Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-10

plans for self Improvement The heart Of
such plans is small unit hidden in the attic
of one of the 100-year-old barracks of the
Legion headquarters here.
At the top of three long flights of stairs
In setting that would pass for garrett apart
ments on the left bank of Paris, lean, hawk
faced Dutchman explained this special unit.
"Here Is New Legion"
at is right here" he said, speaking in
fluent English Zone of his five languages.
shat you can see the new Foreign Legion"
Reporters never come here, perhaps
because what we have to show conflicts with
the glamor and brutality they hope to see.
perhaps even because they are not patient
enough to find the way
Nov that you are here feel it fair to
warn you what you see will make any story
of the Legion you plan more difficult to write"
The Dutchman. a Foreign Legion corpo-
raj who had been a reporter in Amsterdam
before enlisting, was correct.
The top floor of that old barracks finally
and completely shattered popular illusion
about the Legion. threw the usual generaliza-
tons out of focus. and made it clear that
Hollywoods Foreign Legion will never exist
sgain. even if it ever had.
Illusions began to vanish as the corporal
identified himself. He was, of all the improb
able things likely to be found in the legendary
psychology.
That he is also the entire section, and
that he might be the only do-it-yourself
psychologist in the world who learns by
reading every night and experience" is sim
ply tribute to the Legion's determination to
do things when funds and trained personnel
are not available.
Tour of Attic Offices
The corporal then began a tour Of the
attic, where so officers and men, who must
get stoop- shouldered from working under low
roof beams operate the Organization Ration
nellie du Travail, unit whose mission Is de-
termining the rational organization Of work"
Only three years old. some branches of the
ORT are superior to their counterparts in the
French Army. while others have no counter
parts.
But the real Importance of the ORT is
that it is q symbol of the Foreign Legion
today, proof that a modern fighting force
Is being built at Sid Bel Abbes.
Each Legionnaire is brought to the oRT's
attic three times during his career to take
classification examinations designed to deter
mine what work he is best adapted for.
The examinations include six sets which
test general intelligence. mechanical aptitude.
clerical ability, mathematics, command Of
language and Morse code.
The tests are first given to recruits passing
through Sidi bel Abbes on their way to basic
training. Again as the men return there
after their first duty assignment, and finally
when the Legionnaire is about 10 return to
civilian life
This last testing determines the Legion
naire's aptitude for civilian employment. and
is forwarded to the Legion's displacement
bureau In case the man should seek assist
ance, as q large number do.
The ORT wants each Legionnaire to be
able to do his best on the tests. which are
therefore given in language the Legionnaires
know best.
Tests In 26 Languages
Consequently. the ORT must be and is
prepared to give examinations in 26 different
tongues
Each Legionnaire also receives personal
interview when he comes to the ORT as a
recruit. He then gives information on his
educational and personal background. and
indicates his preference Of duty in the Legion.
To permit more extensive questioning
Of some Legonnaires concerning their back
ground and present problems, the ORT
opened its psychological section, which con-
sists today Of the lone Dutch corporal
"T fhink VIA have a0me az fhA most nod-