# 4th Foreign Regiment (France)

The 4th Foreign Regiment (French: 4$^e$ Régiment étranger, 4$^e$ RE) is a training regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. Prior to assuming the main responsibility of training Legion recruits, it was an infantry unit which participated in campaigns in Morocco, Levant, French Indochina, and Algeria.

## History, creation and different designations

Created in November 1920 in Marrakesh, Morocco, the 4th Foreign Regiment became the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1922. Following its formation, the regiment was engaged in campaigns in Morocco in the Rif War between 1920 and 1934. The 4th and 5th battalions saw active service in the Levant between 1921 and 1926.

### World War II

Dissolved in November 1940 to allow the creation of the 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment and then the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, the 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1941 under the designation of 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion. The regiment participated in 1943 in the Tunisian campaign, seeing combat in the Zaghouan Mountain (or djebel). The regiment was again dissolved in June 1943, and its personnel were transferred to the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E.), which experienced heavy combat during the campaigns of France and Germany.

### Far East and North Africa

The 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1946. Battalions saw active service in Madagascar between 1947 and 1951. In the Far East, the 2nd and 5th battalions served as a single unit before being broken up to reinforce other regiments. Again dissolved in 1951, the <<4th>> was recreated in Morocco in March 1955, before being engaged in combat in Algeria between 1957 and 1962.
In July 1962, the 4th Foreign Regiment was redeployed to Reggane in southern Algeria, tasked with guarding the oil fields and French nuclear facilities in the region. Subsequently the 4th Foreign Regiment was disbanded and its subordinate units incorporated into the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. In October 1976 the Foreign Legion established a new Instruction Regiment (Regiment d'Instruction) at Castelnaudary by divesting the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment's Instruction Group (Groupement d' Instruction).

### Regiment of Instruction

On September 1, 1977, the regimental colors of the 4$^e$ Etranger were entrusted to the Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion which had taken up garrison duties at Castelnaudary, a year earlier. On June 1, 1980, the unit was redesignated as the 4th Foreign Regiment.

### Present role

Now based at Castelnaudary for more than 30 years, first at the Lapasset barracks then at the Danjou barracks, the regiment has trained multinational cadres, specialists and foreign volunteer recruits. The training cadre comprises about 44 officers, 170 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, and 358 enlisted personnel.

## Campaigns

* TINTEGHALINE, de TIZI N’RECHOU (1922)
* D’OUAOUIZERT (1922)
* RIFF WAR (1924 – 1934)
* LEVANT (1921 – 1926), MESSIFRE (1925)
* CAMPAGNE DE TUNISIE (1943)
* MADAGASCAR (1947–1951)
* INDOCHINA (1949)
* MAROCCO – ALGERIA (1955 - 1964)

## Companies

The Regiment consists of six companies:
* Legion Pionniers Groups
* Compagnie de Commandement et des Services (CCS) - Command and Services Company
The regimental headquarters company which also has integrated logistical capabilities. This company has several subordinate administrative units such as the Office of Maintenance and Logistics, the Office of Job Training (Bureaux Instruction Empoi), and the Directorate of Human Resources (Direction des Ressources Humaines).
* Compagnies d’Étranger Volontaire (CEV) - Foreign Volunteer Companies
Responsible for performing recruit basic training. The regiment has three such companies.
* Compagnie d’Instruction des Cadres (CIC) - Cadre Training Company
Conducts all NCO education and professional development courses.
* Compagnie d’Instruction des Spécialistes (CIS) - Specialist Instruction Company
Conducts training courses in administrative and technical skill. This company teaches over forty courses a year ranging from three to fifteen weeks each.

## Traditions
### Insignia

* Regimental Insignia of the 4th Foreign Regiment, 4$^e$ R.E
* Beret insignia of the 4th Foreign Regiment, 4$^e$ R.E

### Regimental Colors

Inscribed on the regimental colors of the 4th Foreign Regiment are the motto of the Foreign Legion:
"Honneur et Fidélité"

### Code of Honour

* Art. 1 - Légionnaire, tu es un volontaire, servant la France avec honneur et fidélité.
* Art. 2 - Chaque légionnaire est ton frère d'armes, quelles que soient sa nationalité, sa race ou sa religion. Tu lui manifestes toujours la solidarité étroite qui doit unir les membres d'une même famille.
* Art. 3 - Respectueux des traditions, attaché à tes chefs, la discipline et la camaraderie sont ta force, le courage et la loyauté tes vertus.
* Art. 4 - Fier de ton état de légionnaire, tu le montres dans ta tenue toujours élégante, ton comportement toujours digne mais modeste, ton casernement toujours net.
* Art. 5 - Soldat d'élite, tu t'entraînes avec rigueur, tu entretiens ton arme comme ton bien le plus précieux, tu as le souci constant de ta forme physique.
* Art. 6 - La mission est sacrée, tu l'exécutes jusqu'au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.
* Art. 7 - Au combat, tu agis sans passion et sans haine, tu respectes les ennemis vaincus, tu n'abandonnes jamais ni tes morts, ni tes blessés, ni tes armes.

### Regimental Song

Chant de Marche : C'est le 4 en chantant featuring:
À travers pierres et dunes, S'en vont les képis blancs. Sous le soleil, clair de lune, Nous marchons en chantant. Vers Bechar ou vers Casa, Dans toutes les direction, Nous repartons au combat, Pour la gloire de la Légion.
C'est le 4 en chantant qui s'avance, Qui s'avance, laissez-le passer.
Sur les pistes des Corbières, Nous partons en mission. Une colonne de bérêts verts, S'en va à l'instruction. Vers la Jasse ou vers Bel-Air, Dans toutes les directions, Devenir légionnaire, C'est notre seule ambition.

### Decorations

* Croix de guerre 39-45 with palm

### Honors
#### Battle Honors

* CAMERONE 1863
* MAROC 1914–1918-1921-1934
* DJEBEL ZAGHOUAN 1943
* A.F.N 1952 - 1962

## Regimental and Demi-Brigade Commanders

| 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1920-1940) 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4$^e$ R.E.I) 1920 - 1926 : colonel Maurel 1927 - 1927 : colonel Pourailly (January to May) 1927 - 1928 : colonel Poupillier 1928 - 1932 : colonel Mathieu 1933 - 1936 : colonel Conte 1936 - 1940 : lieutenant-colonel Lorillard 1940 - 1940 : lieutenant-colonel Genits 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 4 ème Demi-Brigade de La Légion Etrangère,(4$^e$ D.B.L.E) 1941 - 1941 : Lieutenant-colonel Bouty (August - September) 1941 - 1943 : Lieutenant-colonel Gentis 1st Foreign Motorized Infantry Regiment 1er Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie Motorisé(1er R.E.I.M) 1943 - 1943: Lieutenant-colonel Gentis (March to June) | 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (Morocco) - 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie (Maroc) - 4ème Demi-Brigade de La Légion Etrangère (4ème R.E.I. (Maroc) - 4ème D.B.L.E. (Maroc)) 1946 - 1948 : Lieutenant-colonel Laparra 1948 - 1951 : Lieutenant-colonel Gabriel Bablon 1951 - 1951 : Lieutenant-colonel Sourd (March to May) 2/4 D.B.L.E. - 4/4 R.E.I. (Madagascar) 1947 - 1949 : battalion commander Perin 1949 - 1950 : battalion commander Brinon 1950 - 1951 : lieutenant colonel Royer 1/4 R.E.I. 1951 - 1952 : battalion commander Gaucher 1951 - 1954 : battalion commander Pfirmann 1954 - 1954 : battalion commander Dubos (January to June) 1954 - 1955 : battalion commander Hauteclocque | 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1955-1964) 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4$^e$ R.E.I) 1955 - 1957 : colonel Borreil 1957 - 1959 : colonel Lemeunier 1959 - 1961 : lieutenant-colonel Georgeon 1961 - 1962 : lieutenant-colonel Vadot 1962 - 1964 : lieutenant-colonel Brule Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion Régiment d’Instruction de La Légion Etrangère (R.I.L.E) 1977 - 1979 : lieutenant-colonel Forcin 1979 - 1980 : lieutenant-colonel Jean 4th Foreign Regiment Tenure (1980–present) 4e régiment étranger,(4$^e$ R.E.) 1980 - 1981 : colonel Jean 1981 - 1983 : colonel Latournerie 1983 - 1985 : colonel Bernard Colcomb | 1985 - 1987 : colonel kreher 1987 - 1989 : colonel Seignez 1989 - 1991 : colonel Bernard Grail 1991 - 1993 : colonel Dureau 1993 - 1995 : colonel Pinard Legry 1995 - 1997 : colonel Buffeteau 1997 - 1999 : colonel Pichot de Champfleury 1999 - 2001 : colonel Barbaud 2001 - 2003 : colonel Thiebault 2003 - 2005 : colonel Kotchine 2005 - 2007 : colonel Roqueplo 2007 - 2009 : colonel Pau 2009 - 2011 : colonel Mistral 2011 - 2013 : colonel Talbourdel 2013 - 2015 : colonel Lobel 2015 - 2017 : Lieutenant-colonel Dufour 2017 - 20** : Lieutenant-colonel de ROFFIGNAC |