The Foreign Legion The Foreign Legion To enlarger click on to photo repeat to shrink Flag Photo taken from 'The Making of a Legionaire by Peter Macdonald Published by Guild Publishing by arrangement with Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd 1991. CN 4737 The French Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère) is a unique military unit in the French Army established in 1831. The legion was specifically created for foreign nationals wishing to serve in the French Armed Forces. Commanded by French officers, it is also open to French citizens, who amounted to 24% of the recruits as of 2007. The Legion today is known as an elite military unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills but also on its strong esprit de corps. As its men come from different countries with different cultures, this is a widely accepted solution to strengthen them enough to work as a team. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also extremely stressful psychologically. The French Foreign Legion was created by Louis Philippe, on 10 March 1831.

The direct reason was that foreigners were forbidden to serve in the French Army after the 1830 July Revolution, so the Legion was created to allow the government a way around this restriction. The purpose of the Legion was to remove disruptive lements from society and put them to use fighting the enemies of France. Recruits included failed revolutionaries from the rest of Europe, soldiers from the disbanded foreign regiments, and troublemakers in general, both foreign and French. Algeria was designated as the Legion's home. In late 1831, the first Legionnaires landed in Algeria, the country that would be the Legion's homeland for 130 years and shape its character. The early years in Algeria were hard for Legionnaires because they were often sent to the worst postings, received the worst assignments and were generally uninterested in the new colony of the French. The Legion's first service in Algeria came to an end after only four years, as it was needed elsewhere. The Legion was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century, but it also fought in almost all French wars including the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars.

The Foreign Legion has remained an important part of the French Army, surviving three Republics, The Second French Empire, two World Wars, the rise and fall of mass conscript armies, the dismantling of the French colonial empire and the French loss of the legion's base, Algeria. To support Isabella's claim to the Spanish throne against her uncle, the French government decided to send the Legion to Spain. On 28 June 1835, the unit was handed over to the Spanish government. The Legion landed at Tarragona on 17 August with around 4,000 men who were quickly dubbed Los Argelinos (the Algerians) by locals because of their previous posting. The Legion's commander immediately dissolved the national battalions to improve the esprit de corps. Later, he also created three squadrons of lancers and an artillery battery from the existing force to increase independence and flexibility. The Legion was dissolved on 8 December 1838, when it had dropped to only 500 men. The survivors returned to France, many reenlisting in the new Legion along with many of their former Carlist enemies.

It was in Mexico on 30 April 1863 that the Legion earned its legendary status. A company led by Capitaine Danjou , numbering 62 soldiers and 3 officers, was escorting a convoy to the besieged city of Puebla when it was attacked and besieged by two thousand revolutionaries, organised in three battalions of infantry and cavalry, numbering 1,200 and 800 respectively. The patrol was forced to make a defence in Hacienda Camarón, and despite the hopelessness of the situation, fought nearly to the last man. When only six survivors remained, out of ammunition, a bayonet charge was conducted in which three of the six were killed. The remaining three were brought before the Mexican general, who allowed them to return to France as an honour guard for the body of Capitaine Danjou. The captain had a wooden hand which was stolen during the battle; it was later returned to the Legion and is now kept in a case in the Foreign Legion museum at Aubagne, and paraded annually on Camerone Day. It is the Legion's most precious relic.

In World War I, the Legion fought in many critical battles of the war, on the Western Front including Artois, Champagne, Somme, Aisne, Verdun (in 1917) and also suffered heavy casualties during 1918. The Legion was also in the Dardanelles and Macedonian front, and the Legion was highly decorated for its efforts. Many young foreigners, including Americans like Fred Zinn, volunteered for the Legion when the war broke out in 1914. There were marked differences between such idealistic volunteers as the poet Alan Seeger and the hardened mercenaries of the old Legion, making assimilation difficult. Nevertheless, the old and the new men of the Legion fought and died in vicious battles on the Western front, including Belloy-en-Santerre during the Battle of the Somme, where Seeger, after being mortally wounded by machine gun fire, cheered on the rest of his advancing battalion. As most European countries and the US were drawn into the War, many of the newer "duration only" volunteers who managed to survive the first years of the war were generally released from the Legion to join their respective national armies.

Citizens of the Central Powers serving with the Legion on the outbreak of war were normally posted to garrisons in North Africa to avoid problems of divided loyalties. The Foreign Legion played a smaller role in World War II, though having a part in the Norwegian, Syrian and North African campaigns. The 13th Demi-Brigade was deployed in the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Reflecting the divided loyalties of the time, part of the Legion joined the Free French movement while another part served the Vichy government. A battle in the Syria-Lebanon campaign of June 1941 saw legionnaire fighting legionnaire as the 13th Demi-Brigade (D.B.L.E.) clashed with the 6th Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie at Damas in Syria. Later, 1,000 of the rank and file of the Vichy Legion unit joined the 13th D.B.L.E. of the Free French forces as a third battalion. Following the war, many former German soldiers joined the Legion to pursue a military career with an elite unit, an option that was no longer possible in Germany.

Germans still constitute a strong presence in the Legion. The Foreign Legion played a smaller role in World War II, though having a part in the Norwegian, Syrian and North African campaigns. The 13th Demi-Brigade was deployed in the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Reflecting the divided loyalties of the time, part of the Legion joined the Free French movement while another part served the Vichy government. A battle in the Syria-Lebanon campaign of June 1941 saw legionnaire fighting legionnaire as the 13th Demi-Brigade (D.B.L.E.) clashed with the 6th Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie at Damas in Syria. Later, 1,000 of the rank and file of the Vichy Legion unit joined the 13th D.B.L.E. of the Free French forces as a third battalion. Following the war, many former German soldiers joined the Legion to pursue a military career with an elite unit, an option that was no longer possible in Germany. Germans still constitute a strong presence in the Legion.

The Algerian War of Independence (1954–62) was a highly-traumatic conflict for the Legion. Constantly on call throughout the country, heavily engaged in fighting against the National Liberation Front and the Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN), the war brought the Legion to the brink of extinction after some officers, men and the highly-decorated 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment took part in the Generals' putsch. Notable operations included the Suez Crisis, the Battle of Algiers and various offensives launched by General Maurice Challe including Operations Oranie and Jumelles. By 1962 the morale of the Legion was at an all-time low; it had lost its traditional and spiritual home (Algeria), elite units had been disbanded, in addition, many officers and men were arrested or deserted to escape persecution. General deGaulle considered disbanding it altogether. But after downsizing it to 8,000 men, stripping it of all heavy weaponry, the Legion was spared, packed up and re-headquartered in metropolitan France.

The Legion now had a new role as a rapid intervention force to preserve French interests not only in its former African colonies but in other nations as well; it was also a return to its roots of being a unit always ready to be sent to hot-spots all around the world. Some notable operations include: the Chadian-Libyan conflict in 1969-72 (the first time that the Legion was sent in operations after the Algerian War), 1978–79, and 1983–87; Kolwezi in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1978; Rwanda in 1990-94; and the Côte d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) in 2002 to the present. In September 1990, the 1e REC, the 2e REI, and the 6e REG were sent to the Persian Gulf as a part of Opération Daguet. They were a part of the French 6th Light Armoured Division, whose mission was to protect the coalition's left flank. After a four-week air campaign, coalition forces launched the ground campaign.

It quickly penetrated deep into Iraq, with the Legion taking the Al Salman airport, meeting little resistance. The war ended after a hundred hours of fighting on the ground, which resulted in very light casualties for the Legion. Source The Beret Project: Green Beret - Foreign Legion The Beret Project Peaked Cap: for people who don't dare to wear a beret Saturday, October 2, 2010 Green Beret - Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère) is a unique military unit in the French Army established in 1831. The legion was specifically created for foreign nationals wishing to serve in the French Armed Forces, but commanded by French officers. However, it is also open to French citizens, who amounted to 24% of the recruits as of 2007. The Legion is today known as an elite military unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills but also on its strong esprit de corps . As its men come from different countries with different cultures, this is a widely accepted solution to strengthen them enough to work as a team. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also extremely stressful psychologically.

The French Foreign Legion was created by King Louis Philippe, on 10 March 1831. The direct reason was that foreigners were forbidden to serve in the French Army after the 1830 July Revolution, so the Legion was created to allow the government a way around this restriction. The purpose of the Legion was to remove disruptive elements from society and put them to use fighting the enemies of France. Recruits included failed revolutionaries from the rest of Europe, soldiers from the disbanded foreign regiments, and troublemakers in general, both foreign and French. Algeria was designated as the Legion's home. In late 1831, the first Legionnaires landed in Algeria, the country that would be the Legion's homeland for 130 years and shape its character. The early years in Algeria were hard for Legionnaires because they were often sent to the worst postings, received the worst assignments and were generally uninterested in the new colony of the French. The Legion's first service in Algeria came to an end after only four years, as it was needed elsewhere.

The Legion was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century, but it also fought in almost all French wars including the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars. The Foreign Legion has remained an important part of the French Army, surviving three Republics, The Second French Empire, two World Wars, the rise and fall of mass conscript armies, the dismantling of the French colonial empire and the French loss of the legion's base, Algeria. These days most Legionnaires still come from European countries but a growing percentage comes from Latin-America, 24%. Most of the Legion's commissioned officers are French with approximately 10% being former Legionnaires who have risen through the ranks. Membership of the Legion is often a reflection of political shifts: specific national representations generally surge whenever a country has a political crisis and tend to subside once the crisis is over and the flow of recruits dries up. After the First World War, many (Tsarist) Russians joined. Immediately before the Second World War, Czechs, Poles and Jews from Eastern Europe fled to France and ended up enlisting in the Legion. Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, there were many Serbian nationals.

Also in the 1990s, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the changes in the former Warsaw Pact countries, led to an increase in recruitment from Poland and from the former republics of the USSR (If you're interested in joining, click here !). Posted by French Foreign Legion - Shows Shows Live Nightly 1am - 5am EST / 10pm - 2am PST Advertisement Home > Shows > French Foreign Legion French Foreign Legion Date Saturday - April 24, 2010 Host Ian Punnett Full show audio not available Highlights Windows Player Author and war expert Adrian Gilbert discussed the French Foreign Legion, a unique military organization established in 1831 and comprised mainly of foreign nationals wishing to serve in the French Army. Once known for attracting criminals looking for a clean start, the elite unit now performs extensive background checks on potential recruits. They do not accept murderers or people who have committed serious crimes, Gilbert said. Those who are accepted into its ranks take on a new identity, and swear to live and die by the motto "The Legion is our Country," he continued. Gilbert cited the Battle of Camarón (1863) as evidence of the Legion's legendary toughness.

In that battle, an outnumbered group of one hundred men fought against an advancing army of 2,000 Mexican revolutionaries until only three Legionnaires remained. The Legion made its headquarters in Algeria, North Africa, until the 1960s. Their remote location from France allowed them to play only a small role in World War II. After Nazi Germany took over France, part of the Legion continued fighting against Axis forces while another part served the new Vichy regime, Gilbert explained. He also commented on stories about Nazi gold and other hidden WWII treasures, pointing out that he has found no documentary evidence to support their existence. With no French Empire to defend, the contemporary Legion has morphed into a compact special forces unit of about 9,000 troops, Gilbert estimated. They are sent to troubled spots around the world, such as Afghanistan and the Ivory Coast, and paid reasonably well for their efforts, Gilbert noted. After serving faithfully in the Legion for five years, a member may apply to become a French citizen, he added.

Website(s): Related Articles Ian Punnett's Blog Post 4/24/10 Of all the mysteries in the world tonight--and there are many--which one do you suppose is getting all the buzz? It’s not the story from the Santa Maria Times confirming that the most recent DARPA experiment failed--or at least that’s what they’re saying: A military experiment of hypersonic technology apparently ended in failure shortly after a Minotaur 4-Lite launched Thursday afternoon from Vandenberg Air Force Base, officials said late Friday. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency launched its Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 at 4 p.m. Thursday from South Base. In the statement released Friday night, DARPA said preliminary review of technical data reveals that the rocket “successfully delivered the HTV-2 glide vehicle to the desired separation conditions.” “The launch vehicle executed first-of-its-kind energy management maneuvers, clamshell payload fairing release and HTV-2 deployment,” the DARPA statement said. “Approximately 9 minutes into the mission, telemetry assets experienced a loss of signal from the HTV-2.

An engineering team is reviewing available data to understand this event.” HTV-2 is an unmanned maneuverable hypersonic air vehicle designed to glide through Earth’s atmosphere “at incredibly fast speeds — Mach 20 and above,” DARPA said. Something traveling at Mach 1 is moving at the speed of sound. This is not to be confused with the latest Mach 5 missile project that the Obama Administration has just confirmed: HAUNTED by the memory of a lost opportunity to kill Osama Bin Laden before he attacked the World Trade Center in New York, US military planners have won President Barack Obama’s support for a new generation of high-speed weapons that are intended to strike anywhere on Earth within an hour. Obama’s interest in Prompt Global Strike (PGS), a nonnuclear weapons programme, has alarmed China and Russia and complicated nuclear arms reduction negotiations. White House officials confirmed last week that the president, who won the Nobel peace prize last year, is considering the deployment of a new class of hypersonic guided missiles that can reach their targets at speeds of Mach 5 — about 3,600mph.

(Times UK) Shooting around some of my favorite blogsites, nobody is all that interested in the slightly nuanced claim that the dinosaurs died because of a massive temperature drop brought on by climate change as opposed to climate change brought on by a comet. British researchers claim that a sudden plummeting in the sea temperature of 16F (9C) more than 137 million years ago was the first step towards their eventual road to extinction. While studying fossils and minerals from the Arctic Svalbard, Norway, they concluded the sudden change in the Atlantic Gulf Stream during the Cretaceous period would almost certainly have wiped out the ''abundance'' of the world's dinosaurs. Some experts believe the creatures were wiped out by one cataclysmic event 65 million years ago – such as a meteor hitting the planet. But the new research suggests they were wiped out by a series of environmental changes, starting with a drop in sea temperatures. Gregory Price, from Plymouth University, who led the study, said his team's research showed the drop in temperature happened when the Earth was in a ''greenhouse'' climate, which was very similar to now.

He found the drop in temperatures was so severe that numerous species of dinosaur previously living in warm, shallow seas, land and swamps would have died out. ''We believe dinosaurs were most likely to be cold-blooded creatures and would have needed the warmth to keep them alive,” he said. The big buzz item on the net might have been the new gay character coming to Archie Comics. The comic, which dates to the 1940s and for decades has revolved around a love triangle between Archie Andrews and Riverdale High classmates Betty and Veronica, is debuting its first openly gay character . The new student, Kevin Keller, is scheduled to appear in issue #202, out in September, and will add diversity to a Riverdale community that has been criticized as being too homogeneous. (Wall Street Journal/blogs) Kevin Keller? I thought the smart money was on Reggie. By the way, with Riverdale High becoming inclusive enough for a gay character to come out, what’s taking you so long Velma of Scooby-Doo? Anyway, maybe that story is too new because the one story that I see getting talked about the most in the blogs is the mystery of how a California Sea Lion got on the roof of Newport Beach condo.

Is it impossible to think that this pup just went up the stairs to the roof of this condo just like the owners did? I’m not sure why that seems so impossible. That having been said, it sure would be a weird way to wake up in the morning. Oh, and just for the record, I don’t think Velma is the only lesbian cartoon character, with her jealous looks at Fred every time he would go off with Daphne, I just think she is the most obvious. I’m still on the fence on Peppermint Patty and her devoted assistant, Marcie but I’m guessing at least one of the Powerpuff Girls and definitely Smurfette. Don't Talk to Aliens Stephen Hawking has warned against trying to make contact with extraterrestrials in a new documentary series. The world-renowned physicist, who is almost certain alien species exist throughout the universe, believes a few of them could be both intelligent and dangerous. According to Hawking, such ETs might raid Earth for resources and move on. More from Times Online .

How to Join the French Foreign Legion | Mercenary Jobs How to Join the French Foreign Legion How to Join the French Foreign Legion 0 The French Foreign Legion was established in 1831 as a means for foreign nationals to serve in the French Armed Forces. Today, it is one of the most elite military units in the world with training focused on traditional military skills and focusing on strong unit spirit de corps. The men of the French Foreign Legion come from across the globe to serve initial service commitments of five years. Many of those who successfully obtain a posting with the Legion, extend on with subsequent enlistments. A common question asked individuals interested in joining the elite service is how to join the French Foreign Legion? French Foreign Legion Origins The French Foreign Legion was originally created by King Louis Philippe on March 10th, 1831. The primary catalyst behind the King’s creation of French Foreign Legion the Legion was to work around the restrictions of foreigners serving in the French Army after the 1830 July Revolution. The King’s primary purpose of the Foreign Legion was to remove the disruptive elements of society and to use them to fight the enemies of the state.

In order to appease his political opponents, the Royal Ordinance for the establishment of the Foreign Legion specified that the foreign soldiers recruited to service could only server the King and the country outside of France. As a result, the Legion was transferred from Toulon to Algeria to provide reinforcements for the French expeditionary force that had occupied Algiers the previous year. Throughout the 19th century, the French Foreign Legion saw service in protecting the French colonial empire as well as fighting in all major French Wars. Where Does the French Foreign Legion Operate Today? Today, there are just less than 7,700 French legionnaires and NCO’s that come from 136 countries (including France). Of the 7699 men, there are 413 officers and 1,741 NCO’s at the time of this writing who are further divided into 11 regiments of the Legion. Legionnaires see service abroad as part of NATO and security operations in locations such as Afghanistan, French Guyana, Kosovo, Chad, the Ivory Coast, New Caledonia, Mayotte, la Reunion, and the French West Indies.

Previously, the Legion saw action in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Kampuchea, Somalia (1992-1993), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia, Macedonia (1993-2003), World War 1, World War 2, the Central African Repulic (1996), and numerous other regional and world conflicts. Where Can You Enlist in the French Foreign Legion? The only location that an individual may enlist in the French Foreign Legion is on mainland France. It is up to the candidate to get to one of the 11 locations that take applicants as well as to obtain the proper visa to be physically present in France at the time of application (IE you can’t just stow away on a freighter and show up with no passport/visa/etc.). The 11 cities in France that accept applications to the Foreign Legion include: Paris Toulouse How Much Do French Foreign Legion Soldiers Get Paid? The notional first year pay for a legionnaire is 1043 € a month.

Through the rank of corporal (first 2-4 years in the Legion), the service also provides uniforms, meals, and lodging at no additional charge to the member. Each soldier also accrues 45 days of leave during a calendar year. The following is an example of the net pay for legionnaires that takes into account average deductions but not the social security deduction. You can expect your pay to vary slightly based on location of service, etc.

RANK SERVICE 1°RE 2°REP * 3°REI ** 13°DBLE *** Legionnaire 10 months 1205 € 1460 € 1433 € 3567 € Corporal 03 years 1226 € 1480 € 1452 € 3626 € Senior corporal 10 years 1303 € 1607 € 1600 € 3939 € Sergeant 7 years 1351 € 1648 € 1650 € 3929 € Staff sergeant 10 years 1779 € 2095 € 1945 € 4186 € Adjudant 17 years 2007 € 2140 € 2180 € 4748 € Regimental sergeant major 21 years 2078 € 2427 € 2477 € 4818 € Net pay (after various deductions, excluding social security deduction) * Parachute bonus *** Overse

as allowance (abroad) Steps to Apply to the French Foreign Legion Step 1 – Determine which of the 11 French Foreign Legion offices that is most convenient for you to visit in person to start your application.

The offices are located in: Paris, Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg, Aubagne, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseilles, Nice, Perpignan and Toulouse. The legion provides directions / map to each of the offices on their recruitment website . Before paying a significant amount of money traveling to a recruitment office, it is advisable to undertake a physical training regime in order to ensure you can pass the Foreign Legion sports/fitness test that is taken after getting through the pre-selection process. Step 2 – After presenting yourself at the information office, you will be expected to provide an identity card issued by your country of residence and within the first year a enlisting a copy of your birth certificate. The Legion no longer accepts convicted felons and runs background checks through Interpol on candidates so be warned before showing up to a recruitment office. Since September 20th, 2010, candidates are no longer required to join the Legion under a declared identity and may use their own name if desired. If you make it through pre-selection, the Foreign Legion will provide room, board, and clothing to get the candidate to the next phase of application (the Selection Process).

Step 3 – The Foreign Legion will then have the candidate proceed to Aubagne for a medical check-up, finalize paperwork for the initial five-year contract, and take part in a series of physical, psyche-technical, and personality tests. No matter what the candidate’s marital status is on application to the Foreign Legion, he will be enlisted as a single man for the first five year enlistment contract. Step 4 – If you pass the testing in Aubagne , an unconditional five-year contract will be signed, and the candidate will attend 15 weeks of instruction in topics ranging from Foreign Legion traditions to extensive mountain training for the infantry. French is the only language spoken in the Foreign Legion. Although not a prerequisite for service, basic fluency in the language is known to help recruits proceed through the initial training in the Legion in a bit of an easier fashion while not trying to learn the language simultaneously. Step 5 – Report to duty to the assigned regiment provided by the French Foreign Legion after training is complete. Six of the regiments are based in France, two in Africa, one in Corsica , and one in South America. The regiments can and will be further deployed from their assigned garrison after receiving the post to the regiment.

How Does a Declared Identity Work? Prior to 2010, all Legionnaires were required to give up their civilian identity when enlisting in the force. The new recruit was then forced to use a declared identity (or new name) for the first year of service. After the first year, the new Legionnaire could attempt to reclaim their old name through the “military regularization of the situation” process. During this process, new identity papers are obtained from the home country of the solider. Many soldiers choose to serve out their entire five-year career under the declared identity. The declared identity helps provide a consistent point of entry for new Legionnaires in their new service for France. At the time of this writing the Foreign Legion continued to not accept women into their ranks. Are Legionnaires Required to Join Under an Assumed Identity? Since September 20, 2010, Legion recruits have been permitted to sign their contract with their real identity. New members can still choose to ask to sign-up under a declared identity through the commission of selection. French citizens may also join the Legion today which has not always been the case.

If a new recruit signs up under an assumed name, he can apply through the military regularization of situation process after serving for a year to obtain his old name again. The Legion will permit soldiers to serve an entire career under an assumed name if they so choose. Restrictions Placed on Legionnaires Unlike other armed forces, legionnaires with less than five years of service are expected to always wear a uniform. NCOS and senior are allowed to wear civilian clothes while off duty. Additionally, a legionnaire is not permitted to purchase a motor vehicle of any type until he has more than five years of service and if not done, undergo the military regularization of situation process. This process is required for all Foreign Legion NCOs and senior as well. In order to get married (or have a previous marriage recognized), the legionnaire must have underwent the military regularization of situation process which is also required to have a civilian bank account. Are Legionnaires Allowed to Go Abroad on Leave? In order to take leave abroad, the legionnaire must have undergone the military regularization of situation process and have a valid passport or identity document.

If the soldier intends to visit their home country on leave, they must have fulfilled all mandatory service for the country and not be wanted by the police of their homeland. If not, the Legion will not allow the soldier to visit since that increases the odds of the member inadvertently being declared AWOL from the Foreign Legion. There are some restrictions for leave destinations for Foreign Legion soldiers to include Afghanistan and Iraq as two examples. French Foreign Legion Code of Honor All French Foreign Legion trainees are required to memorize the seven articles of the Legionnaire’s Code of Honour . For those interested in getting a “leg up” on others, the French and English translations are provided below. Be warned, that simply memorizing the code will not be enough, the new legionnaires are also required to get the vocal synchronization correct as well. Code of Honour Article 1 – Légionnaire, tu es un volontaire, servant la France avec honneur et fidélité. Article 2 – Chaque Légionnaire est ton frère d’armes, quelle que soit sa nationalité, sa race ou sa religion. Tu lui manifestes toujours la solidarité étroite qui doit unir les membres d’une même famille.

Article 3 – Respectueux des traditions, attaché à tes chefs, la discipline et la camaraderie sont ta force, le courage et la loyauté tes vertus. Article 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. Article 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. Article 6 – La mission est sacrée, tu l’exécutes jusqu’au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie. Article 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. English Translation Article 1 – Légionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with honour and fidelity.

Article 2 – Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show him the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family. Article 3 – Respectful of traditions, devoted to your leaders, discipline and comradeship are your strengths, courage and loyalty your virtues. Article 4 – Proud of your status as Legionnaire, you display this in your always impeccable uniform, your always dignified but modest behaviour, and your clean living quarters. Article 5 – An elite soldier, you train rigorously, you maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, and you take constant care of your physical form. Article 6 – The mission is sacred, you carry it out until the end and, if necessary in the field, at the risk of your life. Article 7 – In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.

Fiction:French Foreign Legion | SporeWiki | Fandom powered by Wikia French Sixth Republic The French Foreign Legion, officially the Légion etrangère, is an elite military service wing of the French Army established in 1831, unique because it was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces. Since the mid-2790's, the French Foreign Legion has increasingly become an instrument of French power projection, valuing strategic speed, ease of deployment, professionalism, and independence of operation. This is in contrast to the increasing bulk and cost of the rest of the French Army . The Foreign Legion is known as a unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills but also on its strong esprit de corps. As its men come from different countries with different cultures, this is a way to strengthen them enough to work as a team. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also very stressful psychologically. Contents Edit Today, the Foreign Legion remains the only branch of the French army to accept non-French citizens, though only French citizens can become commissioned officers. Applicants may enlist under a fake identity, called "declared identity" to start anew in the Legion.

After one year, a legionary may choose to continue under their chosen pseudonym or may assume their real name for the rest of their five-year enlistment. After three years of service, a legionnaire may apply for French citizenship. A legionnaire who is injured in battle can immediately apply for French citizenship under a provision known as "Français par le sang versé" ("French by spilled blood"). This makes the Foreign Legion very attractive to foreign nationals looking to immigrate to France. Recruitment Edit While the Foreign Legion was originally designed to rid France of potential foreign agitators and local criminals, it has evolved into a highly selective and elite fighting force. Recruiters conduct extensive background checks on potential recruits. They are willing to overlook minor criminal offenses, but immediately disqualify serious offenders. The sheer volume of applications the Legion gets per year allows it to be highly selective. Potential recruits with a good criminal record, education, and physique are preferred, though a large waiting list exists even for ideal applicants. The less-than-ideal applications are kept on file, in a pool referred to as the foreign reserves, to be called upon in case the French Army needs to swell its ranks quickly with reservist infantry.

Some nations have enacted laws regarding Foreign Legion recruitment in their countries. The Alliance of the Mashriq , Yamato Stellar Empire , and Kingdom of Aztlan strictly forbid enlistment. To do so is considered treason. Others like the Southern Africanus Dominion restrict enlistment, forcing their citizens to pass through the government first before applying to the legion. Membership by nationality Edit The French Foreign Legion maintains a number of independently-operating Region Armies which are capable of rapid-deployment at a moment's notice. The number and composition of these as varied over time, though the Foreign Legion as a whole has seen a great amount of enlarging in the late 2790's with the growth of the French Colonial Empire. Currently, the Foreign Legion fields six regular Region Armies, each holding approximately twenty-five planetary divisions, fleets of starships capable of conquering moderately-fortified planets. These, when compared to the region armies of the rest of the French Army, are overwhelmingly light, favoring planetary divisions which can quickly grab and hold territory over the bulkier ones that can fight over it for long periods of time.

Edit As the Foreign Legion is composed of soldiers of different nationalities and backgrounds, it needed to develop an intense Esprit de Corps which is carried out by the development of camaraderie, specific traditions, the high sense of loyalty of its legionnaires, the quality of their training and the pride of being a soldier of an elite unit. While on parade, the Legion marches at a slow pace of 88-steps-per-minute, compared to the normal 120-steps-per-minute of other units, and is always opened by the Pionniers de la légion étrangère bearing the traditional trappings of Napoleonic sappers––leather aprons, large gloves, and beards––to symbolize their traditional role of "opening the way" for other infantry. Légion étrangère, France: "On the trail of the French Foreign Legion" - YouTube Légion étrangère, France: "On the trail of the French Foreign Legion" Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented.

This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 22, 2015 On the trail of the French Foreign Legion Jul 22, 2015 REPORT: The Alpine mountain range offers a training ground for one of France's most prestigious military units, the Foreign Legion*. French Foreign Legion: The French Foreign Legion is a military service wing of the French Army established in 1831, unique because it was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces. Commanded by French officers, it is also open to French citizens, who amounted to 24% of the recruits as of 2007. The Foreign Legion is today known as a unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills but also on its strong esprit de corps. As its men come from different countries with different cultures, this is a way to strengthen them enough to work as a team. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also very stressful psychologically. A soldier who becomes injured during a battle for France can immediately apply for French citizenship under a provision known as "Français par le sang versé" ("French by spilled blood").

As of 2008 members come from 140 countries. The Foreign Legion was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century. The Foreign Legion was stationed in Algeria, where it took part in the pacification and development of the colony. The FFL were deployed in a number of conflicts, including the First Carlist War in 1835, the Crimean War in 1854, the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859, the French intervention in Mexico in 1863, the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the Tonkin Campaign and Sino–French War in 1883, supporting growth of the French colonial empire in Sub-Saharan Africa and pacifying Algeria, the Second Franco-Dahomean War in 1892, the Second Madagascar expedition in 1895, and the Mandingo Wars in 1894. In World War I, the Foreign Legion fought in many critical battles on the Western Front. The Foreign Legion played a smaller role in World War II than in World War I, though having a part in the Norwegian, Syrian and North African campaigns.

During the First Indochina War (1946–54), the Foreign Legion saw its numbers swell. The FFL lost a large number of men in the catastrophic Battle of Dien Bien Phu. During the Algerian War of Independence (1954–62), the Foreign Legion was brought to the brink of extinction after some officers, men, and the highly decorated 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1REP) took part in the Generals' putsch. Notable operations included the Suez Crisis, the Battle of Algiers and various offensives launched by General Maurice Challe including Operations Oranie and Jumelles. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Legion had a new role as a rapid deployment force to preserve French interests – not only in its former African colonies but in other nations as well; it also returned to its roots of being a unit always ready to be sent to hot-spots all around the world.

Some notable operations include: the Chadian–Libyan conflict in 1969–72 (the first time that the Legion was sent in operations after the Algerian War), 1978–79, and 1983–87; Kolwezi in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1978; Rwanda in 1990–94; and the Côte d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) in 2002 to the present. In 1990, the Foreign Legion were sent to the Persian Gulf as a part of Opération Daguet. In the 1990s, the Foreign Legion helped with the evacuation of French citizens and foreigners in Rwanda, Gabon and Zaire. The Foreign Legion was also deployed in Cambodia, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the mid- to late-1990s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and in Kosovo.

In the 2000s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Licorne in Côte d'Ivoire, the EUFOR Tchad/RCA in Chad, and Operation Serval in the Northern Mali conflict Other nations have tried to emulate the French Foreign Legion model. There have been units composed of foreign recruits in China, Israel, the Dutch Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indische Leger (KNIL), the Rhodesian Bush War of the 1960s and 1970s, and Russia and Spain. *** Foreign Legion (Civ5) | Civilization Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Unique front-line unit of the French civilization . Replaces the Great War Infantry . Special abilities: Foreign Lands Bonus: Combat Bonus outside Friendly Territory (20) Brave New World Edit Available in limited amounts through the Volunteer Army ideological tenet, or from allied Militaristic City-States who offer it as their bonus troop once you have the ability to build Great War Infantry. Also appears in Scramble for Africa as France's unique unit.

Special abilities: Foreign Lands Bonus: Combat Bonus outside Friendly Territory (20) Strategy Edit In vanilla Civilization V and Gods & Kings , the Foreign Legion gives the French the ability to continue on the offensive in the dawn of the Modern Era. The Foreign Lands Bonus transfers to the later Infantry and Mechanized Infantry units, so they can turn into an offensive civilization in the end game. In Brave New World , the Foreign Legion is a special unit, only available through the Volunteer Army tenet of the Freedom Ideology, or gifted by Militaristic City-States . It is slightly less powerful than a Great War Infantry , but it has a Foreign Lands Combat Bonus promotion (which transfers on upgrade), making it an excellent unit to use on the offensive. A nation which adopts the Volunteer Army tenet receives six of these immediately, maintenance-free, which in many cases could confer an immediate military advantage over its neighbors. Historical Info Edit Established in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is a unique infantry unit in the French army. The legion was specifically created for foreign nationals who wished to fight for France. Famously courageous, totally indifferent to personal safety, the Foreign Legion have seen service in every French war since their inception.

The unit has been highly romanticized - according to popular culture, it is a place where heartbroken men go to forget women and scoundrels go to escape justice. This may or may not be accurate, but whatever the case the Legion is a tough and very effective fighting force. How to Join the Foreign Military | eHow How to Join the Foreign Military Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images So, you're interested in joining a foreign military? Foreign military service has a long pedigree in world history, and opportunities remain for non-citizens to join the fighting forces of both Western and non-Western nations. If you're an American citizen, the task can be accomplished with some work; but you need to be aware of the possible career, legal and citizenship implications if you do. For non-Americans, serving in the American military can be a road to citizenship and a powerful way of demonstrating your commitment to your new home. In either case, valuable education or experience you may have accumulated prior to service, such as specialized technical skills, an advanced university degree or prior physical or survival training, will likely stand you in good stead during the application process and can make you a highly desirable candidate.

Things You'll Need Documentation of citizenship and identity Valid passport Groundwork You'll need good paperwork so that your identity and background can be verified by the foreign military. Assemble valid original documentation of your place of birth, your citizenship, identity documents and your current passport. Keep at least one copy of each in a safe location in case there is a problem or a need for re-issuance. Clarify your status, your rights and your obligations. Remember, if you're a citizen of a foreign country and have lived in America for a long time, or have only tenuous connections to that foreign country, you may not be obligated to serve. Or you may qualify for a reduced term of service. In a foreign military you also may not qualify for certain sensitive positions like intelligence or special weapons systems. Your placement can be affected, positively or negatively, by your language skills. It may help to seek out a military official whom you trust and with whom you can openly discuss your options. Decide what country you wish to serve in. Research its history, military and the reception it grants to foreigners. If you're looking to voluntarily serve abroad, you'll have a number of options. See the partial list of countries below for an introduction to their service options for foreigners.

Understand the consequences. Volunteering for a foreign military force is a statement about your personal loyalties and emotional commitments, and it can have legal repercussions. Citing U.S. law, and the complications that American citizens in foreign uniforms can cause to international relations, the U.S. State Department discourages--but does not forbid--Americans from serving in foreign militaries. Until a 1967 Supreme Court case (Afroyim v. Rusk), service in a foreign military could lead to immediate termination of American citizenship. Today, however, that is not the case. In general, if you voluntarily join a foreign military while you are overseas and without any intention of relinquishing your U.S. citizenship, your U.S. citizenship is not at risk. And if you are conscripted into the foreign military as a legal consequence of your citizenship or residency in the foreign country, your U.S. citizenship is not at risk. However, there is an important exception: If the military you join is engaged, or likely to engage, in hostilities against the U.S., your service may be viewed as an ipso facto indication of your desire to relinquish U.S. citizenship.

A military that is engaged in hostilities with close American allies may present similar difficulties. Remember that following service in a foreign military it may be more difficult to apply for a job with the U.S. government, especially in sensitive or high-security positions like intelligence work or the military. Jobs with American companies working on certain sophisticated technologies could also become inaccessible. This step is a long one because the consequences can be many--it's important that you have a full understanding of them before you proceed, and you should speak to an expert as well as people who have completed their own foreign military service about the details, benefits and risks. Learn the language. Some militaries have special language training courses that foreign soldiers can complete before their actual training begins. If the military you're joining doesn't have such a program, ensure that your foreign language competence is at least up to a good conversational level before you enlist. Australia The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is undermanned and actively seeking new members. It is eager to recruit non-citizens and current non-residents who have prior military experience. It is also looking to recruit Australian Permanent Residents without prior military experience. In both cases ADF service can accelerate one's Australian citizenship process.

Other People Are Reading However, persons who are not citizens or Permanent Residents of Australia and who lack prior military service are not eligible to serve. France The French Foreign Legion is one of the oldest military units to actively seek foreign recruits. After three years of Legion service, a Legionnaire may apply for French citizenship. Legion units are currently deployed in South America, East Africa, West Africa and Afghanistan, among other locations. Israel The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has inducted foreign volunteers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, for more than six decades. The IDF's enlistment track for foreign volunteers is called "Mahal" and is solely dedicated to assisting foreigners who wish to join the IDF. Foreign volunteers are eligible for service in both combat and non-combat units. Tips & Warnings The above list of countries is NOT all-inclusive. The reality is that many governments enjoy having foreigners serve in their military and may prefer persons with excellent English language skills for certain jobs. Having special technical skills can greatly improve your likelihood of being accepted. Serving in the military of a country that is hostile to the U.S. can lead to the loss of U.S. citizenship. A U.S.

citizen remains legally liable for the acts committed while in foreign uniform. If one does something that violates U.S. law (e.g. an attack upon noncombatants) one can be held liable for it in an American court. U.S. citizenship is also not a protection against being held liable for the violation of international treaties like the Geneva or Hague Conventions. Not just the U.S., but foreign countries and extranational bodies like the International Criminal Court can prosecute violations of international law.

Question: What military unit was established in 1831 so that foreign nationals could serve in a nation's Army?
Answer: The French Foreign Legion