I did 7 years in the French Foreign Legion and 6 in the US Navy. Here is the nut shell contained in an acorn.
TLDR: I joined the French Foreign Legion for you ADHD guys.
Some guys on here have mentioned to me exploring or joining the French Foreign Legion, so I want to share my own experience for those who would like to figure out if its right for them.
I went through Legion training with ex-cons, active criminals, heavily educated, divorcee's, tradesman etc... All awesome men that will be my family for the rest of my life. All will be remembered as men that changed my life for the better.
A bit about my service background before I joined: I only share this because I get asked a lot from people in person when they find out I was in the Legion. It's not representative of whats needed to join the French Foreign Legion. In fact, most people that join do not have my background and some have no background at all.
I enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in the delayed entry program at age 17 just before college to become a corpsman. I became what they call a Greenside Medic with the US Marines. I went through 2 deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and got an honorable discharge after completing 6 years.
My US Navy training included A-school and C-school. A-school was my basic Corpsman training, and C-school was my specialty which led to 18D training at Camp McKall, NC through the US Army, Special Forces Medic training (I was not a SEAL or Special Forces).
While in college, I completed one deployment in the reserves where I had the heroically masculine job of assisting in delivering Iraqi babies and working with Gynecologists. I've probably seen more bloody pussies and women shitting themselves than anyone on this forum. I also hung out at a place called LSA Anaconda which was nicknamed "Mortaritaville" thanks to the 24/7 shelling. They didn't let me near the wire because I was a bit jumpy, so they kept me with the women. Smart move looking back now.
Once I completed Greenside training with the Marines, and having completed college with a useless Physics degree, I pursued an active duty role within 8492NEC (Naval Enlistment Classification Code) which is Special Operations Corpsman or USMC Force Reconnaissance and served within FMFLant. While with FMFLant, I completed a 2nd deployment where I actually got shot at and had to shoot back - really fucking scary.
Upon my return I had to complete Jump School training in Static and MFF (Military Free Fall). Static was in Fort Benning, GA and MFF was in Yuma. AZ. At Fort Benning the Rangers let me run the Darby Queen which is their abuse course and called me an asshole after. Rangers are fucking awesome and I delivered babies... they still let me join into their hunting activities at a place called Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, GA which was their Mountaineering School.
I somehow survived that level of shit and got sent back to Camp McKall for an evolution called SERE (Survive Evade Resist Escape) training, which I actually did okay at. The military finally helped me find something I was actually good at.
Once I got my inner "Rambo" out and survived divorce rape, I discharged because my MCPO told me I'd likely retire an E7 (at the time I was an E6 with 6 years). I got offered OCS but I'd had enough of the military by then.
I worked in the private sector for 2 years but was unhappy and drinking a lot. I needed an adventure to keep me from becoming an alcoholic. I somehow ended up getting a DUI after downing a bunch of whiskey shots and driving around town - Enter the French Foreign Legion.
I bought a one-way ticket to France while I was also drunk, not really knowing what I was about to put my body and mind through. Nor did I know anything about the French Foreign Legion.
Well long story short:
I served for 7 years in the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment known as 2e REP based on the Island of Corsica. I've been out 4 years now, so the data I'm giving is up to date until leaving and some is based on conversations I've had with active members I'm still in touch with.
The History:
The Legion was formed in 1831 as a force to expand and secure French Colonial interest around the globe (especially Africa and the Middle East). It later became pretty famous as a safe haven or escape for outlaws and undesirables. I was neither of the two, but we still get people from all walks of life and take pride in giving men a 2nd chance to redeem themselves and find a purpose in life.
We served in every major war you've heard of, and are commonly known as a mercenary force. i.e. France and allies of France can use us as a task force without taking responsibility for the outcome.
Who can join:
Anyone between the ages of 18 – 39, unless you're a serious felon for something like Rape or Murder also Murder is questionable which depends on your countries laws. If you're wanted by Interpol, Europol or your home government for other major crimes, find one of us and we'll help you sort it out. Small stuff, even warrants, will not effect you if you meet general requirements.
French citizens, and only French citizens, can become commissioned officers but cannot enlist in the ranks (although I've heard they might be allowing French citizens enlist). All non-French citizens serve as enlisted men, even if you have a college degree or served as an officer in your home military.
Before you Join:
French Language:
I joined the Legion knowing only English and Russian. I did not know any French - I mean ZERO French. The Legion will give you no quarter. It all begins in French after selection. They do give you courses, but it's barely helpful. When you fuck up because you did not understand the command, they whip your fucking ass. "I don't understand French" and "French is my 2nd language" is not a proper response. We learn French by force and when I say Force I mean FORCE. Even if you're mildly retarded like myself, you'll fucking learn French, I promise. Notice how many times I said French in this paragraph. I was Traumatized into learning their language. Even if you're doing something you've never done before, even potentially deadly, they deliver your instructions in French. One time I ran out the back of an aircraft because my Jump Master was screaming some French shit at me I didn't understand while pointing at a hole in the aircraft. Because I couldn't understand, they had to fish me out the Atlantic Ocean. I learned my longitude and latitude in French pretty quick after that one.
Dental:
You need to have good teeth, so get any dental work taken care of first before showing up.
Missing teeth are not a disqualification as long as you have your primary teeth and they are healthy.
Eyes:
Color Blindness: Get tested if you haven't been, Red/Green deficiencies are common. Color blindness will exclude you serving in 2e REP as a Parachutist, but not from the Legion as a whole.
Vision needs to be good. There is a lot of disinformation online about this (I served on a selection panel near the end of my time in). Glasses will not exclude you from joining, but will impact selection if you are weak in all other areas.
Overall Health:
Get a general physical which includes a spine and chest x-ray along with a EKG.
If you're interested in 2e REP which is the Parachutist Reg I recommend also getting a chamber test and pulmonary function test done as well. We also dive so this will be some additional training you'll go through. At least in North America and Western Europe there are usually hospitals that have hyperbaric chambers. Just ask your doctor for a dive physical.
Pulmonary function test is nothing more than blowing through a tube. If your pulmonary function test is good you don't necessarily need to do a chamber run although if it's easy to get near you go ahead and get it.
If you live in the US an easy way to cover all your bases is to ask your doctor for a Diving Physical and FAA Physical.
If you don't meet every requirement, your dreams are not shattered. There are many regiments in the Legion that are equally honorable – I am simply sharing the medical requirements I specifically faced. This is mainly for guys who want to try out for 2e REP.
How to Join:
You just show up at the recruiting depots in Paris or Aubagne with your passport and whatever bag you have. You don't even need a bag - just have your passport. They'll take you in immediately. It's literally that simple. You don't need to call ahead or talk to anyone. Just walk right up to the gate and tell the century on duty you want to join the legion.
Paris: Fort de Nogent
Aubagne: Quartier Vienot
I showed up in Aubagne with my medical records, US military DD214 and my passport + the clothes on my back, a pack of cigarettes and lighter.
What Happens next:
You'll be escorted into base and all your belongings, including your passport and documents, will be confiscated. You simply sit and wait for a few hours.
They'll bring you in and begin interviewing you for a few weeks. Depending on when you join they start indoc once they get enough candidates. They'll put you up while they wait to build the class which is basically a waiting game. I waited about two weeks because I joined in winter. Meanwhile they interviewed me, made me clean shit, clothed me and made me do Sport - basically just physical training. If you join in Paris your down time will be less than mine since that base receives more candidates.
Selection:
Once a class is ready it's another hurry up and wait routine. You'll go through all your medical examinations, interviews with NCO's and Officers, an IQ test, sport test (a lot of burpies) -
Burpies look easy but they are not. Practice them before you go - a lot of guys failed sport test.
Also practice your chin-ups and rope climbs. Rope climbs and chin ups are a Legion tradition, and they really don't fuck around with people who can't do either.
Push ups, flutter kicks, etc... are adaptable, Practice them if you can, but almost everyone survives these two workouts. Defintely focus on all this if you're older man before arriving.
Cardio: Before arriving I highly recommend spending at least 3 months running and swimming every day...Even better if you have 6 months of daily training. Learn how to run long distances with a weighted backpack. Swimming as much as possible will help to reduce wear on your joints. You don't want to get injured while training.
If you're into any combat sports, quit them before you join. You don't want to arrive with any injuries.
Shooting: if you have no prior military training and did not grow up around guns I recommend joining a shooting range or club and getting an ex-military guy (preferably a veteran) to teach you how to shoot and maintain side arms and long guns - break downs, assembly and maintenance. If you tell a vet you're joining the service most of us are happy to teach you the ropes free of charge. You just pay for the ammo. If a guy tells me he'll buy the bullets, he can shoot anything in my possession.
Parachuting and Diving: If you want to become a parachutist and diver I recommend you at least trying each once. You don't need to be trained in it as they'll train you, but I was a military free fall instructor for a short stint and I can tell you I fucking hated talking guys off the gate. If you can't do heights or confined spaces you're going to hate jumping and diving.
What to expect:
At the end of my military career with the Legion I had been shot twice in combat, stabbed a few times and my ankles and bottom of my foot was disfigured so buyer beware.
I don't regret my career and would recommend it to any guys looking for something to do and have no direction.
TLDR: I joined the French Foreign Legion for you ADHD guys.
Some guys on here have mentioned to me exploring or joining the French Foreign Legion, so I want to share my own experience for those who would like to figure out if its right for them.
I went through Legion training with ex-cons, active criminals, heavily educated, divorcee's, tradesman etc... All awesome men that will be my family for the rest of my life. All will be remembered as men that changed my life for the better.
A bit about my service background before I joined: I only share this because I get asked a lot from people in person when they find out I was in the Legion. It's not representative of whats needed to join the French Foreign Legion. In fact, most people that join do not have my background and some have no background at all.
I enlisted in the US Navy Reserves in the delayed entry program at age 17 just before college to become a corpsman. I became what they call a Greenside Medic with the US Marines. I went through 2 deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and got an honorable discharge after completing 6 years.
My US Navy training included A-school and C-school. A-school was my basic Corpsman training, and C-school was my specialty which led to 18D training at Camp McKall, NC through the US Army, Special Forces Medic training (I was not a SEAL or Special Forces).
While in college, I completed one deployment in the reserves where I had the heroically masculine job of assisting in delivering Iraqi babies and working with Gynecologists. I've probably seen more bloody pussies and women shitting themselves than anyone on this forum. I also hung out at a place called LSA Anaconda which was nicknamed "Mortaritaville" thanks to the 24/7 shelling. They didn't let me near the wire because I was a bit jumpy, so they kept me with the women. Smart move looking back now.
Once I completed Greenside training with the Marines, and having completed college with a useless Physics degree, I pursued an active duty role within 8492NEC (Naval Enlistment Classification Code) which is Special Operations Corpsman or USMC Force Reconnaissance and served within FMFLant. While with FMFLant, I completed a 2nd deployment where I actually got shot at and had to shoot back - really fucking scary.
Upon my return I had to complete Jump School training in Static and MFF (Military Free Fall). Static was in Fort Benning, GA and MFF was in Yuma. AZ. At Fort Benning the Rangers let me run the Darby Queen which is their abuse course and called me an asshole after. Rangers are fucking awesome and I delivered babies... they still let me join into their hunting activities at a place called Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, GA which was their Mountaineering School.
I somehow survived that level of shit and got sent back to Camp McKall for an evolution called SERE (Survive Evade Resist Escape) training, which I actually did okay at. The military finally helped me find something I was actually good at.
Once I got my inner "Rambo" out and survived divorce rape, I discharged because my MCPO told me I'd likely retire an E7 (at the time I was an E6 with 6 years). I got offered OCS but I'd had enough of the military by then.
I worked in the private sector for 2 years but was unhappy and drinking a lot. I needed an adventure to keep me from becoming an alcoholic. I somehow ended up getting a DUI after downing a bunch of whiskey shots and driving around town - Enter the French Foreign Legion.
I bought a one-way ticket to France while I was also drunk, not really knowing what I was about to put my body and mind through. Nor did I know anything about the French Foreign Legion.
Well long story short:
I served for 7 years in the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment known as 2e REP based on the Island of Corsica. I've been out 4 years now, so the data I'm giving is up to date until leaving and some is based on conversations I've had with active members I'm still in touch with.
The History:
The Legion was formed in 1831 as a force to expand and secure French Colonial interest around the globe (especially Africa and the Middle East). It later became pretty famous as a safe haven or escape for outlaws and undesirables. I was neither of the two, but we still get people from all walks of life and take pride in giving men a 2nd chance to redeem themselves and find a purpose in life.
We served in every major war you've heard of, and are commonly known as a mercenary force. i.e. France and allies of France can use us as a task force without taking responsibility for the outcome.
Who can join:
Anyone between the ages of 18 – 39, unless you're a serious felon for something like Rape or Murder also Murder is questionable which depends on your countries laws. If you're wanted by Interpol, Europol or your home government for other major crimes, find one of us and we'll help you sort it out. Small stuff, even warrants, will not effect you if you meet general requirements.
French citizens, and only French citizens, can become commissioned officers but cannot enlist in the ranks (although I've heard they might be allowing French citizens enlist). All non-French citizens serve as enlisted men, even if you have a college degree or served as an officer in your home military.
Before you Join:
French Language:
I joined the Legion knowing only English and Russian. I did not know any French - I mean ZERO French. The Legion will give you no quarter. It all begins in French after selection. They do give you courses, but it's barely helpful. When you fuck up because you did not understand the command, they whip your fucking ass. "I don't understand French" and "French is my 2nd language" is not a proper response. We learn French by force and when I say Force I mean FORCE. Even if you're mildly retarded like myself, you'll fucking learn French, I promise. Notice how many times I said French in this paragraph. I was Traumatized into learning their language. Even if you're doing something you've never done before, even potentially deadly, they deliver your instructions in French. One time I ran out the back of an aircraft because my Jump Master was screaming some French shit at me I didn't understand while pointing at a hole in the aircraft. Because I couldn't understand, they had to fish me out the Atlantic Ocean. I learned my longitude and latitude in French pretty quick after that one.
Dental:
You need to have good teeth, so get any dental work taken care of first before showing up.
Missing teeth are not a disqualification as long as you have your primary teeth and they are healthy.
Eyes:
Color Blindness: Get tested if you haven't been, Red/Green deficiencies are common. Color blindness will exclude you serving in 2e REP as a Parachutist, but not from the Legion as a whole.
Vision needs to be good. There is a lot of disinformation online about this (I served on a selection panel near the end of my time in). Glasses will not exclude you from joining, but will impact selection if you are weak in all other areas.
Overall Health:
Get a general physical which includes a spine and chest x-ray along with a EKG.
If you're interested in 2e REP which is the Parachutist Reg I recommend also getting a chamber test and pulmonary function test done as well. We also dive so this will be some additional training you'll go through. At least in North America and Western Europe there are usually hospitals that have hyperbaric chambers. Just ask your doctor for a dive physical.
Pulmonary function test is nothing more than blowing through a tube. If your pulmonary function test is good you don't necessarily need to do a chamber run although if it's easy to get near you go ahead and get it.
If you live in the US an easy way to cover all your bases is to ask your doctor for a Diving Physical and FAA Physical.
If you don't meet every requirement, your dreams are not shattered. There are many regiments in the Legion that are equally honorable – I am simply sharing the medical requirements I specifically faced. This is mainly for guys who want to try out for 2e REP.
How to Join:
You just show up at the recruiting depots in Paris or Aubagne with your passport and whatever bag you have. You don't even need a bag - just have your passport. They'll take you in immediately. It's literally that simple. You don't need to call ahead or talk to anyone. Just walk right up to the gate and tell the century on duty you want to join the legion.
Paris: Fort de Nogent
Aubagne: Quartier Vienot
I showed up in Aubagne with my medical records, US military DD214 and my passport + the clothes on my back, a pack of cigarettes and lighter.
What Happens next:
You'll be escorted into base and all your belongings, including your passport and documents, will be confiscated. You simply sit and wait for a few hours.
They'll bring you in and begin interviewing you for a few weeks. Depending on when you join they start indoc once they get enough candidates. They'll put you up while they wait to build the class which is basically a waiting game. I waited about two weeks because I joined in winter. Meanwhile they interviewed me, made me clean shit, clothed me and made me do Sport - basically just physical training. If you join in Paris your down time will be less than mine since that base receives more candidates.
Selection:
Once a class is ready it's another hurry up and wait routine. You'll go through all your medical examinations, interviews with NCO's and Officers, an IQ test, sport test (a lot of burpies) -
Burpies look easy but they are not. Practice them before you go - a lot of guys failed sport test.
Also practice your chin-ups and rope climbs. Rope climbs and chin ups are a Legion tradition, and they really don't fuck around with people who can't do either.
Push ups, flutter kicks, etc... are adaptable, Practice them if you can, but almost everyone survives these two workouts. Defintely focus on all this if you're older man before arriving.
Cardio: Before arriving I highly recommend spending at least 3 months running and swimming every day...Even better if you have 6 months of daily training. Learn how to run long distances with a weighted backpack. Swimming as much as possible will help to reduce wear on your joints. You don't want to get injured while training.
If you're into any combat sports, quit them before you join. You don't want to arrive with any injuries.
Shooting: if you have no prior military training and did not grow up around guns I recommend joining a shooting range or club and getting an ex-military guy (preferably a veteran) to teach you how to shoot and maintain side arms and long guns - break downs, assembly and maintenance. If you tell a vet you're joining the service most of us are happy to teach you the ropes free of charge. You just pay for the ammo. If a guy tells me he'll buy the bullets, he can shoot anything in my possession.
Parachuting and Diving: If you want to become a parachutist and diver I recommend you at least trying each once. You don't need to be trained in it as they'll train you, but I was a military free fall instructor for a short stint and I can tell you I fucking hated talking guys off the gate. If you can't do heights or confined spaces you're going to hate jumping and diving.
What to expect:
At the end of my military career with the Legion I had been shot twice in combat, stabbed a few times and my ankles and bottom of my foot was disfigured so buyer beware.
I don't regret my career and would recommend it to any guys looking for something to do and have no direction.
![[Image: 3997-1.jpg]](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/french-dvds/3997-1.jpg)
