e  and
Quatrieme Compagnies de Combat).
Apart  from  their  basic  training  as  airborne  infantry
soldiers each and every  soldier has  an important  role to
play in the heart of the regiment.

ler Compagnie.
The  Premiere  Compagnie  specialises  in anti  tank roles,
fighting at night, in built up areas and combating snipers.

2eme Compagnie.
The   Deuxieme  Compagnie   specialises  in   mountain  and
arctic  warfare  and  in  crossing obstacles  and clearance
problems.

3eme Compagnie.
The   Troisieme   Compagnie   works   in   the    area   of
amphibious  ops  and  all the  techniques employed  in that
area of soldiering.

4eme Compagnie.
The    Quatrieme    Compagnie    concerns    itself    with
clandestine type operations such as  explosives, demolition
and sniping.

These  specialisations  are  not  rigid  but move  with the
times, with the introduction of  new equipment  and tactics
learnt through experience on the ground and in combat.

There  also  exists  within the  2eme REP  - "Le  Groupe de
Commandos    Parachutistes)    formally    "Les   C.R.A.P."
(Les   commandos   de   Recherche   et  D'action   dans  le
Profondeur).

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Le Groupe de Commando Parachutistes
(Para- Commandos)

These legionnaires take a prestigious place in the  heart of
the 2 eme REP.  They are  the elite  of the  French Foreign
Legion  and  are  specialised  in  all  aspects   of  combat
training  from  amphibious  ops   to  mountain   warfare  to
HALO    parachuting     (High    altitude     Low    Opening
parachuting  where  oxygen  is  required  to  facilitate the
jump).  An  extremely  high  standard of  fitness is  a pre-
requisite  for a  position within  this unit.  (Their title,
incidently is due to be changed in the near future).

Les Armes de la Legion - weapons Of the
Legion.

Le FAMAS - 5.56 calibre personal assault rifle.
(Fusil D'Assault - Manufacture de St.Etienne).
The weapons training that is received in basic training will
enable  you  to  strip the  weapon down,  name the  parts of
the  weapon,  load,  unload  and  make-safe the  weapon. You
will initially rely on the instructors to clear any Incident
de tir (Stoppages). These skills will be  taught at  a later
date.  The  personal  weapon  is  the  FAMAS.  This  is  a
5.56mm  short  range  assault  rifle. This  is not  a weapon
that you can throw down  in the  mud, cock  and fire  - like

                             93

the   Russian   Kalashnikov.   It's    soldiering   application
requires  a  high standard  of maintenance  - which  is exactly
what it gets in the Legion. It is  a favourite  skill practiced
by  the  Legion  to  fire  from  the   hip  and   is  practised
frequently   during   basic   training.   This   is   known  as
"Position au genou" -  it is  very difficult  to master  and to
begin   with   results   in   much   wasted   ammunition.   The
weapon also  has the  capabilty to  fire rifle  grenades. There
are  two   methods  of   firing  a   rifle  grenade   form  the
FAMAS and both are practiced in basic training
sometimes at some expense and danger to the Legion and
its men.
More  suited  to  urban  close  quarter  battle  than  anything
else,  the  weapon  does  not  foul  badly  but  stoppages will
occur  in  sandy  or  dusty  conditions,  such  as   the  Gulf.
Possibly the main design fault is  the fact  that the  piece of
plastic  which  guides  the  empty  case  out  of  the  chamber
known as the "Appui  joue" is  held in  place by  a "clip  on -
clip off action". If this piece of plastic is lost or drops off
- the  weapon cannot  be fired  without risk  of injury  to the
firer. (The  clip on  - off  action of  the Appui-joue  is used
along with  an adjustment  to the  extractor to  facilitate leftA
or  right  handed  firing.  A  process which  takes just  a few
minutes).

The sling has various  applications -  not just  in stabilising
the  steadiness  during  firing  but  also in  various carrying
methods. In  the base  of the  hand grip  for the  trigger hand
there exists a compartment for cleaning materials.

It  is  a  favourite  of  the  instructors  to   emphasise  the
importance   of   weapon   cleaning.   When  the   weapons  are
cleaned  they  are  each  cleaned  for  about  seven  or  eight
hours.  In  basic  training  you  will  not  be allowed  to sit
down  whilst  cleaning  the  weapon.  There  then   follows  an
hour  long  inspection  at  the  "Position  Gardez  -Vous" (The
attention position).
At the end of the "Le Raid" - after marching over a
hundred miles through the Pyrenees, the weapons and

                              94

equipment  are  cleaned   in  just   such  a   manner.  Nobody
goes  to  bed  that  night.  The  weapons  are  at  this stage
cleaned  with pure  alcohol to  de-grease every  working part.
Most of this attention to detail is a little  un-necessary but
continues  to  instill  military  discipline.  This  method of
cleaning  continues  even  when  at your  Regiment. It  is not
unknown  for  a Section  of Legionnaires  to strip  down their
weapons,  load  them  onto  a  plastic  palette and  send them
through  the  dishwasher  in  the  kitchens  a  few  times  to
remove  the  worst  of  the  fouling  from the  working parts.
This   is   done   prior   to   commencing   more  conventinal
cleaning   methods.  Some   would  say   a  good   example  of
modern soldiering initiative.

LRAC 89mm. (Lance Rocket Antichar)
Other weapons that you will be introduced to are the
89mm   -   Lance   Rocket   Anti-Char   (Medium    Anti   Tank
Weapon)   referred   to   as   the    LRAC   89.    A   simply
constructed  yet   efficient  weapon,   simple  to   fire  and
accurate  up  to  400m.  The  targets  you  will be  firing at
normally  will  probably  be  at  300m.  Most of  the problems
of  accuracy  lie  in  the   correct  judgement   of  distance
between yourself and the  target. If  the correct  distance is
obtained  it  is  actually  quite  hard  to  miss.  The LRAC89
can  fire  up  to  130  rockets  through  its barrel  before a
replacement is required.

RAC 112mm. (Roquette Antichars)
A larger weapon for these same application is the RAC
112mm  (Rocket  Antichars).  A  beast   of  a   weapon,  which
knocks  your  socks  off  when  you  fire  it.  These  too are
simple and accurate  to fire,  and devastatingly  effective at
ranges  up  to 500  metres. An  excellent piece  of equipment.
This  weapon  however,   unlike  the   LRAC89,  can   only  be
used  once  before  being  discarded.  There  is  therefore  a
limit  to  the  amount   of  firepower   such  a   weapon  can
muster  within  the  Section. If  the appropriate  clothing is

                              95

not  worn  then  small  particles  of  cordite will  pepper the
hands and  face when  the weapon  is fired.  (there is  a built
in  mask  on  the  RAC112  version).  It  should be  noted that
this  weapon  cannot  be  fired  with  a  rucksac on  your back
in  the  lying  down  position.  The   sight  should   also  be
removed after firing and kept aside.

MILAN MAW
This  is  a  computer  controlled  wire  guided  missile system
giving a ninety  five per  cent chance  of a  direct hit  up to
3000  metres.  Used  within  all  the  infantry  regiments  but
you  are  not  trained  in  these  weapons  until  after  basic
training,  and   only  then   if  you   are  assigned   to  the
Compagnie  D'Appui.  (Unlikely  in  the  early  stages  of your
contract).

La AA52 - "La AA Cinquante-deux" (also known as "La Nana")
A belt fed 7.5mm machine gun, normally issued one per
groupe. It is a fairly innacurate weapon but  is still  used in
the   Legion   today.   Because  of   the  inaccuracy   of  the
weapon, it  can pepper-spread  a large  area to  the front  - a
useful   application   in   certain   scenarios.   The   weapon
weighs  9.75kgs,  it  is  simple  and  sturdy  in construction,
stripping  and  assembly  is not  a problem  but the  weapon is
antiquated.  It  is  supplied  with  a  bipod  and   sling  for
carrying.

FRF2
This  is  the  7.5mm sniper  rifle assigned  to the  Legion. A
bolt  action  weapon  which  is  capable of  impressive results
in the right pair of hands. Fitted with  a bipod  and different
size  butt  plates  a  killing  range  of  600  metres  can  be
acheived   with   accuracy.  There   is  normally   one  Tireur
d'elite per groupe. This is not officially a sniper but still a
trained   sharp   shooter   .   The   weapon  is   fitted  with

                              96

telescopic sights for daylight use and a night sight may be
fitted for use in darkness.

20mm CANON - "Le Canon de vingt".
A  heavy  machine  gun normally  mounted on  light transport
vehicles  which  can  be  used   to  bring   down  aircraft.
Ammunition   comes   in   the   form  of   armour  piercing,
explosive or standard ball. The firer sits in a seat and can
change  direction  by  rotating  the  whole assembly  in any
direction at speed by means of a powered motor.

12.7MM BR - "La Douze-sept".
(.50 CAL BROWNING)
An  automatic  machine  gun  normally  mounted  on  the  top
of the VAB's capolla. Due to the size of the rounds  - great
stopping  power  is available  to lay  down on  an advancing
enemy.  This  weapon  was   used  considerably   during  the
Gulf war.

Missile HOT antichar
An  optically  guided  tubular missile  system which  can be
fitted to  vehicles. This  will penetrate  800 mm  of armour
and will be effective at ranges up to 4 kms away.

Lu Paye - Pay In the Legion.

The pay  during your  five years  can vary  from F50  a week
to  tens  of  thousands of  Francs per  month. It  will vary
depending  upon  which  Regiment  you  have  been  posted to
and where it is situated in the world at the time. Length of
service  and rank  will also  have a  strong bearing  on the
amount of pay.

                             97

As  an  engage  in your  first three  weeks at  Aubagne you
will  be  paid  F50  per  week.  During basic  training you
receive  a  pay  rise  which  goes  up  to about  F1300 per
month.  This  pay is  the same  for everyone  regardless of
age. After  basic training  the pay  will depend  very much
on where you are located.
If your  first Regiment  is in  Metropole France  then your
wages  will  be  somewhat  less.  The  Regiments  in France
are  the  2eme  REI,  the  6eme  REG  and  the   lere  REC.
Based  at  Nimes,  Avignon  and  Orange  respectively.  All
these  regiments  will  pay  about  F2500  per  month  to a
Legionnaire  in  his  first  year.  This  first  year  as a
Legionnaire   you   are  ranked   as  a   Legionnaire  2eme
Classe. On completion of one years service  (Service starts
from the day  you sign  the Contract  into the  Legion) you
automatically  become  a  Legionnaire  1 ere  Classe. There
was  a  time when  the advance  in rank  was only  given to
those who had been seen to have progressed in all  areas of
soldiering, language and attitude. Today it is an automatic
advance aAer one year's  service. Some  nationalities would
remain on a lower pay scale for  longer because  they found
the  language  more  difficult  - eg.  the Japanese  or the
Chinese. Because of such  cases it  was thought  unfair and
the system was changed.
Once  the  rank  of  Legionnaire   lere  classe   has  been
attained the pay goes up  to F4000  per month  in Metropole
France. A Caporal will draw about F5500 per month in

France. All of these wages will increase if the Regiment is
posted overseas for even a  few months.  And more  again if
the period extends  over six  months. The  2eme REF  pay is
higher  than  those  in   Metropole  France   because  they
receive  "Jump  Pay".  They  can   draw  about   F4000  per
month  as  a  2eme  classe  and  F6000  as  a  lere classe.
These  figures  will   increase  when   in  Africa   or  on
operations.

                            98

The  3REI  based  in  French  Guyana are  are a  little better
off  than  those  in  France and  a 2eme  clase can  expect to
get  around  F3000  per  month  as  a first  years pay.  1 ere
classe will get about F4300 per month.

The  13  DBLE  based  in  Djbouti,  North  East Africa  are the
big  earners  of  the  Foreign  Legion.  (It  is  unlikely that
many  Legionnaires  will  get   posted  there   straight  after
basic  training.  It  is normally  a posting  that Legionnaires
receive after at least a year's service.  There may,  if you're
lucky  be  2  or  3  places  available from  the section  of 40
guys at the  end of  basic training  - if  you are  good enough
you will have first refusal.
A   Legionnaire  2eme   classe  in   Djbouti  will   take  home
about  F8000   a  month.   A  lere   classe  nearer   F9500.  A
Caporal  may  easily  be getting  F14000 per  month. It  is not
normally  possible  to  get  more  than  one  overseas  posting
abroad  during  the first  five year  contract but  then people
don't   join   the   French  Foreign   Legion  to   earn  large
amounts of money.
A  sergent  in  Djbouti  can  expect  to  be  saving  a  lot of
money  during  his  stay,  and  because the  cost of  living is
cheap  in  Djbouti  there  will  be  much  money  saved  at the
end  of  the  two  years  posting  there.  Coupled  with  that,
there  is  little or  no permission  given during  the posting.
For  that  reason  when  a  Legionniare  is  sent  to  his next
Regiment  he  has  a  back-log  of   permission  and   a  large
amount  of  money  to  spend.  This   may  accrue   to  several
thousand pounds.

During your  time in  the Legion  a proportion  of your  kit is
purchased by  you. Once  the kit  has been  issued, it  is then
up to you to maintain  or replace  it. The  kit is  bought from
the  Foyer  or  from  the Maitre  Tailleur -The  tailor. During
the first year of service in particular, when the pay is at its
lowest, it can make things very tight.

                              99

In  addition to  this the  Legion holds  back a  proportion of
your  pay  in  an  account  held  by  the Legion  itself. This
account   is  known   throughout  the   Legion  as   the  CNE.
Even during  your first  four months  of basic  training there
is  an  amount  of  your  pay  which  is  held back  from your
monthly wage. It is not critical at this stage of  training to
have  money  and  you  rarely, if  ever, have  the opportunity
to  spend  it.  The  pay  is  held  back  for  a  good  reason
however.  The  money  is  kept  aside for  you when  you leave
for your first  Regiment. Here,  you will  be expected  to buy
a  pair  of  trainers in  accordance with  those worn  by your
regiment.  (Each  Regiment  tends  to  wear  a  different type
of  trainers  to  the  other).  There will  be other  items of
equipment  and  kit  which  must   be  purchased;   badges,  a
spare  Kepi,  a  Fourragere  (Lanyard)  etc.  This  money will
be  given  to  you  before  arriving at  the Regiment  you are
posted to.

Once in  the Regiment  some of  your pay  is still  kept back.
When  you  are  sent  on  permission,  some  of  the  money is
again  kept  back  as  a  form of  cushioning to  support you,
should    you    return    from   permission    having   spent
everything.  From  time to  time, a  proportion of  this money
can be taken  out of  the CNE,  but only  if your  reasons for
requiring  it  are  worthy  enough  to convince  the Capitaine
du Compagnie.

Les Rangs - The Ranks.

Below  are  listed  the  ranks  of  the  Legion that  you will
come  across.  The  rank  structure  does  go higher,  and you
may in time meet some  of them,  but these  are the  ones that
are most important you learn first:

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Officiers superieurs:
Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel
Officiers subalfernes:
Commandant
Capitaine
Lieutenant
Sous-Lieutenant
Aspirant
Sous Officiers:
Major
Adjudant-Chef
Adjudant
Sergent
Hommes Du Rang:
Caporal-Chef ~
Caporal
Legionnaire (Premiere classe - After one years service)
Legionnaire (Deuxieme classe - After presentation of the
Kepi Blanc)
Engage Volontaire

Caporal Chef" - This  is a  rank that  is particular  to the
French Forces. It is a unique rank  whereby the  soldier can
progress  no  further  in  the  rank  structure once  he has
reached   the   position   of   Caporal   Chef.    Not   all
Legionnaires  wish  to  proceed  in  this  direction  - some
prefer to wait until they are deemed ready for  the Sergents
course. If a  Caporal Chef  later decides  that he  wants to
progress further  then he  must revert  to Caporal  and then
recontinue.  The  rank  of  Caporal  Chef  is  not  normally
achieved before  at least  eight to  ten years  service. The
attraction is a  more laid  back lifestyle  with few  of the
responsibilities of a Sergent but with some of the perks.

                            101

It is highly unusual for Legionnaires  to come  into contact
with anyone over  the rank  of Colonel  and ninety  per cent
of the time  your contact  will be  with ranks  below Major.
Ranks  from  Adjudant  and  above  are   addressed  starting
with   the   word   -  "Mon   "meaning  "My".   Therefore  a
Capitaine  would  be  -  Mon Capitaine,  a colonel  would be
Mon Colonel and so on.

La Permission - Leave/Holidays.

It will probably be nearly a year before  you will  have the
chance  to  experience  any  permission.  But  when  you  do
you will more than likely  have a  reasonable pay  packet to
take with you.  If you  are in  the 2eme  REP then  you will
not be allowed to leave the island during the first year. If
you are based  at any  of the  other regiments  in Metropole
France  you  may   go  just   about  wherever   you  please.
Despite  the  fact that  your passport  has been  taken away
you  will  still  be able  to travel  abroad. By  using your
Carte  D  'Identite  (Legion  ID  card)  and  the  Titre  De
Permission (Leave  pass) you  will be  allowed to  leave the
country  by  any of  the airports.  (The Legion  states that
you are officially not allowed to leave the country  for the
first three years of  the contract  - but  most Legionnaires
do). You will,  as always  be paid  in cash  and if  a large
payout is due they will oAen offer  to send  the money  to a
pre-arranged  address  given  by  you  (obviously  not  a UK
address). This is done  to combat  the risk  of Legionnaires
being mugged by the  locals -  who know  full well  when the
permission  starts,  and  that  you  will be  carrying large
amounts  of  cash.  The  length  of  permission  will depend
on  many  things:  how  long  you  have  been  away,  if you
have  been  in  combat  and  whether  or  not there  are any
forthcoming  events  or  dates  that you  must be  back for,
e.g. Noel or  Camerone. But  normally it  will be  about two
weeks. This  is the  only time  in the  Legion when  you are

                            102

allowed  to  leave  the  guartier in  civilian clothing  as a
Legionnaire. If  you do  not have  any civilian  clothing and
no-one  has  any  that  you  can  borrow,  then  it  must  be
Tenue  De  Sortie  -  not  Tenue  De  Sport.  You   may  also
return in civvies.
If you have no friends  or relatives  staying in  France then
you  must  state  your  address  as  being  either   Fort  De
Nogent  in  Paris or  Malmousce near  Marseille or  any other
private  address  in  France  -  even  a  hotel  is  OK. Both
Malmousce  and  Fort  De  Nogent  allow  you  to  stay  as  a
Legionnaire  guest. There  is a  room for  you for  which you
pay  ten  Francs  per  day  for  the  room  and the  food and
wine is free. It is not run like a normal  quartier, although
there  are  Legionnaires posted  there to  keep the  place up
and running. There is a role call in the morning (really just
to  find  out  how  many  mouths  there  are  to  feed  at le
dejeuner)  -  Apart  from  that you  can come  and go  as you
please. It is very relaxed and not  a bad  way to  spend your
leave,  Malmousce   being  positioned   on  the   coast  near
Marseille and Fort De Nogent  right in  the centre  of Paris.
Despite  having  put  your,  one of  these locations  down as
your leave address  you are  really free  to go  wherever you
please.  Nobody  will  be  bothered.  Paris  airport  is very
small and does not take long to nip around  to all  the desks
and find out which one is offereing the best deals.  A flight
to the UK is normally pretty  cheap and  you will  often find
other  Legionnaires   there  to   socialise  with   prior  to
departure.
One of the benefits of the Legion  is the  discount available
to them on  the trains.  All Legionnaires  are entitled  to a
seventy five per cent discount  on all  rail fares  in France
on  showing  an  ID  card.  The  French  trains   provide  an
excellent service but the ticket  collectors can  come across
as being a little arrogant at times.
If you are  late back  from leave  - you  will have  the same
punishment  as  you  would  if  you  were  late  back  from a
night out on the town; the statutory ten  days in  jail. Some

                             103

Legionnaires pass via  Paris on  their way  to the  airport -
but  find they're  having such  a good  time that  they spend
the whole of the permission in Paris. If this happens,  it is
not  a  problem  to  make  your  way down  to Fort  De Nogent
and  book  yourself  in  there  for   the  duration   of  the
permission.  Assuming  there  is  a room  vacant you  will be
allowed to stay.
One  of  the  greatest  things   about  the   French  Foreign
Legion  is  that  you  will  always  have a  good time  off -
firstly  you  work  hard -  you play  hard, and  secondly the
Legion  always  makes  sure  you  have  money for  the period
of the permission. (Often it  is a  considerable sum  for the
amount of time that you have off)

Desertion.

Such a book on the French Foreign Legion would not be
complete without some mention of desertion.

It  happens,  and  it  happens  a  lot.  And  the  people who
desert have to live with it for the rest of their lives. What
makes  people  desert?   And  what   makes  them   stay  when
they want to desert?
For  some,  they have  no choice.  For others,  whatever drew
them  to  the Legion  in the  first place  was not  enough to
make  them  stay  when  it  got tough.  They are  the unlucky
ones  if  you  like  - they  have options  open to  them. The
"search  for adventure"  all of  a sudden  seems like  a very
weak  reason  for  joining  the  French Foreign  Legion. They
compare  what  they've  got  and  what  they could  have. And
then they think about living  with the  truth and  how people
back home will  react to  the truth.  They think  about their
image.  Then  they'll  probably  think  about  how  much time
is  there  left to  do before  they've finished  the contract.

                             104

Then...then, they make a momentous decision. And that
decision they must live with.

It is better to finish the contract  with pride,  knowing that
so  many  have  deserted  before  your  eyes  during  the time
that  you  have  been  in.  Do  not join  expecting life  as a
Legionnaire  to be  all adventure,  high adrenalin  rushes and
constant  action.  Expect  to  be  bored, disappointed  and at
your  wits  end  from  time  to  time.  Expect  a   hard  time
physically  and  mentally  and you  will not  be disappointed.
If  you  think  whilst you  are reading  this, that  you could
one day  desert  -  then don't  even join  in the  first place.
Remember  that  the  longer you  are in,  the easier  it gets.
Five years goes  very quickly  and you'll  glad you  stayed if
you do.

If a Legionnaire has made a break  for it  then for  the first
few   days   he  is   noted  down   as  "Absent".   There  are
sometimes   reasons   why  Legionnaires   are  late   back  on
camp. Eg.  after a  night out  on the  town. After  seven days
absence  you  are  declared  a  "Deserteur".  This  carries  a
standard  sentence   of  40   days.  (Assuming   they  haven't
deserted  on  the  brink  of war  or whilst  at war  when they
could face up to  two years  in a  French civilian  jail after
having  done  the  forty  days  in  the  Legion  jail)   If  a
Legionnaire  deserts  with a  weapon, the  search will  take a
much  more  sinister   form  with   many  men   involved.  The
prospects for such a deserter are not pleasant.

Useful Phrases:

Some of the more commonly used phrases used in the
French Foreign Legion almost every day...

Tu (te) demerde - Get yourself out of the shit.

                             105

Demerdez- vous - Get yourselves out of the shit.

Casse(-moi) pas les couilles - Don't break my balls.

J'en ai vraiment plein les couilles - I've really had  a balls
full of this.

Tu te fous de ma gueule ou quoi? - Are you taking the
piss or what?

Tu rigoles ou quoi? - You must be joking.

Arrete ta connery - Stop fucking about.

C'est meme pas la peine - It doesn't even bear thinking
about.

C'est pas la peine - There's no use.

C'est pas vrai? - It can't be true/ No I don't believe it.
C'est pas possible - It's not possible.
Ferme ta geuele - Shut your face.
J'ai pas compris - I don't understand.
gu 'est- ce que pa veut dire - What does that mean?
Comment on dit?.... - How do you say?....
Oh Putain! - Oh Whore (Used as: Oh Shit).
Putain de Merde! - Whore of shit (Used as: Fucking Hell)
Merde! - Shit.

                             106

A few helpful words:

Abdominaux - Sit ups
Anciens (Les) - The guys that have been in a long time
epee - Role call
Bagarre - To scrap/fight
Batiment - Building
Binome - Buddy/Partner/Oppo
Brouillage - Webbing
Camion - Lorry
Caporal - Corporal
Caporal Fut fut - Corporal on the accelerated promotion.
Casse-croute - Snack-break
Centurion - Belt
Centurion Bleu - Wide blue sash worn under belt.
Chants - Songs
Chaussettes - Socks

Chef de Corps - Officer in charge of the Quartier
Chemise - Shirt
Clairon - Bugler
Corvet - Cleaning Duties
Consignes - Extra duties and consignment to the Quartier
Date de Naissance - Date of birth
Dehors - (Get) Outside!
Demi(une) or Une Pression - Lager (in half pints)
Engage Volontaire (E. V.)- Recruit
En couloir - (Get) into the corridor
En position - (Get) into the position (For press ups)
En Bas - Go down
Epaulettes de Tradition - Red epaulettes worn for guard
or parade
Foyer - Small bar with shop attached
Fusil - Rifle
Haut - Go up

                           107

Hommes du rang - Lower ranks
Infirmiers - Medics
Incidents de tir - Weapon stoppages
Jeunes (Les) - The most inexperienced to have joined.
Legia Patria Nostra - The Legion is Our Home.
Matricule - Service number
Magazin - Armoury
Pantalon - Trousers
Paquetage - All your kit
Pays - Country
Permission - Leave/Holiday/Vacation
Petit footing (Le) - Running (As a sport)
Piste de Combat - Assault course
Place D 'Arme - Parade square.
Presente (Le) - The Presentation.
Medecin - Doctor
guartier - Camp
guartier Libre - Time off
Rassemblernent - Assembly
Rangers - Boots
Refectoire - Eating hall (for Legionnaires).
Slips - Pants
Sous officiers - NCO's
Sous-vetement - Track suit
Sergent - Sergeant
Stages - Courses
Stick - Stinging slap on the back of the neck
Tenue - Uniform
Toile - Jail
Veste de Combat -Combat jacket

                                     108

                         Appendix.

The Contract to be signed:

Se                            REGION           MILITAIRE
Imprime No. 311-6/4

Place                         de              MARS EILLE
Instruction No. 2500/DEF/PMAT/

EG/B du 4 Juillet 1978.

No.           du               registre:             986
Format: 21 x 29,7.

                               (Recto.)

                    ACTE D'ENGAGEMENT
                 du nomme(1) JONES David
        a titre etranger pour la legion etrangere.

L'an mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze
le dix-huit mai
a dix heures, s'est presente devant nous(2)
M.(l) JONES David age de 23
ans                 exercant la profession de menuisier

                                   109

resident a Bath                                     canton de
departement de(3)                        Grande  Bretagne
fils de(4) Steven                           et de(4) Jane
nee Smith domicilies a

Cheveux                    Chatains         Yeux Bleu
Sourcils Ecartes droits
Menton Bilobe                                Nez Concave
Dents C.M. 90%
Visage Ovale

Renseignements physionomiques supplementaires:

Tatouage avant-bras gauche

Taille:                                         1m     87
Poids: 85 kgs

Marques    particulaires:

lequel  a  declare  vouloir  s'engager  pour  servir   a  titre
etranger  dans  la  legion  etranger  et, a  cet effet,  nous a
pres ente:                             le Medecin des Armees
BUCHENNET
                                         Medecin
Adjoint du 1er R.E.

1.   Un   certificate   delivre   a   la   date    du   16.05.95
par(3)
et constant qu'il n'est atteint d'aucune infirmite, qu'il reuint
la  taille  et  autres  conditions requise  pour servir  dans la
legion etrangere.

2.Son  bulletin  de  naissance,  une  declaration  d'identite(3)
constatant   qu'il   est   ne   le   19   Aout  1972   a  London
(GRANDE        BRETAGNE)        et         de        nationalite
Brittanique.

3. L'autorisation de son representant legal(6).

                                110

 4. (7)

 Apres avoir reconnu  la regularite  des pieces  profuits, nous
 lui avons donnes lecture(8) des articles  6. 7  et 13  No. 77-
 789  du  decret  n.77-789  du  ler  juillet 1977  relaitif aux
 militaires a titre etranger.

 Nous 1'avons informe que:

 1. Ses services compteront a partir de  la date  de signature,
 par lui, du present contrat.

 2.  Le  present  contrat  comporte  une periode  probatoire de
 six  mois  eventuellement renouvable  une fois  par 1'autorite
 militaire.
 La  periode  probatoire prend  effet de  la date  de signature
 du present contrat.

 LE CONTRAT NE DEVENANT DEFIMTIF QU'AU
 TERME DE LA PERIODE PROBATOIRK.

 3. Pendant la periode probatoire initiale ce contrat
 pourra etre denonce:

 31.  Soit  a  la  demande  de  1'engage, agree  par 1'autorite
 militaire,  pour  raison  personelle  d'ordre sociale  ou pour
 des  difficultes   notoires  d'adaptation,   exprime  jusqu'au
 terme  du  quatrieme  mois   de  service.   Dans  ce   cas  la
 decision   definitivedu   commandement  devra   etre  signifie
 avant la fin de la periode probatoire initiale.

 32. Soit a tout moment, par I'autorite militaire du fait:
 - d'une inaptitude medicale pour une cause pre-existante a
 1'engagement:
 - d'une inaptitude a 1'emploi ou a servir dans les rangs de
 la legion etrangere:
 - d'une inadaptation a la vie militaire.

                              111

4.  Pendant  la  periode  probatoire  renouvelee  ce  contrat
pourra   etre   denonce   par   I'autorite   militaire   pour
inaptitude  a  1'emploi  ou  pour   inadaptation  a   la  vie
militaire.

5.  A tout  moment ce  contrat pourra  etre resilie  dans les
conditions   fixees   dans   1'article   32   de    FLM   No.
2500/DEF/PMAT/EG/B   modifiee   du   4   juillet    1978   et
notamment:

- sur demande agree de 1'engage pour raison personnelle
imperieuse fondee sur des faits dument reconnus et
survenus depuis la signature de 1'engagement:
- d'office pour inaptitude physique:
- par 1'autorite militaire pour insuffusance professionelle
ou par mesure disciplinaire.

-  Apres quoi  le candidat  a promis  de servir  avec honneur
et fidelite pendant cinq annees a partir de ce jour  et s'est
engage aucours de ce premier  contrat a  ne pas  se prevaloir
de  services  ou de  qualifications antiereurement  detenus a
titre franglais.

le contractant a promis  egalement de  servir dans  les rangs
de  la  legion  etrangere  partout  ou  il   conviendrait  le
gouvernement  de  1'envoyer  et, apres  avoir eus  lecture du
present acte, a signe avec nous.

L 'engage                             Le Commissaire de
                                     I'armee de terre

                                            OU

                                   l'officier suppleant

                            112

Periode renouvelee le               pour une duree de six mois
a  compter  du............  confirm  la  decision  du
commandement de la legion etrangere en date du.......

(~)
       Contrat - annule - denonce - resilie (3) a compter du
pour (9) par decision du                            en date du

notifiees a 1'interesse le
Contrat devenu definitif le                          (~)-

Commissaire de L'annee de terre

OU

L'ogicier suppleant,

(1) Nom et prenom de 1'engage.
(2) Nom du commissaire de 1'armee de terre ou de 1'
officier suppleant et localite ou il est en fonction.
(3) Rayer les mentons inutiles.
(4) Lorsque ces renseignements sont connus.
(5) Nom, grade et qualite de 1'officier signature du
certificate.
(6) Si 1'engage est age de moins de 18 ans.
(7) Si 1'engage est franglais et n'a pas encore satisfait a ses
obligations  legales,   autorisation  du   ministre  permettent
1'engagement a titre etranger.
(8) Si 1'engage ne connait pas la langue franglais, il lui sera
donne  lecture  dans  sa  langue,  des  clauses  contenues dans
1'acte.
(9) Indiquer le motif.

                             113

Recruiting Centres in France.
(Poste Information de la Legion Etrangere)

There are  sixteen recruiting  centres plus  Aubagne itself
where you can go directly if you  want to  save a  few days
hassle. All of these centres are open 24  hours a  day. Map
locations follow each recruiting centre in brackets.

Addresses of Recruiting Centres:

94120 Fontenay-sous-Bois (1)
Fort De Nogent
Paris
O: 0033 1 48 77 49 68

59000 Lille (2)
La Citadelle
R: 0033 3 20 55 40 13

76038 Rouen cedex (3)
Rue du Colonel-Trupel
R: 0033 2 35 70 68 78

                                   121

86000 Poitiers (4)
Quartier Aboville
R: 0033 5 49 41 31 16

44000 Nantes (5)
Quartier Desgrees-du-Lou
Rue Gambetta
R: 0033 2 40 74 39 32

57000 Metz (6)
Quartier de-Lattre-de-Tassigny
R: 0033 3 87 66 57 12

21000 Dijon (7)
Caserne Junot - 66
Avenue du Drapeau
R: 0033 3 80 30 02 10

67000 Strasbourg (8)
Quartier Lecourbe
Rue d'Ostende
R: 0033 3 88 61 53 33

51000 Reims (9)
Quartier Colbert
32 bis Avenue de la Paix
R:0033 3 26 88 42 50

13007 Marseille (10)
La Malmousque - Chemin du Genie
R: 0033 4 91 31 85 10

13400 Aubagne (1 1)
Quartier Vienot
R: 0033 4 42 03 38 79

                              122

64100 Bayonne (12)
Caserne Chateaux-Veaux
R: 00 33 5 59 25 66 70

33000 Bordeaux (13)
260 rue Pelleport
R: 0033 5 56 92 99 64

69007 Lyon (14)
Caserne Sergent-Blandan
37 bis, rue de Repos
R: 0033 4 78 58 40 21

06300 Nice (15)
Caserne Saint-Jean-d'Angely
Rue des Diables-Bleus
R: 0033 4 93 56 32 76

66020 Perpignan (16)
Caserne Mangin
8 Rue Francois-Rabelais
R: 0033 4 68 35 05 38

31000 Toulouse (17)
Caserne Perignon
Avenue Camille-Pujol
R: 0033 5 61 54 21 95

Although  telephone  numbers  are   listed  above   -  no
information will normally be given over the phone.
You may also write  in English  to the  following address
for information on joining the Foreign Legion:

                           123

Bureau de Recrutement de la Legion Etranghre,
Quartier Vienot
13400 Aubagne
R: 0033 4 42 84 97 66 (You may have more luck with
this number).

See over the page for locations marked on the map.

                          124

                    Disclaimer Notice.

In no way can the author of this publication be liable for
any injury, illness, expense or ill-feeling incurred by the
     reader as a result of having read this book. All
information has been published as accurately as possible.
Neither is the author liable for any information published
          herein that is incorrect or out-dated.

                           127

           First published in 1997 by Salvo Books.
           PO Box 106, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6XY

                     ISBN 0 9530060 0 X
               Copyright (C) Simon Jameson 1997

  The right of Simon Jameson to be identified as the author
  of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with
        the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

        All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or
                        transmission
       of this publication may be made without written
     permission. No paragraph of this publication may be
     reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written
   permission or in accordance with the provisions of the
    Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person who does
  any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may
         be liable to criminal prosecution and civil
                     claims for damages.

   A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from
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            Printed and Bound in Great Britain by
               Hartnolls of Bodmin, Cornwall.

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