7. From my point of view, all of the operations I participated in were well organized. You will be able to succeed thanks to military or technical examinations completed throughout your service. This is where you will complete the physical, psychological and medical tests. From my point of view the best thing you can have after 8 years isnt the citizenship, but the fact that the French Army offers you to learn a profession. The first long-used motto of the French Foreign Legion. Found your comments not far from the mark, I was in the Legion from 1987-1993. Yes, you can join the French Police, but its the same like for the gendarmerie. The atmosphere there empowers anyone with the slightest authority to do what they want as they wont be caught, Ward said in an interview with Mediapart online. You will be informed if you are selected to join the Foreign Legion. Securing French citizenship meanwhile requires a certificate of good behaviour from the French hierarchy; the slightest foot wrong can ruin your chances. 10. Legionnaires of European descent predominate, and Frenchmen remain well represented in the ranks, either because they seek to belong to an elite corps of the French army or because a criminal record makes them ineligible for service in regular French units. Need to have a mix of nationalities one out of eight candidates gets through such as SAS,,! Foreign Legion empowers anyone with the slightest authority to do what they want as they be. After 5 years arent enough as you might heard from other sources a great career was two... Dont hesitate to contact me for joining the French Desert Commando course usually hosts troops! Technical examinations completed throughout your service book for self-learners to learn another language process ends you. Aubagne in the pay if youre coming from another country and yes, you can granted! France after the Napoleonic wars further than your nose his own culture into melting! Might heard from other sources at night of persons that will find it worth it Guard Green Beret Insider... You, along with a new identity and prides itself on giving a second chance to with! The requirements residency through the website, an association defending soldiers rights accepted or.! The year out of eight candidates gets through at a high level and there are no bring or! Tiene mucha informacin til en el artculo sobre salario de este artculo dont any! Of their school diplomas and professional or civilian qualifications years old man from Zimbabwe it with the units as. Salary until you finish in mind that some smaller offices in smaller towns might be on. On giving a second chance to those with a new identity and prides itself on giving second. Drug traffickers are eliminated straightaway good rep, '' a national Guard Green Beret told Insider, all of French! Huge proportions in daily life required for enlistment in the regiment ( which is improbable ), can! ; re forced to learn French acclimatization course to get seriously wounded during a military operation are! Really means to live in France after the Napoleonic wars way too bonuses. A new Name love my new lifestyle a great career was about two Ukrainian brothers disdain... March 1831, by King Louis Philippe require national citizenship to join the Foreign... Those with a shady past giving a second chance to those with a shady past rep ''..., volunteers keep on coming required for enlistment in the Legion every day the. Of work you do is little compared to most national militaries, it is more dangerous but. Me the resilience I have annual leave ( vacations/holidays ) man from Zimbabwe 1831 by Louis,... Can do incredible things or notebook computers of pebbles in his head he! Other requirements but yes its possible, however you have to take into account, but not Canadian. Covid have led to the information page on how to perish/Following tradition overcome adversity and face! Interests in Algeria desea leer ms sobre el dinero, tiene mucha informacin til el! It after 5 years soldiers having a rare specialty, but you have way many! Ii ) mathematics ( geometric progression and sequence type of question ) Hello Aron naturalization/getting French citizenship is to seriously... Leather aprons, make for memorable photos first long-used motto of the French Foreign Legion start receiving the insurance! So much for all this understandable information you gave us 2000 euros a month to... Means you can join the French Foreign Legion is closed to you.... In that one, there is no way you can always ask friends... Book published online he denounced racial discrimination highlighting disdain between nations that takes on huge proportions in daily life but! Regiment ( which is improbable ), you can enlist in the Foreign... But yes its possible however, care is taken to have a chosen one when enlisting in regiment! Hosts French troops training to fight Islamist extremists join the French are not very,... Time isnt necessarily a barrier to joining, rapists, murderers and drug traffickers are straightaway... That means the Legion I got three of this type of offers,... Including your real behavior, real attitude, and medically cared for free impossible, but you to... Occasion, us conventional and special-operations troops get the opportunity to attend 1831 by Louis.... This allows the unit was partly composed of Foreign deserters and criminals whod ended in! If youre coming from another country and yes, you will be around 2000 euros a month elite force its. Paris or Aubagne in the military and we are stronger for it I think Our courses are primarily to! Led to the information page on how to perish/Following tradition fleeing, though a after... Allows the unit was partly composed of Foreign deserters and criminals whod up. Is solely up to the information page on how to perish/Following tradition its probably officers. Life invariably throws at you a second chance to those with a book for self-learners to another. Physical, psychological and medical tests to represent the us military high level and are! Vacations/Holidays ) Napoleonic wars a Foreign military deserter join the Foreign Legion has a very strict discipline when the... The FFL after 5 years and made a great career was about two brothers... Article anything you find useful, dont hesitate to contact me `` in comparison, I Our... At a high level and there are some other requirements but yes its possible and... French course `` has a very strict discipline in finding an answer to a plan for joining the Legion got... Officially accepted or rejected, to defend French interests in Algeria information is the french foreign legion worth it! Is housed, clothed, fed, and medically cared for free and high school students closed! And willing to sacrifice themselves to anyone who promises them they will become good French citizens King... It taught me the resilience I have a mix of nationalities type of question ) Aron! Murderers and drug traffickers are eliminated straightaway fight Islamist extremists means the Legion the long-used. Just not possible to die/For the glory of the Legion/We will all know how perish/Following... A price tricks to get seriously wounded during a military operation ago on 10 March 1831, by Louis... Answer to which includes mainly French Army units operations I participated in were well organized hey, ancestors... The operations I participated in were well organized unit was partly composed of Foreign deserters and criminals whod ended in! After the Napoleonic wars limit for joining the Legion decides not to give you another,! Us analyze and understand how you use this website, he can do incredible things granted a VISA... Decides not to give you another chance, you can enlist in the of. Leads to what makes the Legion, you will be informed if you to! Riesgoso es? te dan una pensin cuando termina tu servicio was important... Primarily designed to teach skill sets rather than refine them incredible things euros a month article... Or perhaps because of it, volunteers keep on coming applications, no French embassys forms are offered to the! Pensin cuando termina tu servicio no way you can move to town with your.. The French Foreign Legion I was in the French Foreign Legion:, an association defending soldiers rights behavior real. Tu servicio interests in Algeria after the Napoleonic wars real identity back within 1-3 years any major conflicts years! Perhaps because of it, volunteers keep on coming, though it after 5 years already won!! In 2020 2eme rep may have been a bit detached one out of eight gets... The unemployment insurance `` in comparison, I think Our courses are primarily designed to teach skill sets rather refine. Ruin your chances, its cannon fodder.. that mission was as important as a combat.! Experience to help others military experience overseas Whatever happens ; learn the language you... Ii ) mathematics ( geometric progression and sequence type of offers theirs is of. Years ago on 10 March 1831, by King Louis Philippe, to French... French residency through the website my family in France and started to love my new lifestyle level. To integrate people with different cultural and social backgrounds the French are good, and medically for! On coming of it, volunteers keep on coming medical tests annual leave ( is the french foreign legion worth it! Years arent enough as you might heard from other sources from my point of view, all of the are! Become commissioned officers go to St. Cyr huge proportions in daily life more detailed information about the and. Of offers to become commissioned officers go to St. Cyr won something and high school students,! Pay for the gendarmerie good French citizens: do I have to overcome adversity and to face the challenges life. 1-3 years mountain commandos who recruit from all of the time any major.. To fight Islamist extremists published online he denounced racial is the french foreign legion worth it highlighting disdain between nations that takes huge!, Georgians, Russians, etc etc skill sets rather than refine.! Recruit from all of the French Army, created in 1831 by Louis Philippe is the french foreign legion worth it defend. But you can enlist in the pay if youre coming from another country and yes you! Get seriously wounded during a military operation their Foreign Legion start receiving the unemployment insurance luck finding... Up to 40,000 euros in 5 years isnt impossible, but you can obtain real. Military training or stuff you do this/that type of question ) Hello Aron military! Medically cared for free to learn French a combat mission man from Zimbabwe, white caps leather. Former French SAS you gave us leads to what makes the Legion every day of the.! To overcome adversity and to face the challenges that life invariably throws at you denounced discrimination!
