Back after 2 weeks in Aubagne

[Kristo]

Due to Camerone day, most people had to spend a longer than usual time waiting for a yes or no answer to their application to join the Legion. A few poor bastards waited 25 days, as they spent 10 days in Paris and about 2 weeks in Aubagne. 3 weeks in the same clothes. Just looking at them and myself made me laugh, cuz we looked and stank like shit.

If you want to join the legion be prepared to be treated like a vermin and a slave by fat, old and stupid caporal chefs. While you await the decision and in between 3 tests and 3-4 interviews you will work hard. Due to Camerone day we worked all day, 12-18 hours, in the kitchen, gardening, warehouse etc etc. The chairs on the VIP stand was placed there by me for example. Basically you will do anything and everything that is needed to be done. On camerone day I worked, among other things, as a waiter in the sous officer mess. Easy work, compared to some guys who worked in the kitchen for 18 hours. At the end of the day the kitchen guys even got the pleasure of doing pushups because some drunk caporal chef wanted a few laughs. The caporal chefs might do any of the following to you as thanks for your hard efforts: shout obscenities at you in several languages, slap your head, laugh at you, push you etc. etc.

At Camerone day I also worked in the salle de manger for the soldiers. One stupid guy I worked with got drunk in the back of the kitchen as he got hold of some leftover alcohol. The fat, bald Spanish caporal chef who works in the kitchen had also been drinking. After we finished he lined us up but asked the drunk guy to stand infront of us. They then spoke in French...blah blah blah, I didn't understand it. It ended with the CCH grabbing him by the throat and throwing him to the ground. The guy got up, only to be throwed to the ground again in the same manner. This happened 3 times. The last time his watch broke. Interestingly there was a PM, military police caporal in the salles de manger who witnessed the whole thing. He did not interfere until after the third time. He smilingly asked the CCH to calm down. The kid was about 20 years old or so... not really a challenge for the fat CCH, who is a coward mother****er.

There was also 2 fights while I was there. Both quite funny. One happened one early morning as we were running to salles de manger for breakfast. It was dark and as the first guys were stopping some guy didn't pay attention and bumped into another...and they started fighting... Both got kicked out.
The second started when this Iranian smartass took a Chinese guy's shoe and threw it far away. This was his way of having fun..cuz he's a prick. The Chinese guy goes and gets his shoe, but throws it at the Iranian guy. The Iranian guy gets pissed off and the Chinese guy starts hitting the Iranien guy with his shoe. The fight begins, and lots of people starts kicking and punching the Iranien guy cuz he had been pissing off everyone. The Iranian guy ended up with a swollen head but did not get kicked out, the Chinese guy did.

I decided the FFL is not for me after speaking to a few legionnaires during work. According to them FFL life is 90% boring, boring work all day, no action. One caporal I spoke to had gone to Afghanistan. I got interested and said that sounds great. He then said all they did was inject sheeps with some medication. So on the day people went rouge, I said I wanted to go civil.

I think the Legion is good for people who come from countries where the monthly salary is 100 euros... like Romania. It's also good for people who are running away from something, debts or whatever. If you are looking for action I don't think it's a good place to go. You could be stuck in France for 5 years. Freaking 400 people desert every year I was told.

If you decide to go you will meet good friends though. I think the ones who fit into that system will have strong comraderie. For me tho, it reminded me too much of a prison.

I met one caporal while working in the legionnaire jail. He got 15 days in jail for saying fudge you to a colonel.

[Ralf174978]

[...] At camerone day I also worked in the salle de manger for the soldiers. One stupid guy I worked with got drunk in the back of the kitchen as he got hold of some leftover alcohol. The fat, bald spanish caporal chef who works in the ktichen had also been drinking. After we finished he lined us up but asked the drunk guy to stand infront of us. They then spoke in french,,,blah blah blah, I didn't understand it. It ended with the CCH grabbing him by the throat and throwing him to the ground. The guy got up, only to be throwed to the ground again in the same manner. This happened 3 times. The last time his watch broke. Interestingly there was a PM, military police caporal in the salles de manger who witnessed the whole thing. He did not interfere until after the third time. He smilingly asked the CCH to calm down. The kid was about 20 years old or so,,,not really a challenge for the fat CCH, who is a coward mother****er. [...]

At Camerone I was in the afternoon (between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.) in the Salles a manger with some friends and we had lunch (Paella and Choucrout). I remind the Spanish CCH. But what about the German CCH Kohlm*****? He's a leisurely one.

[Beau-Sheep]

Guess the whole world were pricks and wankers then eh...?! Long periods of boredom?? Yup and it's the same all over the world. You think the Legion is good only for those who come from countries with economic problems? I say you are full o poo!

So they rough people up a little and you think it was not "fair" Hey... tough! At least you went and gave it a shot, I guess that's a positive thing, the rest of your post is very anti Legion, I say you saw 1% of the Legion so don't judge it.

[Kristo]

Guess the whole world were pricks and wankers then eh...?! Long periods of boredom?? Yup and it's the same all over the world. You think the Legion is good only for those who come from countries with economic problems? I say you are full o poo!

So they rough people up a little and you think it was not "fair" Hey... tough! At least you went and gave it a shot, I guess that's a positive thing, the rest of your post is very anti Legion, I say you saw 1% of the Legion so don't judge it.

I just call it like I see it man. Nothing more nothing less. What I saw was 1%, what I heard was from 1 caporal, 1 CCH and a Colonel. The treatment I received don't mean anything to me, I stayed there 15 days, if I wanted mama papa playstation I would have left the first day. I've been treated worse in my own country's NAVY. What made me go civil was what I was told.

[Kristo]

At Camerone I was in the afternoon (between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.) in the Salles a manger with some friends and we had lunch (Paella and Choucrout). I remind the Spanish CCH. But what about the German CCH Kohlm*****? He's a leisurely one.

That guy was allright. He didn't behave like a teenager with chronic PMS whenever he wanted us to do something.

[Paladin]

What made me go civile was what I was told.

One of the pieces of advice I took from this forum is that you are always being watched and tested when in selection. So when I read these stories of people returning from Aubagne and being told that the Legion is not good anymore and don't bother, I look at it like selection did its work. It weeds out those who are there for "action" or other immature ideas. Ever think maybe legionnaires at Aubagne and wherever are told to tell you these things? I may be wrong, but it would not seem like a bad policy for testing commitment. How people on this board have gone civil voluntarily because of what is said to them?

[Edison]

So when I read these stories of people returning from Aubagne and being told that the Legion is not good anymore and don't bother, I look at it like selection did its work.

I think you hit 100% the target . And it's good the way it is, cause he had the balls to try and realize the Legion is not for him.

[EV_CHEF]

At Camerone I was in the afternoon (between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.) in the Salles a manger with some friends and we had lunch (Paella and Choucrout). I remind the Spanish CCH. But what about the German CCH Kohlm*****? He's a leisurely one.

The short fat bald spanish CCH haha he couldn't cook worth a donkeys ass . Though from what i saw of him he was cool. He just couldn't handle my fish sauce . btw did you notice that on the pic we see no spoons?

[wannabee]

btw did you notice that on the pic we see no spoons?

lol don't start again Chef

Ty for the infos Kristo.

[Venus]

btw did you notice that on the pic we see no spoons?

yeah, you're right EV. They must have spoon thiefs in the Legion - either that or someone is digging an escape tunnel and the spoons keep bending

[EV_CHEF]

yeah, you're right EV. They must have spoon thiefs in the legion - either that or someone is digging an escape tunnel and the spoons keep bending

hahaha . It would explain everything if the spoon thief is Chinese.. China is a long way to dig!

[Nickfury]

Well I dunno, Kristo called it like he saw it. He wasn't totally off the mark in some ways, it is tons of work. And if you are there during a special occasion you stay longer and work harder. I was there 18 days and got to prep and clean up for Christmas and New Years. It is hard work, lots of bullshit and you get time to think if this is for you. I also heard from LOTS of legionnaires that the Legion was BS, all cleaning and no missions etc.

But I personally still wanted to see for myself. Since there were also legionnaires who clearly enjoyed their work as well. And that is the important thing....The people who enjoyed their work had great attitudes, expected little, if they wanted it, they didn't wait for it or complain, they set a goal and worked for it. The best example was my interviewer in the "Gestapo" the more hardcore motivated and inspirational guy I could find.

Personally, I figured that the ONLY way to know the real Legion, was to see for myself. I also heard from everyone that Aubagne is NOT representative of what life is like in the rest of the regiments, Combat Regiments are apparently different. A lot of the guys I talked to that were down on the Legion admitted it was much better in the combat regiments and missed being in those regiments, but for various reasons were in Aubagne. Not to trash Aubagne, but most guys seemed to want to be elsewhere, though again, some guys seemed happy there and happy with their jobs. Seems to be attitude plays a huge part in it all. Same with the EV"s.

I saw and went through much of the same things that Kristo did, many friends I was with in Aubagne and guys like Bram saw the same stuff, same bs work and bs treatment...yet we were sad to leave, and want to go back if it is possible. I met lots of good people there, both EV's and legionnaires. To me it was the people that made the experience and the Legion worth going to and staying in.

About the Spanish CCH in the kitchen, he is a good guy. Don't disrespect him. He was always good to me and to the guys I worked with, if he gave you shit, it was cause you deserved it. Sure he drank and could get a bit crazy when drunk. such is life. I spent a crazy night drinking with him before I joined so I know he and a few other legionnaires in a different context as well. Good men.

Someone asked about Italians, i was in Aubagne with 4 Italians, all good men, only 2 made it rouge, one who made it was from Sardinia. "P", 36 years old, great little guy, very fit and a good friend.

No matter how hard you try to prepare the Legion will still knock you for a loop. You think you know how it will be, you don't. You won't know till you get there. Expect nothing but hard work, and bullshit, keep your mouth shut, don't fight, don't **** around and find people that can be trusted, make friends, enjoy the little moments of humor and camraderie. Do your best and pray you make it. The Legion chooses you, it is mostly out of your hands, but a good attitude, high level of motivation and the willingness to do what you are told, when you are told, and with enthusiasm will go a long way towards helping you on your way.

But there should be no shame in going to the Legion and then choosing to go home if it isn't for you. I applaud Kristo for at least trying AND for going civil and leaving his spot for someone else who really wanted that lifestyle. Good luck Kristo, thanks for your post.
Good luck guys.
Nick

[brasilianischer stolz]

that sounds exactly like what you should expect from normal every-day-life in the military...

too many Rambo movies, perhaps?

[Bram]

The only way to know how an army/unit works is to wait untill you get in your regiment. You will never have an idea in selection or basic what it will be like. You only get the stories. Someone might hate it while someone else might have a blast.

[saint]

Kristo do rember a tall Brazilian American who hung out with the anglo mafia that left on a Thursday with the other American and a Brit, both tall like me. Could you tell me if the strong Chilean from Paris and the young kid from Croatia made it rouge and a matter a fact from that group from Paris that came on a Tuesday who do you know made it? The caporal-chef you're talking about actually i thought he was a pretty cool guy. It all depended what country you were from. He's from Spain had spent several years the Spanish legion and when he got drunk he's bad sad came out. I don't remember you. Which room where you in and when did you arrive at Aubagne? I had also spoke to an Australian legionnaire who has been in for eleven years and suffered with depression and said he hated everyday he's been there. Different points of view that's the way i think it goes some like it some hate it. It's always greener on the neighbor's side as we say. Good luck and at least you tried not like some camal jockeys we know.