Who controls the French Foreign Legion?

The Foreign Legion Command (French: Commandement de la Légion Étrangère, (COMLE)) (official) is the Command of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The Legion is led by a French general, a Legion officer (French: Officier de Légion) who is usually a general who spent his entire career in Legion units.

Who does the French Foreign Legion report to?

Today, three units of the Foreign Legion report directly to the COMLE: 1st Foreign Regiment (a unit carrying out administrative tasks), 4e RE (a training unit) and GRLE (a recruiting unit). The other units report to the Staff of their brigades (or forces) they are assigned to.

Are French Foreign Legion officers French?

French Foreign Legion, French Légion étrangère, 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.

What is the most elite unit in the French Foreign Legion?

3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

3e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 3e REI. The most decorated regiment of the French Foreign Legion.

Can a French legionnaire become an officer?

All of the Legion's non-commissioned officers begin their careers as a simple legionary. Current supervision rate: out of 4 legionnaires who enlist today, one of them will become a non-commissioned officer.

Why Do Men From All Over the World Want to Join the Foreign Legion?

Can you tell people you're in the French Foreign Legion?

Yes. You just have to indicate your commitment.

Do you get a new identity when you join the French Foreign Legion?

The legion's own website deals with this frequently asked question about getting a new identity when signing up to its ranks. It simply says: yes. All new recruits to the French Foreign Legion are handed a new identity.

Is the French Foreign Legion a good army?

Created in 1831, the French Foreign Legion has evolved is now one of the most effective units in the French military and always getting picked for no-notice deployments in hot spots around the world. "The French are good, and their Foreign Legion is top-notch.

What happens if you fail French Foreign Legion?

In the event of a definitive failure in the selection, this means that the command of the Foreign Legion considered that despite the qualities of the candidate, he does not have the necessary skills to become a legionnaire. This decision is irrevocable, and the candidate then leaves the selection process.

Do French Foreign Legion get paid?

Pay in the French Foreign Legion

A legionnaire (as well as a corporal) is housed, clothed, fed, and medically cared for free. Your salary depends upon your rank, qualifications, place of service, and years of service. Note that in the pay examples, various tax deductions are already included.

How badass is the French Foreign Legion?

"The Legion dies; It does not surrender!" The French Foreign Legion is without a doubt one of the most hardcore military units ever assembled, and is probably one of the most badass organizations this side of the Praetorian Guard or the original N.W.A. lineup.

What do the French think of the Foreign Legion?

The Foreign Legion is regarded with a high amount of respect by the French people, they are on a whole very proud of the Foreign Legion, maybe not with the same enthusiasm by everybody, but on a whole with pride and respect.

Why do Foreign Legion carry axes?

Uniform of Tradition

The Legion Pionniers distinguish themselves by their specific and unique dress uniform : Axe (French: Hache): serves to destroy obstacles of wood dressed by the enemy.

Can French Foreign Legion be married?

After a number of years he will progress in his career and can legitimately start a family. A legionary will only be allowed to marry after being in good standing with the following conditions: - To serve under his true identity (thus to be regularized of military situation);

What crimes does the French Foreign Legion not accept?

In the past, the Legion was very relaxed about who could join, so it could be a way for those with a complicated history to restart their lives and seek anonymity. Today, he said, it does not take those with a record of very serious crimes such as “murder, drug trafficking or terrorism”.

Can you join the French Foreign Legion without speaking French?

The Legion Etrangere believes very strongly in the "total immersion" method of language training. From day one, with the exception of the interviews conducted by French Intelligence to vet candidates, which are done in the candidate's 1st language, everything is in French.

Are tattoos allowed in the French Foreign Legion?

Tattoos are a long tradition within the Foreign Legion. In France, around 1900, only legionnaires, French soldiers from BILA African battalions (nicknamed the Bat'd'Af), mariners, and prisoners were well-known for being tattooed. So, there is no problem with you having a tattoo if you want to become a legionnaire.

What rank is a legionnaire?

Second Class Legionnaire (equivalent to Private)

He is addressed: “Legionnaire”

Who are the most elite French soldiers?

The Corps of Chasseurs alpins is part of a bigger entity called “Chasseurs à pied”, created by the Duc of Orléans in 1838 and originally famous for the speed and the particular spirit of the troop (later defined by Maréchal Lyautey). The first battalions of Chasseurs alpins were created in 1888.

Is there a female French Foreign Legion?

Susan Mary Gillian Travers (23 September 1909 – 18 December 2003) was a British nurse and ambulance driver who served in the French Red Cross during the Second World War. She later became the only woman to be enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, having also served in French Indochina, during the First Indochina War.

How much free time do you get in the French Foreign Legion?

45 days off a year. As a French soldier, you'll have 45 days off from your second year. It's one of the biggest privileges I had because as a civilian you'll get a bit more than 20 days off a year and it's not too much.

Can criminals join the Foreign Legion?

The Legion used to accept anyone — criminals and misfits especially — with no questions, but now there is a thorough screening process. Since its founding in 1831, the Legion has become the one place of escape for those with haunted pasts.

Does Britain have a Foreign Legion?

The Enlistment of Foreigners Act 1854 allowed the government to recruit foreign mercenary troops to make up the low number of British men being recruited during the Crimean War. These mercenaries formed the British German, British Swiss and British Italian Legions, often collectively called the British Foreign Legion.