1. The French Foreign Legion
Honneur et Fidelité
Presented by Gaston

2. Detachment in Mayotte “Pericula Iudus”

3. What is the Legion? Arm of the French military established in 1831.
Originally only served to protect French interests and colonies abroad.
Created for foreigners willing to fight and die for France, also open to French citizens.
Allegiance is not to France, but to the Legion itself.
“Legio Patria Nostra”

4. 4th Regiment (Creuset de la Legion)

5. Who are the Legionnaires?
The Legion is made up of approximately 7,700 men from 150 different countries.
Sorry ladies, no women allowed.
The Officer Corps is primarily French citizens.
Roughly 25% speak French.
Less than 15% are citizens of France.

6. Recruiting Group

7. Why was the Legion created?
Formed by King Louis Philippe on March 9, 1831.
Originally to protect and expand the French Empire and its colonies.
Initially only stationed in Algeria.
Fight in foreign campaigns on behalf of France.
To give dregs of society a purpose and fresh start in life.
Some of this has changed as recruiting standards have changed.

8. 1st Cavalry Regiment (Royal Etranger) “A nul autre pareil”

9. What has the Legion done?
Conquest of Algeria
Carlist War
Crimean War
Second Italian War of Independence 1859
French Intervention in Mexico
Franco-Prussian War 1870
Sino-French War
Colonization of Africa
World War I
World War II
First Indochina War
Algerian War
Generals’ Putsch of 1961
Peacekeeping Operations Worldwide Present
Gulf War
UN Sanctioned Interventions 1991-Now
Rwanda, Gabon, Zaire, Cambodia, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Congo
Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-Now
EUFOR Chad 2008
Northern Mali Conflict

10. 1st Engineer Regiment “Ad Unum”

11. Legend of the Legion Battle of Camarone French Intervention in Mexico
Capt Danjou and his wooden hand.
Overwhelming odds.
Refusing to give up the fight.
Wine and pep talks.
“These are not men, they are demons”

12. 2nd Infantry Regiment “Etre pret”

13. Why Join? Cons Pay sucks by American standards
Living conditions are rough
Your life is expendable
Your rifle is not
Spartan lifestyle
Corporal punishment
Pros
Potential French Citizenship
Either applied or through blood spilled
A fresh start
Pride
Wine
International Travel
Camaraderie

14. 2nd Engineer Regiment “Rien n’empeche”

15. Requirements for Joining
Preselection Centers
Aubagne and Paris
years old
Valid ID and Passport
Birth Certificate
No serious criminal convictions
BMI between 20 and 30
Pass IQ and personality tests
Pass background checks
Pass physical tests
Pass medical and dental exams

16. 1st Regiment “Honneur et Fidelite”

17. Training 3-14 days at the Preselection Center
4-6 weeks at La Ferme or “The Farm”
Marche Kepi Blanc
3 weeks of technical training
1 week of mountain training
1 week of examinations
Raid Marche
1 week of light vehicle drivers education
Return to Aubagne to be assigned your regiment and sent there

18. 3rd Infantry Regiment

19. The Pioneers Unit of tradition. Leads the Legion in all parades.
Wears “uniform of tradition”
One of a kind.
Honors the original Legionnaires.
Ceremonial more than anything.

20. 13th Demi-Brigade (Phalange Magnifique) “More Majorum”

21. The Legionnaire’s Code of Honor
Art. 1-Legionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with honour and fidelity.
Art. 2-Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show him the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family.
Art. 3-Respect for traditions, devotion to your leaders, discipline and comradeship are your strengths, courage and loyalty your virtues.
Art. 4-Proud of your status as legionnaire, you display this in your always impeccable uniform, your always dignified but modest behaviour, and your clean living quarters.
Art. 5-An elite soldier, you train rigorously, you maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, and you take constant care of your physical form.
Art. 6-The mission is sacred, you carry it out until the end and, if necessary in the field, at the risk of your life.
Art. 7-In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.

22. 2nd Parachute Regiment “More Majorum”

24. Videos Recruitment Campaign Bastille Day March, 14th July 2012
Bastille Day March, 14th July 2012

25. Works Cited
"French Foreign Legion." French Foreign Legion. French Foreign Legion, n.d. Web. 04 Nov <
"Foreign Legion Events: November 11 – 20." French Foreign Legion Information RSS. N.p.,n.d. Web. 04 Nov <
McGorman, Evan. Life in the French Foreign Legion: How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There. Central Point, OR: Hellgate, Print.
Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force. New York: HarperPerennial, Print.
Légion étrangère. “La Legion Recrute” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 23 Jun Web. 18 Nov
forgumpone. “Legio Patria Nostra” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 15 Jul Web. 18 Nov
"French Foreign Legion." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Nov Web. 27 Nov <