I guess I should reiterate that I have no interest in the American armed forces. I'm still debating it in my head, but I'm leaning towards having it as a backup option if all else fails. Im still not at my physical best at the moment anyways so it would be better to get muscled out and get a better grasp of French. Dropping everything right now and doing it would be foolhardy to say the least. Better to maximize my chances of getting in while in college and if push comes to shove I can join up.

Quote: (05-27-2014 06:14 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I guess I should reiterate that I have no interest in the American armed forces. I'm still debating it in my head, but I'm leaning towards having it as a backup option if all else fails.

I think the FFL is for those who have nothing left to lose. You join the FFL to "reboot" your life, so to speak.

If you can study engineering in college debt-free, then go to college and get an engineering degree. I am assuming you have some actual interest in engineering. If you have absolutely no interest in engineering, then studying engineering may be a bad career decision, and the chances of switching major are considerable, which means losing a couple of years of your life.

OK, assuming you actually have an interest in engineering...

I have no idea what field of engineering you're interested in, but let's say you're interested in ChemE or MechE. Once you graduate, you don't have to be a wage slave in smalltown USA working in a cubicle for the following 50 years. You can choose to work in the oil & gas industry and become a field engineer at, say, Schlumberger or Halliburton. If U.S. companies go to Ukraine to extract shale gas, there would a chance for you to get out of the U.S., travel, and live in a poosy paradise. And let's face it... saying you're a field engineer at an oil & gas company would impress the Ukrainian ladies a lot more than saying you're essentially a mercenary, an expendable asset fighting for France. Women are the realists, after all. And if you don't like working at the company that you will be working for, you can quit and get a job at another company. Once you have committed to the FFL, quitting may be harder. Talk to anyone who has been stuck in a PhD program with a doctoral advisor he or she despised, and you get an idea of how miserable "shotgun marriages" can be.

If you study computer science, you can become a remote worker. One of my buddies from engineering grad school works as a software developer for a Silicon Valley company... while living in Mexico. It's possible to do engineering and travel the world, too.

Quote: (05-27-2014 06:35 PM)Icarus Wrote:  

Quote: (05-27-2014 06:14 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I guess I should reiterate that I have no interest in the American armed forces. I'm still debating it in my head, but I'm leaning towards having it as a backup option if all else fails.

I think the FFL is for those who have nothing left to lose. You join the FFL to "reboot" your life, so to speak.

If you can study engineering in college debt-free, then go to college and get an engineering degree. I am assuming you have some actual interest in engineering. If you have absolutely no interest in engineering, then studying engineering may be a bad career decision, and the chances of switching major are considerable, which means losing a couple of years of your life.

OK, assuming you actually have an interest in engineering...

I have no idea what field of engineering you're interested in, but let's say you're interested in ChemE or MechE. Once you graduate, you don't have to be a wage slave in smalltown USA working in a cubicle for the following 50 years. You can choose to work in the oil & gas industry and become a field engineer at, say, Schlumberger or Halliburton. If U.S. companies go to Ukraine to extract shale gas, there would a chance for you to get out of the U.S., travel, and live in a poosy paradise. And let's face it... saying you're a field engineer at an oil & gas company would impress the Ukrainian ladies a lot more than saying you're essentially a mercenary, an expendable asset fighting for France. Women are the realists, after all. And if you don't like working at the company that you will be working for, you can quit and get a job at another company. Once you have committed to the FFL, quitting may be harder. Talk to anyone who has been stuck in a PhD program with a doctoral advisor they despised, and you get an idea of how miserable "shotgun marriages" can be.

If you study computer science, you can become a remote worker. One of my buddies from engineering grad school works as a software developer for a Silicon Valley company... while living in Mexico. It's possible to do engineering and travel the world, too.

The reasons you outlined are the reasons I would want to do engineering as well. I have some interest in the field, but traveling as well as opportunity are the reason I'm doing. Computer Science on the other hand no.

I'd say go for it, but what do I know? Have you posted questions on FFL forums on the internet? Or other even US military forums?

Even if you don't have any interest in the US military, a very polite "thinking about joining the army, marines or french foreign legion, pros and cons?" could be really helpful, if biased from US service members.

Also, how would the FFL help you become an engineer?

Quote: (05-26-2014 10:57 PM)Sp5 Wrote:  

Quote: (05-26-2014 10:27 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

My choices are getting a debt free education and become an engineer or join the French Foreign Legion.

Putting it that way, it seems that getting a debt free education is the better choice.

Guys have romantic notions about military service, but a lot of it is boring. Five years is a long time. Plus do you want to be an expendable asset for the French government?

If you really have scholarships and help from your parents to go to college and become an engineer and have zero debt after getting out of college, that sounds a lot better than going to serve and possible get maimed or killed in the french foreign legion.

Quote: (05-27-2014 06:14 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I guess I should reiterate that I have no interest in the American armed forces. I'm still debating it in my head, but I'm leaning towards having it as a backup option if all else fails. Im still not at my physical best at the moment anyways so it would be better to get muscled out and get a better grasp of French. Dropping everything right now and doing it would be foolhardy to say the least. Better to maximize my chances of getting in while in college and if push comes to shove I can join up.

I was waiting to tell you the same thing during my LSD ban, glad you've come to that conclusion. Going to college debt free to do an engineering is too good to pass up, especially if it's a big party or target school.

The reality is, you're too young to know what your purpose in life is straight out of high school, and you most likely still will be when you graduate college. As mature and experienced as we might think we are we're really still just kids in the grand scheme of things, and it's foolish to commit your best years for self-development to the military when you have no experience with it and have a very solid alternative available to you.

Go to college, smash that pussy, build a great physique, learn how to dress well, read as much as you can and go on exchange. Get your fundamentals and habits down young to set yourself up for 10 years from now when you enter your actual prime. If you're still interested in joining the FFL after you graduate then by all means go ahead.

Quote: (05-27-2014 07:34 PM)Tytalus Wrote:  

I'd say go for it, but what do I know? Have you posted questions on FFL forums on the internet? Or other even US military forums?

Even if you don't have any interest in the US military, a very polite "thinking about joining the army, marines or french foreign legion, pros and cons?" could be really helpful, if biased from US service members.

Also, how would the FFL help you become an engineer?

It doesn't I was just thinking of it as an alternate path in life.

Quote: (05-27-2014 08:27 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I was just thinking of it as an alternate path in life.

Here's my succinct advice: do now what you cannot postpone.

You can't really postpone college for many years, as being a freshman at 25 is not really that much fun. You can postpone joining the FFL for several years, though.

If you want adventure, go to college at UCSB ;-) They have a good engineering school, and UCSB is arguably the best place to party on the West Coast. And if you want adventure in the great outdoors, you can go rock climbing, surfing, etc. And the chicks are smokin' hot.

If you get married and then threatened with divorce-rape, then leave the U.S. and join the FFL ;-)

Quote: (05-27-2014 08:33 PM)Icarus Wrote:  

Quote: (05-27-2014 08:27 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I was just thinking of it as an alternate path in life.

Here's my succinct advice: do now what you cannot postpone.

You can't really postpone college for many years, as being a freshman at 25 is not really that much fun. You can postpone joining the FFL for several years, though.

If you want adventure, go to college at UCSB ;-) They have a good engineering school, and UCSB is arguably the best place to party on the West Coast. And if you want adventure in the great outdoors, you can go rock climbing, surfing, etc. And the chicks are smokin' hot.

If you get married and then threatened with divorce-rape, then leave the U.S. and join the FFL ;-)

I wish I could go there or anywhere else for that matter as I had planned to go to college in Dallas where many of my party or otherwise close friends will be at or are currently at. Family is short on cash and some rather generous scholarships from a local state school(with a good engineering program) due to my volunteer work and good grades has forcibly given me no alternative from my parents or common sense(though my balls and sense of entertainment argue otherwise). I'll find a way to party and bang broads anyways so be it. I'll be out in 4 years with knowledge of at least one more foreign language and a degree in engineering. The caveat being that I'm living at home(again tight budget).

All the same thanks(or should I say merci beaucoup) for the advice everyone.

Why not join the American military as a linguist, study a foreign language, then use the GI bill to get your education practically debt free? All you have to do is pass the DLAB. The internet can tell you more about the DLAB than I'm willing to explain here.

Quote: (05-27-2014 09:23 PM)hoops330 Wrote:  

Why not join the American military as a linguist, study a foreign language, then use the GI bill to get your education practically debt free? All you have to do is pass the DLAB. The internet can tell you more about the DLAB than I'm willing to explain here.

Please read the thread I mean I addressed this already like 50 times.

I voted yay a couple of days ago but I have to say "no" now. I don't think you're in the right headspace to make it work. Elliot Rodgers should have joined the FFL. You have too much going for you.

Now, if you can turn yourself into a hardened fuck-up with no options in three months my opinion might change. But just because you don't get shot at in engineering school doesn't mean it's not the ballsiest track you can take right now.

To the OP:
I haven't read the thread, but one question: how good is your French? Do you have any real genuine interest in learning French other than women? Be honest with yourself here.

I thought in the past about joining the Military, at different times, the French and Canadian military, but decided at the end against it. The cons, at least for me, far outweighed the pros.

Someone above mentioned that you should do engineering and focus in the oil & gas field. I totally agree with this. Take say petroleum engineering and then you're set. Really. Work 2-3 years in the US then you can get a nice expat cushy job anywhere else in the world.

Why take the risk to get injured, maimed or worst killed defending a country? Why defend a country, where they don't care about you and at the first opportunity, would ass rape you through the family court? Be smarter and more ambitious than that young man! Get a valuable degree in a highly in demand field like the one I mentioned above, then you're set.

Don't ruin your life for feminists!

I already know conversational French to an extent. I'm not fluent but if I was left alone in France I could find my way around. Also yes I've all but decided to stay my course and go to college and John the legion if shit hits the fan.

Interesting thread. I have always heard a lot about the legion. I have 7-8 years of military service, multiple deployments, and have trained next to armies from around the world. The legion is always a topic of conversation among soldiers because of how unusual the concept is (foreigners united fighting under a flag). As a result, I know different guys who have trained with the legion or who have served in it.

I agree with the guys who recommend going to the legion forums and checking them out. There is a lot of information out there. Utilize the search function as those guys have a low bullshit tolerance for lazy newbies (something you will find out first hand if you join the legion). Read different books that help you obtain a wide range of experiences. Last I heard you had about a 1 in 10 chance of getting in. It may even be more difficult now. They are skeptical of Americans going in because of the issue of desertion. This has been a big, big problem for the legion. Many dreamers get tired of getting their asses kicked and make a run for it after 1-2 years. I heard about Russian legionnaires with years of combat experience from the Chechen War saying fuck it and leaving. If those guys think it's a tough life.....well enough said. I was told that everyone regardless of how committed thinks of desertion at least once (even guys who later become career NCO's). You must be committed to it or else you will end of making a run for Spain or Germany. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

I know enough people who studied engineering and made six figures out of college that I can give you some advice.

Go to college. Tough it out for four years. Fuck what everyone says about college being the 'best time of your life.' That's bullshit meant to be believed by the broke and directionless.

Absolutely rip through the curriculum. I mean, murk it. Learn it so well that you should be teaching the class.

Then, after four years, go do what you want.

All this French Foreign Legion talk is based on your desire to get some romance out of life without actually realizing how much blood sweat and tears it will cost. You really want to spend the next five years putting your life on the line for a completely foreign country? I doubt it, based on your posts.

If you want to do something difficult, get a good education and go make some money.

The USA should have a Foreign Legion. Put a few battalions under the Army, a few under the Marines. Base the training on Ranger training. Could be highly selective. Five or six years and citizenship or Green Card.

Could keep them at places where there are permanently deployed ground forces, like Kuwait and Dijbouti, where the French legion already is.

Quote: (05-28-2014 12:06 AM)Sp5 Wrote:  

The USA should have a Foreign Legion. Put a few battalions under the Army, a few under the Marines. Base the training on Ranger training. Could be highly selective. Five or six years and citizenship or Green Card.

Could keep them at places where there are permanently deployed ground forces, like Kuwait and Dijbouti, where the French legion already is.

Russia is actually starting such a program and Spain has had one for years. It's actually a brilliant concept.

According to Wikipedia and this website, the Spanish Legion only takes native Spanish speaking recruits from former Spanish colonies who have residency in Spain:

http://www.lalegion.es/alistate.htm

In a way, America already has such a program. There are many foreign nationals in the armed forces, working their way towards citizenship. They just don't have their own unit, which I suppose makes sense, easier to manage any potential problems that way.

Quote: (05-28-2014 11:39 AM)Brian Boru Wrote:  

In a way, America already has such a program. There are many foreign nationals in the armed forces, working their way towards citizenship. They just don't have their own unit, which I suppose makes sense, easier to manage any potential problems that way.

The current rule is that you have to have a Green Card, permanent residency.

A number of Filipinos used to be able to enlist in the US Navy every year. That program ended in 1992, when the Filipinos kicked the US bases out.

There was a recent proposal to allow some illegal immigrants who had been living in the USA a long time to join.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/...-military/

Neither is the same as opening the door to anyone in the world to try out.

That would be an interesting process. You could not have all recruiting and selection in the USA; it's too tough to get into in the first place. You'd want to have some place outside the USA or Europe in a relatively-open country that was a US ally to do recruiting and selection. Maybe someplace in the PI or Malaysia, someplace in Morocco, someplace in Uganda or Kenya, someplace in Turkey, someplace in Mexico. Make selection some kind of 2 week badass endurance test.

Quote: (05-27-2014 10:52 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  

I already know conversational French to an extent. I'm not fluent but if I was left alone in France I could find my way around. Also yes I've all but decided to stay my course and go to college and John the legion if shit hits the fan.

You think you do, but you probably dont. And i dont mean that in a hateful way. I also thought I had a 'basic grasp' of French until I came to Montreal and got my ass handed back on a platter.

But back to your original question, heres a pretty good article from a guy who attempted to join the FFL.

http://www.vice.com/read/i-tried-joining...ign-legion

The good thing is you obtain French citizenship after 3 yrs of service. Thats something that I myself would be interested in.

Dude go to college/poosy paradise get that engineering degree then join the FFL later. With a degree, if you are wounded you can still be an engineer, make money, travel etc. Without it what are you gonna do if you lose a leg or two? Do whatever it takes to finish school.

Quote:Quote:

joining the elite sections is much harder than the Foreign Legion as the Legion forces the training onto

This isn't something you should count on. During OSUT (US Army Infantry initial training) there were quite a few who thought being there would get into shape, that the Army would 'force it' onto them, so they showed up fat and out of shape, only to be sent home later with stress fractures or other injuries. Be physically prepared before you go.

Perhaps I missed it on the thread, or perhaps its implied, but as far as I know, the FFL requires you to have french ancestry, be from one of their former colonies, or otherwise prove that you are "french" in some way to be able to join.

Quote: (05-29-2014 05:28 PM)germanico Wrote:  

Perhaps I missed it on the thread, or perhaps its implied, but as far as I know, the FFL requires you to have french ancestry, be from one of their former colonies, or otherwise prove that you are "french" in some way to be able to join.

Nope.

Quote:Quote:

Whatever your origins, nationality or religion might be, whatever qualifications you may or may not have, whatever your social or professional status might be, whether you are married or single, the French Foreign Legion offers you a chance to start a new life...

http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/