Now you've done it

[Kipling]

I left the British forces after 7 years to pursue a job in I.T because it paid more – We’ll refer to this as mistake number 1.
I’m going to paint a small picture here not for the purpose of sympathy but in the hope of eliciting a genuine response. I had an RTA in March this year and fractured my spine, as I was contracting I lost my job and haven’t found work since. I’ve got debts that are somewhere in the region of 50 000 quid and a lot of that’s the car I wrote off! So I’m giving very serious consideration to buggering off and joining the FFL. I’ve put the distance in on the road and pretty much have the cardio side of things squared away. I’ve done a fair amount of research and after reading a couple of posts from you Anciens I’m beginning to appreciate the sense of humour and have confirmed my idea that I’m going to get on just fine in my new life (I never could stand those ****ers arguing over who’s turn it was to get the coffee in anyway) I’m struggling with my upper body strength (basically because I can’t afford to eat properly) so my question is: what levels of upper body fitness am I going to need to get me through the 3 weeks and into basic? (I’ve read the FAQ’s and didn’t see this covered but my apologies if I’m digging up old ground) My thanks in anticipation and any tips with regard to getting past selection will be appreciated more than you may know.

[voltigeur]

The main physical test is the cooper test, you have to be able to run 3000 meters minimum in 12 minutes. I would think that the biggest obstacle for you is to get past the medical tests in regards to your previous spine fracture.

[Beau-Sheep]

Right. The main thing they wanna see is the cardio side, however pull ups are huge in the Legion. If you can't do at least five to ten with no jerk and a full extension you ain't getting in. Play the British army card all you can, "I wanna see if I can handle the best" always gives the selector a hard on, they love ex Brit army and in the REP half of my company (including myself) were ex army. Leave the debt shit, it don't interest them. I worry about that spine and you diet dude, you know and I know an army marches on it's belly and lives off whats on its back, start eating and do squats till ya puke, you know the score so I wont waffle on.

[Eagle eye]

Your military background is sound in any case. It can be enough to get you over the French-language requirement for you know the mindset.

How old are you ? Can you run a minimum of 8kms in under 50mins, a standard in regiment after Aubagne ? How serious is your injury ? Were you in traction in your mend ?

Upper body strength is not an issue in Aubagne. Three full extensions + climb 5m rope with no hands (optional) to get into REP when I was there in the 80s. It could be more if there's competition. Not really necessary to join other regiments. But you'll have to put up with a bunch of shitty tasks till you're promoted including fluency French language command.

Did you learn any languages at school ?

[Fish_Sauce]

In a book i read about the French Legion a guy said that he knew a guy who couldnt do one single pull ups and made it to 2rep.. Its in a book named The French Foreign Legion written by a dude who spent five years.. very recent, 1998 i believe.. We talked about it on the old discussion board once..

About the debt.. make sure you tell the gestapo (interviewers in aubagne).. rumours fly all the time in nogent or aubagne.. A guy got thrown out because he didnt mention a car debt when he was asked the question..

K here is the book : [Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Eagle eye]

I think you should back off a little FS. This is a serious enquiry.

[slimness]

okay as a ex- squaddie, you should know,tray of boiled eggs a week and plenty of mash, will help bulk you up, what part of england are you in? if you are in london, i can tell you a few places to get really cheap meals, like the others said, the spine injury, was it plated pinned or just hairline? is it traceble on exray? one thing youve got to remember eat, like you said your upper strength is poor, you dont need to put weight on just improve your upper half fitness, you can burn the potatoe and eggs of running, basically that type of meal fills you up, stops you feeling the hunger whichs mades life a bit berable, also mash in bread and butter, its cheap but it works, and the food goes further, another thing did you have a operation on your spine? which has left scaring? if so that will be a problem.

[BobW]

Hi Kipling,

With a preface that I'm not addressing FFL entry requirements, I do want to offer you a "genuine response" to something that is also causing you pain - but believe you do not realize it.

Your initial mistake number one as you mention, must be reviewed by yourself - ruthlessly.

You are punishing yourself based on current circumstances. There really is no corrolation. It's possible you stayed in the British military (you didn't mention dates) and you never left the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, Iraq, etc etc.

You did not make a mistake. You made a decision based on conditions of uncertainty - AT THE TIME you made the decision.

A favorite quote I carry around in my day planner;

Confererate General Robert E. Lee was a gentlemen besides a brilliant warrior. During the winter of 1863-4, a field commander of his, Confederate General Henry Heth, on friendly terms with Lee , told Lee about some mistakes Lee made in Pennsylvania.

Lee responded:

"After it is all over, as stupid fellow as I am can see the mistakes that were made. I notice, however, that my mistakes are never told me until it is too late. ... You and all my officers know that I am always ready and anxious to have their suggestions."

Kipling, stop punishing yourself.

Catalog your strengths and weaknesses. Talk them over with someone senior to you - NOT your drinking partners; they know less than you. Take 2-3 days away from London where you can think. NB: thinking is more difficult than filling sand bags or washing trucks.

When you meet people who didn't make serious personal mistakes in their life, you are putting away too many Whitstones. Everyone makes mistakes.

Warm regards,
BobW

[Kipling]

the consultant I was seeing said (after 3 months) you could hardly tell there was a break in the first place. Will they x-ray my spine if nothing is suspected?
I think 8ks in 50 min is pushing it (slightly) at the minute but I will be there by the time I leave (planning Feb but can only wait that long if the government decides to give me jobseekers) I’m up to about 2600m on the cooper if I’ve measured right but I don’t have an athletics track to measure with any accuracy. I can do between 10 and 12 palms facing out. I learned Afrikaans as a second language at school but don’t figure that will help me any. Since I’ve got **** all else to do apart from phys during the day I’ve been going through the Pimsleur language course (managed to download the 90 lessons for free from a p2p network so at least I can mumble a few words so far… I think I’ve answered everyone’s questions... – thanks for all the advice.

[Kipling]

Hi Kipling,

With a preface that I'm not addressing FFL entry requirements, I do want to offer you a "genuine response" to something that is also causing you pain - but believe you do not realize it.

Your initial mistake number one as you mention, must be reviewed by yourself - ruthlessly.

You are punishing yourself based on current circumstances. There really is no corrolation. It's possible you stayed in the British military (you didn't mention dates) and you never left the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, Iraq, etc etc.

You did not make a mistake. You made a decision based on conditions of uncertainty - AT THE TIME you made the decision.

A favorite quote I carry around in my day planner;

Confererate General Robert E. Lee was a gentlemen besides a brilliant warrior. During the winter of 1863-4, a field commander of his, Confederate General Henry Heth, on friendly terms with Lee , told Lee about some mistakes Lee made in Pennsylvania.

Lee responded:

"After it is all over, as stupid fellow as I am can see the mistakes that were made. I notice, however, that my mistakes are never told me until it is too late. ... You and all my officers know that I am always ready and anxious to have their suggestions."

Kipling, stop punishing yourself.

Catalog your strengths and weaknesses. Talk them over with someone senior to you - NOT your drinking partners; they know less than you. Take 2-3 days away from London where you can think. NB: thinking is more difficult than filling sand bags or washing trucks.

When you meet people who didn't make serious personal mistakes in their life, you are putting away too many Whitstones. Everyone makes mistakes.

Warm regards,
BobW
Nice one - good advice

I think i based my decision to join the FFL on some serious thinking, I had done no phys for 2 years and although it was only a hairline fracture it certainly added to the hastle of getting myself fit, which i think i've almost done. My mistake as I see it was putting in my notice on the basis that I could earn more money if I did, to tell you the truth I've been skint and I've had a bit of dough but it's the military life I miss with or without money. I haven't had a beer in over two months and have given up smoking (not that i had a choice in that one fags are getting expensive!) so everything is really looking up for me I've been through the moping around phase and am now looking forward to some ******* hard work!

[slimness]

Will they x-ray my spine if nothing is suspected?The answer to that Kipling is no.

[Eagle eye]

With regards to the medical tests I’m not planning on telling anyone about the fracture, the consultant I was seeing said (after 3 months) you could hardly tell there was a break in the first place. Will they x-ray my spine if nothing is suspected? I think 8ks in 50 min is pushing it (slightly) at the minute but I will be there by the time I leave (planning Feb but can only wait that long if the government decides to give me jobseekers) I’m up to about 2600m on the cooper if I’ve measured right but I don’t have an athletics track to measure with any accuracy. I can do between 10 and 12 palms facing out. I learned Afrikaans as a second language at school but don’t figure that will help me any. Since I’ve got **** all else to do apart from phys during the day I’ve been going through the Pimsleur language course (managed to download the 90 lessons for free from a p2p network so at least I can mumble a few words so far… I think I’ve answered everyone’s questions... – thanks for all the advice.What's your age group ? There is a skewed timing table for the different age groups allowed in the FFL as far as I can recall. If you can eventually get up to speed of 8kms in under 50', that's fine. You'll have a gradual training process in Castel to bring you up to speed.

The tricky part as far your injury is concerned will be the assault course jumping off a height of three or more meters onto a pile of sand and so on. There are options in this obstacle. I used to hang off the highest part on occasion before letting go so that was 1m76 + armslength less of a jump and push off the wall...very pragmatic. The planche irlandaise (overhanging plank at 2m height or so) will bring your back muscles into operation but fat gits get through...unless you want to go the REP.

Your lungs will be X-rayed for tuberculosis and other so your injury may show if it's upper part. Needs to be confirmed by others with direct experience on this board.

If you were used to classwork in language-learning, you'll learn French. No problem there either. Use your time to listen to French radio if you can. COnsult French newspapers in current events in a public library if it has. Some public libraries in London have an open access reading rooms. The news and its events are the same just the interpretation is a bit different besides the language. There is more life to learning through newspapers than some language books.

Once in Aubagne, you won't go hungry and you can build your strength and stamina prior to Castel.

[Kipling]

I'm 28 - 29 in sep so there should be no reason why I can't get up to scratch before I leave (I've found it slightly harder going than anticipated though) but we all know if it was easy everyone would do it. My plans are to go REP so I guess i've got me work cut out

[Eagle eye]

I'm 28 - 29 in Dec so there should be no reason why I can't get up to scratch before I leave (I've found it slightly harder going than anticipated though) but we all know if it was easy everyone would do it. My plans are to go REP so I guess i've got me work cut outYour age is not a problem. Try as a slow, gradual build-up. Try swimming if you can. It works for me after a running hiatus. Kensington and Chelsea public library has an open reading room with foreign newspapers the last time I was there. Good luck.

The debt issue is s.t. to state. If you ask for 'anonymat' it will protect you in the event s.o. asks for you. I came across an Italian pharmacist who had committed tax evasion. His name was cleared by the FFL acting through the French authorities before the Italian authorities. It depends from country to country.