weeks  at Aubagne,
so you  will quickly  be marched  back to  the block  to start
cleaning. After this the days' activities will begin. It could
be any one of the tests  previously mentioned  or it  could be
something  more  mundane  like  cleaning  or  helping  out  in
the kitchens.
Throughout  each  day  you  will  be working  in one  place or
another,  getting  called away  to carry  out another  test or
interview and then returning  to your  present job.  If you're
not doing either of these things then you  will be  getting to
know  the   other  engages   volontaires  in   a  sort   of  a
recreational area at the back of the  building. Here  there is
a  pull up  bar and  trees to  sit under  and relax.  The days
are long and they can be tiring but it is also  an interesting
time  for  you. You  are on  the edge  of an  unknown quantity
- about  to embark  on a  great adventure  - with  some fairly
bizarre  and  adventurous  members  of  your planet.  You will
probably  come across  those that  like to  pull up  a sandbag
and tell tall stories - take the things you hear with  a pinch
of salt. Especially when it comes to what lies ahead.

You  are  essentially  now  in the  French Foreign  Legion and
it is  a tough  army with  a tough  lifestyle. You  must stand
up  for  yourself  and don't  get walked  over. But  be warned
that if you  are caught  fighting and  causing trouble  - then
you  will  be  turned  away.  At  Castelnaudary  they  will be
more lenient - and it is sometimes required  in life,  to earn

                              21

some  respect,  not  least  of  all  in  the   French  Foreign
Legion.  Here,  however  -  if  they  see  you  as  a  trouble
maker  then  you will  soon find  yourself packing  your bags.

There  will  probably  be  two  days  out  of the  three weeks
that will be spent  at one  of two  Legion camps  helping out:
Malmousce and Puyoublier.
Malmousce  is  a   small  Legion   complex  situated   on  the
seafront close to Marseille. It is an idyllic setting and it's
purpose  is  to provide  for Legionnaires  who have  no family
or  friends,  a  place  for  them  to  spend  their Permission
(Holiday).  They  will go  here or  alternatively to  "Fort De
Nogent" in Paris.

As  an  engage  volontaire  you  will  more  than   likely  be
taken  here  to  Malmousce  to  carry  out  any jobs  that are
necessary  -  such  as  odd  jobbing  or  helping  out  in the
kitchens.  There  will  probably  be  about  ten   to  fifteen
Legionnaires there at any one time, all  at various  stages of
their  contract.  For  them,  during  the  weeks   they  spend
there,  life  is  easy  and  they will  probably be  more than
happy  to  tell you  about life  in the  Legion and  what's in
store for  you. The  food is  normally of  a high  standard as
it is on most Legion camps.
The  other place  that you,  as an  engage volontaire  will be
likely  to  visit  is  Puyoublier.  This is  the home  for the
former  Legionnaires  who  have  completed  more   than  three
contracts  in  the  Legion.  In  the   Legion  such   men  are
known  as  "Les  Anciens ".  Most  of  them  have  seen action
on  more  than  one  occasion   during  their   careers.  Some
have  seen  a  lot  of  action  in some  of the  Legion's most
memorable  battles.  They  are  friendly  people and  only too
happy  to  talk  to  "Les   Jeunes  "(The   in-experienced  or
latest  to  arrive).  At  Puyoublier  the  men make  their own
wine  and work  the land.  There are  livestock to  look after
and even a  crafts centre  where they  make souvenirs  to sell
to tourists. It is their home - they eat  well -  have company

                             22

they can relate to - and they of course  drink well.
Puyoublier continues to give them a purpose in life.

Your  job  whilst  there will  again be  to help  out wherever
needed.  By this  stage you  will be  beginning to  learn what
hard work is all about.

During  your  time  at  Aubagne  you  will  be getting  paid a
small  amount  of  money.  This  will  amount  to  about  F100
per  week.  With  this  money  you  will be  allowed, probably
once  a  week,  to  go  to the  Foyer (A  bar with  small shop
attached  -  There is  one on  every guartier)  - you  will be
allowed  an  hour  or  so  to  have  a  beer  or  two  and buy
anything you need such as razors, cigarettes etc.

It will be very  noticeable how  all the  nationalities gather
together in  groups of  their own  tongue -  non more  so than
the   British.   With   the   "Brits",   will   be  Canadians,
Australians,  Scandinavians  (who  often  speak  English)  and
Americans.    Whenever    the    English    speakers    gather
together  they  are  known   as  "La   Mafia  Anglaise   "  or
sometimes   if   they   are   British   "Les    Hooligans   ".
(Individually,   you   may   find   yourself    being   called
"Johhny"  from  time  to time,  particularly by  Les Anciens).
But  you  will  notice  the   Spanish  and   Brazilians  stick
together,  the  Eastern block  countries will  stick together.
The French will  be in  their little  group and  so on.  It is
important to make an effort  to mix  - if  not with  the other
nationalities - at least with the French. It is after all, the
French  that  you  will be  relying on  to learn  the language
and, during  the initial  stages, to  translate what  has been
said by the Caporal or Sergent.

As well as various lectures  and videos  covering life  in the
French  Foreign  Legion  and  the  postings that  exist, there
will  also  be  a  visit  to the  Legion Museum.  Probably one
of the most impressive  to be  seen. You  will be  given about

                              23

an hour to wander around during an afternoon and
examine some of the Legion's past.

At  some  time  during  the  three  weeks  you will  also be
interviewed  (albeit  it  in  a very  casual manner)  on the
subject  of  music.  That  is  whether  or  not you  play an
instrument  or have  any inclination  to become  a musiciain
and  any  desire  to  play  in the  Legion band.  The Legion
band is always keen to recruit  - any  hint of  interest and
you will be encouraged all  the way  in this  direction. No-
one is ever forced to  join the  band however  - but  if you
are an experienced musician  and definitely  do not  want to
work in the Legion band then  it is  probably better  if you
tell  them  you  are  destined  to  be  in  the  2  REP  and
wouldn't  know  one  end  of  a  trumpet  from   the  other.
(There are some perks  to the  job of  being a  bandsman and
the  Legion  band  does  travel  worldwide every  year). All
bandsmen   go   through   French   Foreign    Legion   basic
training just the same as any other Legionnaire.

After a long three weeks of  cleaning, tests  and interviews
you  will  finally  be  told  whether  you  have  passed the
selection  procedure  or  not. The  successful ones  will be
issued  with the  Legion haircut  and be  taken down  to the
stores  to  be  kitted out  with Le  Paquetage. This  is the
equipment  that  you  will  take  with you  to Castelnaudary
and last  you through  your contract.  It will  be contained
within  a  large  green  sausage bag  called a  Sac Moraine.
When  you  have   been  issued   your  paquetage   you  will
know  that  very  soon  you  will commencing  basic training
with the French Foreign Legion.
At this stage there is only one more thing left to do - that
is the solemn declaration  of honour  and fidelity  to serve
the French Foreign Legion.  For this  you will  be assembled
in a large room which  oozes tradition.  Thirty to  forty of
you  will  be  assembled to  form three  sides of  a square.
There will be  a short  speech by  the Major  declaring that

                            24

you  have  been officially  accepted into  the ranks  of the
Foreign Legion,  with whom  you will  serve for  five years
with honour  and faithfulness.  The Major  will then  go up
to  each  engage  volontaire,  call his  name out  and hand
him   his  contract.   The  Legionnaire   will  acknowledge
receipt  of  the  contract  by  coming  to  the gardez-vous
position  (attention  position)  and  calling  out "Present
Major".

At  approx   5.00  am   the  next   morning  you   will  be
assembled ready for pick  up by  coach to  be taken  to the
Aubagne train station. There you will board a train to take
you  to  Castelnaudary.  The  Sergent  and the  Caporal who
escort you in  the morning  will be  part of  your training
team during the four months that lie ahead.

Castelnaudary -
L 'Instruction - Basic Training.

"Quite singly  the best  way to  get on  during instruction
is  not to  get noticed,  keep your  head down,  work hard,
don't  moan,  mix with  the French  and start  learning the
language.  It  will  come  amazingly  quickly  and  if  you
can speak French, you'll get less hassle".

This  is  the  real beginning  of your  time in  the French
Foreign  Legion.   Everything  so   far  has   been  merely
selection. It is  now that  the real  work begins.  You are
brand  spanking  new  to  the  system  and  are   about  to
embark on a very steep learning curve....

                            25

Basic training is not  aimed at  producing elite  soldiers out
of you. It is aimed at bringing  you all  into a  military way
of  thinking  and to  start instilling  some form  of military
discipline.  Coupled with  this, they  must start  getting you
to   grips   with   learning    the   French    language   and
conditioning  you physically  to the  rigours that  lie ahead.
There  is  therefore  a lot  of work  to be  done by  both the
training  team  and  the  recruits  during  the   four  months
basic training.
It is after basic training that soldiering skills are taught in
depth at  the Regiment  that you  are posted  to. That  is not
to say that you are  not taught  military skills  during basic
training - only that the  skills may  not be  so in  depth and
so  well  honed  at  this  stage.  Remember  that   there  are
people   from   all   over   the  world,   Japanese,  Chinese,
Rumanians,  Czechs,  Polish  all  with  a   totally  different
outlook  on  life.  The  Western  world  is  naturally  a very
disciplined culture and one  which adapts  well to  a military
environment  -  many  other  cultures  around  the  world  are
not so orderly in their thinking.

This  four  months basic  training will  also be  teaching you
one more thing - and certainly the hardest  element of  all to
an  engage  volontaire  -  and  that  is  the  "Legion  way of
doing  things".  It may  not be  the most  logical way  or the
simplest  way,  it  may  seem like  the most  stupid, ridiculous
method in the world  - but  it is  done that  way and  you are
going to do it that way - even if it takes  all night  and all
the next  day. They  may send  one man  to do  the job  of ten
or  ten  men  to  do  the  job of  one. It  will drive  you to
insanity  at the  time but  what it  is doing  is re-affirming
military discipline into  your very  new way  of life.  If you
can  prepare  yourself  for  this  and  accept  their  way  of
getting  the  job  done,  then  you're  well  on  your  way to
becoming   a   "Bon   Legionnaire".  This   is  the   part  of
Foreign Legion life that is most difficult to adapt to.

                              26

Physically the Foreign Legion is not that hard -  mentally it
can crack you  down the  middle -  especially those  from the
Western  world.  It  may  take  you  the  whole of  your five
year  contract  to  become  fully  at  home  home  with  this
mentality and the Legion way of doing things.

A "Section" consists of 40 men each broken down into
4  "Groupes".   The  Section   is  commanded   by  a
"Sergent-Chef" and is known as the "Chef de section"
but  is  addressed  us "Sergent-chef".  Likewise the
Groupe is commanded by a "Sergent"  and is  known as
the "Chef de Groupe" but  addressed as  "Sergent" by
the Legionnaires.

Vos Instructeurs - Your Instructors.

The  training  team  is  made  up of  four Caporaux  (One man
is  referred  to as  Le Caporal  - more  than one  Caporal is
referred  to  as  Les  Caporaux),  four  Sergents,  a Sergent
Chef and a Lieutenant.
The  Caporaux  at  Castelnaudary  will  be   made  up   of  a
combination  of  Caporaux  from  other  Regiments   and  what
is   known    as   "Fonctionnaire-Caporal"    (Shortened   to
Caporal  Fut-Fut). This  is a  term applied  to a  select few
Legionnaires    who    have    been    offered    accelerated
promotion  due  to  a  good performance  during their  own in

                             27

basic  training  -  they  therefore, have  only served  a few
months more than yourselves in the Legion.
You  may  find  that  there is  a Caporal  or Sergent  of the
same  nationality  as  your  own.  Often  they  will  be more
friendly  to  their  own  nationality  and keep  you slightly
more  informed  as  to  what  is  on  the  agenda  during the
coming  days.  Tread  carefully  in  this  area  however  and
assume nothing.

On  arrival  at  Castelnaudary  railway  station you  will be
picked  up  by  a  Legion  coach  and  taken to  the Quartier
(guartier  Capitaine  Danjou).  You  will  at  all  times  be
accompanied   by   the    Caporaux   or    Sergents.   Having
unloaded  all   the  Sacs   Moraines  (Long   sausage  shaped
green bags) into the corridor,  there will  be a  briefing by
one  of  the  Caporaux  telling  you  what  is  next  on  the
agenda.  The  first  day  will  be  spent unpacking  bags and
getting you into the routines that  will very  quickly become
a way of life.
Depending  on the  training team  - and  they all  have their
own way of doing  things -  your first  day will  probably be
even more  stressful than  usual. In  most armies  around the
world there is a routine of traumatising the  recruits during
their  first  days  -  creating as  big a  shock for  them as
possible.  One  regiment  in  the  British forces  would make
the  recruits  run  for four  miles with  the whole  of their
equipment  immediately  on  getting  off  the  coach  at  the
Depot, shouting and screaming at them all the way.

Likewise  in  the  French  Foreign  Legion they  must instill
discipline into the Section as soon as possible and this will
be  done  by  whatever  means  is  deemed   necessary.  There
will be silence in the  corridoors when  lined up.  Feet will
be exactly in line with the second row of floor tiles.

                            28

Anybody  talking,  whispering  or  behaving like  a civilian
will be reprimanded in the most extreme manner
probably in the form of  a good  dig to  the body.  Head and
eyes to the front and best you keep it  that way.  For those
that come from Eastern block  countries this  is not  at all
easy.   They   have  come   from  backgrounds   far  removed
from  the  culture  of  the West.  They are  inherently less
disciplined and prone to being the target of  the enthusiasm
of the  Caporaux. You  may well  find yourself  doing press-
ups on account of them.

Throughout  the  day  they  will  run  you  through  what is
known as the "Apel". This is a routine of  lining up  in the
corridoor and calling out from left to  right a  number. The
number  starts  at  one  and  continues  up to  however many
there are of you. You  may all  be lined  up in  a different
order every time you come out  into the  corridor, so  it is
important  that  you  learn  very  quickly  how to  count in
French.  Whatever  you  are  doing  in  the  room  -  it  is
dropped  immediately  and   you  must   get  out   into  the
corridor and  line up  against the  wall before  the Caporal
has reached the count of four.
The Apel is always done first thing in the morning  and last
thing at night, but initially you will do it  perhaps twenty
or thirty times in a day. This is purely to teach you how to
count  and  as   a  method   of  asserting   discipline  and
authority  upon you.  In the  2 eme  REP based  in Corsica,
there are three apels per day - one after lunch as  well. At
some time during basic training there  is sure  to be  a low
count  in  the  morning  when  a  Legionnaire  or  two  have
decided that they've had  enough and  tried to  desert. They
are nearly always caught.

                            29

Les Numeraux - The Numbers.

Listed below are the numbers that you must learn:
French number - (Pronounced as) - English number

Un - (Urn) - One
Deux - (Durgh) - Two
Trois  -  (Twar)  - Three
Quatre  -  (Cart)  - Four
Cinq - (Sank) - Five
Six - (See) - Six
Sept - (Set) - Seven
Huit  - (H'eet)  - Eight
Neuf - (Nerf) - Nine
Dix - (Dees) - Ten
Onze - (Onz) - Eleven
Douze - (Dooz) - Twelve
Treize - (Trays) - Thirteen
Quatorze - (Catorz) - Fourteen
Quinze - (Canz) - FiAeen
Seize - (Says) - Sixteen
Dix-Sept  -  (Dees  set)  - Seventeen
Dix-Huit  -  (Dees  weet)  - Eighteen
Dix-neuf  -  (Dees nerf)  - Nineteen
Vingt - (Van) - Twenty
Vingt et une - (Vant ay oon) - Twenty one
Vingt deux - (Van der) - Twenty two
Vingt trois - (Van twar) - Twenty three
Vingt quartre - (Van cart) - Twenty four
Vingt Cinq - (Van sank) - Twenty five
Vingt six - (Van see) - Twenty six
Vingt sept - (van set) - Twenty seven
Vingt  huit  -  (Van  weet) -  Twenty eight
Vingt  neuf  -  (van  nerf) -  Twenty nine
Trente - (Tron) - thirty
Trente et une - (Tront ay oon) - thirty one

                               30

Trent deux - (Tron der) - Thirty two
Trente trois - (Tron twar) - Thirty three
Trente Quatre - (Tron cart) - Thirty four
Trente cinq - (Tron sank) - Thirty five
Trente six - p'ron sees) - Thirty six
Trente sept - (Tron set) - Thirty seven
Trent huit - (Tron weet) - Thirty eight
Trente neuf - (Tron nerf) - Thirty nine
Quarante - (Carront) - Forty
Quarante et une - (Carront ay oon) - Forty one
Quarante deux - (Carront der) - Forty two
Quarante trois - (Carront twa) - Forty three
Quarante quatre - (Carront cart) - Forty four
Quarante Cinq - (Carront sank) - Forty five
Quarante six - (Carront sees) - Forty six
Quarante sept - (Carront set) - Forty seven
Quarante huit - (Carront weet) - Forty eight
Quarante neuf - (Carront nerf) - Forty nine
Cinquante- (Sankont) - Fifty

It will not  obviously stop  everybody else  making mistakes
and you will still be going in and  out of  the room  like a
yo-yo. But at least you will get it right and it's  one less
thing for you to have to learn. When you later have  to line
up for  a Company  parade you  will have  to learn  the rest
of the numbers  in French,  but this  is not  worth worrying
about at the moment.
There  are  two  other  reasons  for  needing  to  learn the
numbers as  soon as  possible. Firstly;  you will  have been
issued  a service  number and  there will  also be  a number
for  your  FAMAS.  Your  service  number  is  known  as your
"Matricule"  and  is  a  six figure  number. You  must learn
how to say it in French and  learn it  by heart.  The number
is not however read out as single  numerals but  as follows:

Cent  soixante  trois,  trois  cent  onze  (One  hundred and
sixty  three  -  three  hundred  and  eleven). This  is more

                             31

difficult  to  commit  to  memory  than simply  learning: Une-
six-trois,  trois-une-une.  (One-six-three  -  three-one-one).
The  Caporaux  will  teach  it   to  you   and  you   will  be
expmted to know it by heart after a week or two.
It will not be  very long  before you  are introduced  to your
FAMAS   assault   rifle   -   This   number   must   also   be
committed to memory.
If  you  can  learn these  numbers quickly  then you  will not
be the one that feels the might of  a size  ten boot  when the
Sergent  has  been  calling  out the  weapon number  six times
at the armoury doors (Le Magasine).

Apart   from  learning   your  numbers   there  will   be  the
allocation  of  beds and  lockers and  a demonstration  by one
of  the  Caporaux  on  how  to  arrange  your  Paquetage  into
the  armoire (locker)  in the  correct way.  There is  a right
way  and  a  wrong way  to do  everything in  the Legion  - if
the kit is not placed in the correct place it will soon end up
on the floor. There is no  food to  be kept  in the  locker at
any time and there is a  very small  shelf which  is allocated
for  personal  belongings.  (Of  which  you  will   have  very
few).

As  an engage  volontaire you  will be  assigned to  another -
he  will be  referred to  as your  "Binome". It  is up  to you
to help each other. If he's French -  he can  help you  a lot,
and he will be expected to.

"It  goes  without  saying  that  as   a  recruit   you  must
always  carry  a  pen  and  notepad. Carry  three pens  - One
for  yourself,  one  for when  it stops  working and  one for
the binhome next to you who has forgotten his"

For the first  two weeks  there are  only a  few items  of kit
that you have to worry about.  The first  is the  boots. These

                             32

must be well polished and there is  plenty of  opportunity to
do that.  If nothing  is happening  - i.e.  between lectures,
then  the  Legionnaires  will  gather  downstairs  and polish
their  boots.  You  may  well  find  yourself  polishing  the
boots  five,  six  or  even  seven  times  a  day.  The green
combat uniform that is worn on  a daily  basis is  not ironed
in the Legion. Neither is the  Tenue de  Sport (PT  kit). But
it  must  be  clean  at  all  times.  There  are  no  washing
machines in basic training so all the kit is cleaned  by hand
with  a  block  of  Savon  Marseille   (Soap)  in   the  wash
basins. Then  hung out  to dry  on the  clothes lines  of the
balconies  attached  to  each  room.  (The clothes  lines are
below  balcony  level  and  therefore  not  visible  from the
outside of the building).

The beret  that has  been issued  to you  will last  only two
weeks  before  being  replaced  with  a  smaller  neater  one
which sits much more neatly on the head.
The tassle at the back of the beret should lie  directly down
the centre of the  back of  the head.  The Legion  badge will
then sit slightly to the right of the right eye.  Unlike some
armies where a blue beret is issued  until training  has been
completed - in the Legion it is the Kepi  that you  earn. The
beret issued in the Legion is green in  colour from  day one.
The flap being folded down to the left.
If you wish to shape  the beret  to your  head, you  can make
it wet and then squeeze it until  damp, then  put it  on your
head for shaping to  the exact  shape and  position required.

You  will  be  paid  approximately  F1500  per  month  during
L 'Instruction (basic  training) (About  X200). This  will be
paid   into   your  CNE   account  which   is  held   by  the
L 'Adjudant de Section.  When you  are allowed  to go  to the
Foyer  (Like   a  Naafi   or  canteen   with  a   small  shop
attached)  -  you  will  be  given  some  money. This  is not
likely  to  happen  very  often  during  the  four  months of
Instruction.  Everything  will  be  provided  for  you during

                             33

basic  training,  even  down  to  your  toothbrush, toothpaste,
razors  etc.  At  some  time during  your Instruction  you will
be allowed to  go into  the town  for a  few hours.  Here again
you  will  be  paid  about  F200-F300  to have  a beer  and buy
anything  you  need.  Once  you  have   been  posted   to  your
regiment,  the  foyer  will  become a  regular watering  hole -
chosen  in  preference  to  going  through  all  the  hassle of
preparing  your  tenue  to  exit the  Quartier. No  formal dess
need  be  worn  in  the  Foyer  -  even   Tenue  de   sport  is
permitted.

Les Chants - The Songs.

It will not take long for the instructors  to introduce  you to
the  singing  which  forms  an  integral  part  of  the  French
Foreign   Legion's   tradition.   The   Legion  sings   on  the
march,  at  the  Gardez-vous  (attention  position),  sometimes
on  the  run  as  a  section,  and  around  camp fires  when on
non-tactical excercises at the end of a long day.
You  will  probably  first  be  taught  Le  Boudin  along  with
Le Chant (de la) Companie plus Le Chant Du Regiment.
There  may  be  as  many  as  fifteen  or  twenty  songs  learnt
during   the  four   months  basic   training.  How   many  you
learn  depends  very  much  on  you  all  as  a   Section.  The
more  French  speaking  people  there are  in the  Section, the
easier it is to learn, and so  the more  songs you  will learn.
If  there  are  only  a   few  Francophones   (French  speaking
people) in  the section  the songs  may well  be taught  to you
phonetically.  What  this  means  is  that  a German  will read
out  the  words  as  they  should  sound  in  German   and  you
will  write  them down  as they  sound to  you in  your tongue.
Le  Boudin  is  probably  the  most  famous  of all  the Legion
SOllgS.

                               34

It is also the only  song that  must be  sung at  the Gardez
vous position. All the  rest may  be sung  on the  march. Le
Chant   (de   la)   Compagnie  wi11   vary  from   company  to
company and could be one of many songs.

The first verse of Le Boudin is often all that is  sung, for
example prior to eating a meal. It goes like this:

Le Boudin:
Tiens. Voila du Boudin, voila du boudin, voila du
boudin,
Pour les Alsaciens, les Suisses et les Lorrains,
Pour les Belges y en a plus, pour les Belges y en a plus,
Ce sont des tireurs au coup,
Tireurs au coup.

There are many different understandings of the meaning
behind the words but here is a literal translation:

Well there's sausage, there's sausage, there's sausage,
For the Alsatians, the Swiss and the Lorrainers;
There's none left for the Belgians, there's none left for
the Belgians,
They are malingerers;
There's none left for the Belgians, there's none left for
the Belgians;
They are malingerers

You will undoubtedly hear of other versions whilst in the
Legion.

The songs  are not  just sung  in French  but in  many other
languages  such  as  Yugoslavian,  German  and  English. The

                             35

first  few  weeks  singing  will  undoubtedly result  in some
very sore arms. This will be through  all the  press-ups that
you  will  be doing  in a  bid to  get you  to sing  in tune,
deeper  (Plus  has)  and louder  (Plus fort).  It may  seem a
pain singing hour after hour, sometimes late into  the night,
but when a level of skill has  been achieved  - it  will look
and  sound  very  good. There  is nothing  like the  sound of
40  plus  Legionnaires  (better  still  a  company   of  150)
singing  in tune,  on the  march, with  Kepis on  their heads
and red epaulettes on their shoulders.

Songs  will  be  sung  initially in  the classroom,  and then
later, when the  words have  been learnt,  on the  march. The
songs  that  you will  learn are  not what  you are  used to.
They are sung slowly,  in unison  and in  a deep  voice. They
have to be sung slowly  in order  to be  in keeping  with the
pace  of  the  march.  (In  the  French  Foreign  Legion  the
marching  is  done  at  80  paces  per  minute as  opposed to
120 in the British army).

There are a  collection of  Legion songs,  most of  which you
will  be expected  to learn  during basic  training, situated
towards the back of the book in the Appendix section.

La Presentation - Presenting Yourself.

It is tradition in  the Legion  that when  addressing someone
of a senior rank Le Presente is carried out. It is a  form of
recital  and  until  you  have  attained some  rank yourself,
this will initially mean saying it  to everybody,  except the
other "Engages" (recruits).
It is also said when you  recieve your  pay or  when entering
a room occupied by anyone of any senior rank.

                             36

Actions: Knock - wait - enter - salut - beret off....

"Engage Volontaire Antoine,
Deux mois de service,
Deuxieme Compagnie,
Section de Lieutenant Souzla,
A vos ordres Caporal/Sergent/Sergent chef/etc. "

Meaning:
"Recruit Antoine,
Two months service,
2nd Company,
Lieutenant Souzla's section,
At your orders Corporal/Sergeant. "

The words in italics will have to  be changed  for whatever
details are  applicable to  you. Once  inside the  room the
Sergent or whoever that you are talking to, will then say,

"Mets-toi au repos. "
Meaning - Put yourself  into the  position of  "Repose". (A
bit like the "Stand at ease" position in the British army).

You must then reply,
"Je me-mets au repos a vos ordres Sergent".
Meaning: I go to the position of Repose as you order
Sergent"

When the senior rank has finished with you he will say,
"Tu peu dispose"
Meaning: "You may now leave"

                            37

You must then reply, "Je peu dispose, a vos ordres
Sergent".
Meaning: I am now leaving as you have ordered Sergent.

(Actions: Beret on - Salut - About turn - exit room).

This is  carried on  throughout your  careeer in  the Foreign
Legion and holds true even  in war.  It is  said particularly
when  talking  to  ranks that  are more  than one  rank above
you  or  if  they  are  unfamiliar.  After  some time  in the
Legion  or  in  times  of   war  the   Le  presente   may  be
shortened to,

"Legionnaire Antoine, a vos ordres Sergent"
To which the sergent or whoever would probably reply,
"Oui, qu'es-ce que tu veux? (Yes, what do you want?)

Each room is responsible  for its  cleanliness. There  is not
an excessive  emphasis on  the rooms  but they  are inspected
on a  daily basis.  They are  also walked  around at  the end
of  the day  by the  Caporal Chef/Sergent  who is  taking the
evening Apel.

There  is  no  smoking  allowed in  the building  but engages
will  often  try  to  sneek  one  on  the balcony.  Smoking is
however  allowed,  but  downstairs  and   outside.  Everyday,
first thing in the morning and after  lunch before  being fell
in  there  is the  daily Corvet  Quartier. This  comprises of
the  Company  forming   a  line   and  walking   very  slowly
around  the  building.  At  each corner  of the  building the
line is stopped and reformed to face  a new  direction. Since
the  buildings  at  Castelnaudary are  in an  "L-shape" there
are six  straight lines  to form  before progressing  in each

                             38

new direction.  All the  time you  are looking  for cigarette
ends, litter or  rose petals  that have  fallen in  the wind.
There  are  constant  yells  of  ОSilence  by the  Caporal du
Jour which often  fall on  deaf ears  and inevitably  ends up
in everybody doing press-ups.
This  ritual  of  Corvette Quartier  will continue  until you
have  reached  Caporal  status  or  above.  (About  two years
normally).

In  each  building  there  are  two Sections  of Legionnaires
undergoing  basic training.  The older  Section will  be able
to  socialise  with  you  almost  everyday   when  downstairs
polishing  boots   or  smoking   cigarettes.  As   you  might
expect they will try to fill you full of horror stories about
what lies  ahead. They  will more  than likely  exaggerate to
the  extreme.  So  take  anything  you hear  with a  pinch of
salt. Most of it will be rubbish.

Bel Air, La ferme - Bel Air, the fame

The  big  horror  story  you  will  undoubtedly   hear  about
from  day  one  is  Bel Air.  This is  a large  farm building
situated   in   the   countryside   about   ten   miles  from
Castelnaudary.  All  the Sections  go to  Bel Air  aAer about
four  weeks for  a period  of three  weeks. Whilst  there you
will  undergo  training  in  weapons  handling, (Particularly
stripping  and  assembly  of  the  FAMAS),  weapon  cleaning,
physical  fitness,   navigation  (By   compass  and   by  the
stars),  French  language,  an  introduction   to  fieldcraft
(setting  up  bivouacs,  camouflage  and  concealment, target
indication,  first  aid,  fire  control  orders,  patrolling,
ambushes),  drill  and  arms  drill,  marching and  of course
lots of singing.

                             39

As  mentioned  previously  -  they  are not  out to  make you
into elite soldiers at this stage -  more to  get you  into a
military  way  of  thinking,  improve  your  physical fitness
and  to  try  to get  you talking  in French.  The soldiering
skills are honed later on in your career.

There  will  be  pressures  placed  upon  you and  these will
take the form of sleep deprivation,  keeping you  as stressed
and  traumatised  as  possible  by  shouting   and  requiring
everything  to  be done  in double  quick time.  Coupled with
that there will be very little to eat. The days will  be long
and  you  will become  very, very  tired. Still  the pressure
will  be  on  you.  Here  there will  be many  inspections of
your  equipment,  your boots  (Polish the  whole of  the boot
whilst at Bel Air - the  underside as  well). Also  mark them
well,  as  they  may  be  thrown  out  of  the   window  with
everyone else's (even if your's are clean). Ideally, you will
want  the  same  pair  back  when you  go to  recuperate them
at the end of the night.

Each  day  at Bel  Air will  start early,  at around  5.00 am
and by six o'clock  you will  be doing  the morning  Sport or
Le Petit-footing. This will  take about  an hour  and because
there  are  varying  degrees  of  fitness  amongst  you,  the
Section  will  normally be  divided up  into three  groups of
varying ability.
You will all do the same training - just that you will all be
pushed  to  the  maximum.  There  will be  four to  five mile
runs,  un-armed combat,  sit-ups, press  ups, pull  ups, rope
climbing  (No  legs  allowed), firemans  carry and  any other
games  the  training  team  can  devise  to  get   the  blood
flowing faster.
Although the running will tend to get  faster over  the three
weeks the upper body strengthening excercises may not

                             40

achieve  as much  since the  food intake  is limited  and the
pull  ups,  press  ups  and  rope  climbing   excercises  are
carried  out  as much  as two  or three  times a  day. Before
each  meal  the  Caporaux  will  gather  you round  and there
will be what is referred to as the L 'Aperitif - a  series of
three  or  four  of  the above  excercises which  are carried
out.  When  so  much work  is placed  on a  particular muscle
group the  muscles have  little time  to recover  and benefit
from the work done.

Each  day  the  kit  worn  will  be  washed  by  hand  in the
basins, then  hung out  to dry  for the  next day.  Make sure
the kit is well marked.

The three weeks at Bel  Air culminates  in a  fifty kilometre
non   tactical   march   with   Sac   a  Dos   (Rucksac)  and
FAMAS.  You  have  three  days  to  complete  the  march  but
it is normally done in two. This is the only test  before you
receive   your   Kepi   Blanc.   It   is   often   argued  by
Legionnaires  that  the  Kepi Blanc  should only  be received
after the Le Raid at the end  of basic  training when  a much
longer march is carried out.  This thirty  miler is  not hard
and  by  this  stage  you  will  already  have  marched  many
times from Bel Air back to the Quartier.
If you have been a soldier in any army  prior to  joining the
Legion,  you  will  have  heard  of  many  methods of  how to
harden  your  feet.  Examples  may  be  rubbing  white spirit
into your feet, urinating  on them,  switching them  from the
hottest  water  you  can bear  to the  coldest water  you can
bear. Most  people find  that the  best way  to wear  in your
feet is to march a lot -  and that  you will.  And preferably
in boots that are well  worn in.  Legion boots  generally are
not  a  bad  fit  anyway, even  when new.  There may  be some
truth  in  the notion  that submersing  bad fitting  boots in
water when new and going for a couple of miles on a run

                             41

will help wear them  in quicker,  but you  are unlikely  to be
in a position to put this method into practise in  the Legion.
Feet  do  heal very  quickly and  there is  always a  foot and
body inspection after  every march.  Do not,  if you  have the
chance  however  rip  the skin  off a  blister to  expose open
flesh. Any  insertion into  a fluid  filled blister  should be
made  with  a  sterilised  needle  merely  to drain  the fluid
inside the blister out. The foot should  of course  be cleaned
before   such  action.   Do  not   bother  with   ointment  or
dressings unless it's  really bad;  just put  a clean  pair of
socks on. Before you know it  you will  have different  set of
blisters to worry about.

La Remise Du Kepi Blanc -
The Presentation of the white Kepi.

Throughout  the  weeks  leading  up  to  Bel  Air  and  during
your  time   there,  you   will  all   be  learning   Le  Code
D  'Honneur.  This  is  -  as  it  sounds -  a code  of honour
which is  learnt be  heart by  all Legionnaires.  Together you
must recite it in unison  at the  end of  your three  weeks at
Bel Air. You will spend many hours,  learning it,  reciting it
and then getting the vocal  synchronisation together.  It will
be  said  by  you at  the Remise  Du Eepi  Blanc (Presentation
parade) prior to donning the famous white Kepi.

If you can learn it by heart  before you  get there,  you will
be one very large stride ahead. It goes as follows:

                              42

                    Le Code D'Honneur.

"Legionnaire,  Tu  ex  un  volontaire  servant   la  Erance
avec bonheur et fidelite. "
(Legionnaire,  you  are  a  volunteer  serving  France with
honour and faithfulness)

"Chaque  Legionnaire  est  ton  frere  d'arme,  quelle  que
soit  su  nationalite,  sa  race,   sa  religion.   Tu  lui
manifestes toujours la solidarite etroite qui doit unir les
membres d'une meme famille. "
(Every  Legionnaire  is  your  brother in  arms, regardless
of nationality, race or religion. You  show him  always the
close  solidarity  which  must  unite  the  members  of the
same family)

"Respectueux  des  traditions,  attache  a  tes  chefs,  la
discipline et la camaraderie sont ta  force, le  courage et
la loyaute tes vertus. "
(Respectful  of  the  traditions  held  by   your  seniors,
discipline  and  camaraderie  are  your  strength,  courage
and loyalty your virtues)

"Fier de ton  etat de  legionnaire, tu  le montres  dans ta
tenue   toujours   elegante,   ton   comportement  toujours
digne mais modeste, ton casernement toujours net. "
(Proud to be a Legionnaire,  you show  this in  your dress;
it is always elegant, you are  always dignified  but modest
in the way  that you  behave and  your quarters  are always
in order)

                            43

Soldat d'elite, tu t'entruines  avee rigeur,  tu entretiens
ton  arme  comme  ton  bien  le  plus  precieux,  tu  as le
souci constant de ta horme physique. "
(As an elite soldier, you train with rigour, you look after
your  weapon  as  your  most  precious possession,  and you
always take care of your physical fitness.)

"La  ndssion  est  sacree,  tu  l'executes jusqu'au  but, a
tout prix. "
(The mission is sacred, you execute it to the very  end, at
all costs).

"Au  combat,  tu  agis  sans  passion  et  sans  haine,  tu
respects  les  ennemis  vaincus,  tu  n'abandonnes  jamais,
ni tes morts, ni tes blesses, ni ter armes. "
(In  combat,   you  fight   without  passion   and  without
hatred, you respect  the defeated  enemy always,  you never
abandon   your   dead,   nor   your   wounded    nor   your
weapons).

You are not actually at any  time during  instruction asked
to  translate the  Code D'Honneur  into your  own language,
but it is included here for your interest.

At  the  Remise  Du  ICepi  Blanc  there  will  be  another
Section from Castelnaudary to act in  a supporting  role as
part   of   the   Remise.   The   Chef   de   Corps   (Camp
Commandant)  will  present  the  Legionnaires with  a small
badge which signifies that they are now officially accepted
as  part  of  the  4eme  RE.  He  will  pin  that  to  each
Legionnaire's chest.  The formalities  will be  followed by
big  eats,  some  singing,  and  a   photo  session   by  a
photographer  hired  by  the Legion  for some  formal group
shots. Depending on how good or bad the singing is - will

                            44

depend  on  whether  you march  back to  the Quartier  or are
taken back by camion (lorry).

When  handling  the  Kepi  make  sure  that  you  touch  only
the  black  peak  and not  the white  parts. The  white cloth
stains very easily, and if you don't handle  it by  the peak,
you'll  end  up  scrubbing it.  After Bel  Air, Castelnaudary
will  seem  like  a hotel.  The camp  was modernised  in 1985
and is extremely plush  considering the  sort of  images that
most  people conjure  up in  their mind  when they  hear talk
of  the  French   Foreign  Legion.   La  Place   D'Arme  (The
Parade  square)  is  of  an  oacre  type  tarmac