Why do Legionaries 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 you have a beard in the French Foreign Legion?

France. The French allow their troops to grow beards off duty or on leave, but never in uniform. That is, except for the Sappers — they must grow a beard. The French Foreign Legion's Sappers are encouraged to grow a long, beautiful beard.

How much do you get paid in the French Legion?

The starting salary for a new legionnaire is €1,380 per month. This equates to £1,175.00. However, unlike the British military, the legion says that "during your first years as a legionnaire, up to the rank of corporal included, you are dressed, fed and housed free of charge".

Who wears the kepi blanc?

Nowadays. White kepis were originally worn by legionnaires on their first guard duty. Today, young volunteers are allowed to wear the white kepi from the moment they complete a 4 weeks long training. It is solemnly presented to them during a special ceremony.

What is a sapper in the French Foreign Legion?

Since the 18th century, every grenadier battalion in the French Army had a small unit of pioneers, sometimes called sappers-pioneers (sapeurs-pionniers). They had the mission to advance under enemy fire in order to destroy the obstacles drawn by the enemy and to clear the way for the rest of the infantry.

Legion traditions (part 4) English version. the legion's pioneers and the 7 flamed grenade.

Which is harder Ranger or Sapper?

Ranger school was physically harder because of how long it is and the impact it has on the body… especially if recycled in the mountains. He said Sapper School was more challenging academically, which I can definitely understand.

Why do they call them sappers?

The name is derived from the French word sappe (“spadework,” or “trench”) and became connected with military engineering during the 17th century, when attackers dug covered trenches to approach the walls of a besieged fort. They also tunneled under those walls and then collapsed the tunnels, thus undermining the walls.

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.

Who wears the black kepi?

Officers and non-commissioned officers wear a black kepi, as well as senior corporals (Caporal-chefs) with more than 17.5 years of service and a CT1 (Certificat technique) qualification.

Why was the kepi hat not popular with confederate soldiers?

The kepi was shorter than the forage cap, and was not very popular because it did not protect from the rain or sun.

Can anyone join the French Legion?

The legion today

Men between the ages of 17 and 40, of any nationality, may join the legion. Recruits enlist under an assumed name—a requirement known as the anonymat—but a legionnaire may request to serve under his true name after a year of service.

Can females join the French Foreign Legion?

The French Foreign Legion or La Legion Etrangere is one of the world's elite military forces; it currently has roughly 1,800 members, and all of them are men. Since its foundation in 1831 by King Louise-Philippe, only one woman has ever been allowed in.

What is the retirement age for the French Foreign Legion?

The French military: the average retirement age is 45.7, if the employee has achieved 40 years of payments he is entitled to a pension equal to 75% of the salary of the last 6 months.

Are there Americans in the French Foreign Legion?

The service currently includes more than 7,000 members, and was established in 1831 as part of the French army, but with a key difference: Its enlisted force is heavily comprised of men from other countries — including the United States.

Why doesn t the us military allow beards?

Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.

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 is the motto of the Foreign Legion?

The mottos Honneur et Fidélité ("Honour and Fidelity") and Legio Patria Nostra (The Legion is our Fatherland) are the crucible identity of the Foreign Legion. It is not known exactly when and how was born and adopted the motto Legio Patria Nostra.

What is the Legion Code of Honor?

The code is the fundamental charter of the national Orders and the Military Medal. Established in 1962 according to the wish of General de Gaulle, the code combines earlier texts into a single document.

Do French Foreign Legion get French citizenship?

Yes. A foreign legionnaire can apply for French nationality after three years of service. If he serves well, he will be entitled to a residence permit at first, the nationality will be given to him conditionally.

Does the French Foreign Legion see a lot of combat?

Throughout its long history since its inception on March 9, 1831, elements of the French Foreign Legion have engaged in combat on the behalf of France and its interests with distinction. The Foreign Legion has seen battle on five different continents against numerous foes.

Is the French Foreign Legion like the Marines?

"The French Foreign Legion has a lot of similarities to the Marine Corps as far as esprit de corps." Marines and sailors with the 26th MEU train alongside the French Legionnaires.

Can you join the French Foreign Legion without speaking French?

However, the one thing they don't test you on is French. It doesn't matter that you don't speak the language when joining the Legion. What matters is that you learn to speak it FAST during the next four months. Get ready to live, work and breathe in French.

What is the nickname for a combat engineer?

A combat engineer (also called pioneer or sapper) is a type of soldier who performs military engineering tasks in support of land forces combat operations.

What is the Army sapper's motto?

“The sapper motto is, 'Sappers Clear the Way!!

What is the motto of the combat engineers?

5. The Army Corps of Engineers' motto is “ESSAYONS.” The term, which is a French phrase meaning “Let us try,” is a nod to the French engineers who aided the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.