French Colonial Forces The French Colonial Forces ( ) , commonly called La Coloniale , was a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned in the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960 . They were recruited from mainland France or from the French settler and indigenous populations of the French colonial empire . This force played a substantial part in the conquest of the empire , in both World Wars , the First Indochina War and the Algerian War . From 1822 to 1900 these troops were designated as " Troupes de Marine " . In 1900 they were renamed " Troupes Coloniales " . In 1961 the title of " Troupes de Marine " was readopted . Makeup of French Colonial Forces . The " Armée coloniale " should not be confused with the famous North African regiments of the French Army such as the Foreign Legion , the Bat ' d ' Af ' , Zouaves , Spahis , Algerian Tirailleur s ( sharpshooters ) and Goumier s , all of which were part of the Army of Africa . The North African units date from 1830 and were brought together as the XIX Army Corps in 1873 , forming part of the French Metropolitan Army . Instead the " Troupes Coloniale " can be divided into : All colonial troops ( " la Coloniale " or the Colonial ) came under a single General Staff . The " troupes coloniales " were predominantly infantry but included artillery units as well as the usual support services . At various dates they also included locally recruited cavalry units in Indo - China as well as camel troops in sub - Saharan Africa . List of regiments in New France 1755 – 59 . Colony troops : Regular regiments of the Royal Army assigned to colonial service : Uniforms . The European Colonial Infantry regiments were , until 1914 , uniformed in a similar style to their metropolitan counterparts ( though with yellow fringed epaulette s and medium blue trousers instead of the red epaulettes and red trousers of the line infantry ) . On colonial service white , dark blue or light khaki uniforms were worn with topee s , according to circumstances . Between 1895 and 1905 a light blue / grey " bleu mecanicien " uniform was worn for field dress in Africa and Indo China ( see photograph opposite ) . During and after World War I khaki became the norm for all colonial troops in contrast to the horizon blue of the metropolitan conscripts . The blue dress uniform was however restored for French personnel who enlisted as volunteers in either the Colonial Infantry or Colonial Artillery , from 1928 to 1939 . Tirailleur regiments in Africa worn red fez es and sash es with dark blue , or khaki uniforms until 1914 . The Indo - Chinese units wore a salacco headdress and blue , white or khaki drill clothing based on local patterns . After World War I khaki became the normal dress for indigenous troops , although sashes and fezs continued to be worn for parade until the 1950s . The modern Troupes de Marine are distinguished in full dress by dark blue kepi s with red piping and bronze anchor badges , red sashes and yellow fringed epaulettes . These traditional items are worn with the standard light beige or camouflage dress of the modern French Army on ceremonial occasions . From Marines to Colonials and back again . From 1822 to 1900 these troops , both French and indigenous , had been designated as " Troupes de Marine " , though they were not directly linked to the French Navy . Both services were however administered by the " Ministre de la Marine " and shared an anchor badge . This insignia continued to be worn after the " Troupes de la Marine " became the " Troupes Coloniales " in 1900 and photographs of mehariste ( camel corps ) troopers taken in the 1950s show anchor badges even in the Mauritanian desert far from the sea . In 1961 the title of " Troupes de Marine " was readopted after a brief period ( 1958 – 61 ) as " Troupes d ' Outre - Mer " ( Overseas Forces ) . Post colonial period . As the remaining French African territories became independent in the late 1950s and early 1960s , the tirailleurs were discharged , usually to join their new national armies . In 1964 , the 7th Regiment of Tirailleurs , formed in 1913 as the 7e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens was redesignated the 170e Régiment d ' Infanterie . The various " Tirailleurs Indochinois " regiments were dispersed by the Japanese coup of 10 March 1945 and were not reformed . On 1 May 1994 , in the presence of veterans of the armée d ' Afrique , légionnaires , spahis , zouaves and artilleurs , the 170e Régiment d ' Infanterie was redesignated as the 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs . It wears the insignia and bears the honors and traditions of the old 1er régiment de tirailleurs algériens , which was disbanded in 1964 . Status of Colonial Forces . Throughout their changing titles and roles the French " Troupes de Marine " or " Troupes coloniales " retained a reputation for toughness and professionalism . Whether French or indigenous they were , for the most part , long service regulars and as such comprised a genuine elite . Modern . The Marine Infantry , Parachute , Artillery and Engineer units remain as a distinct branch within the modern French Army .