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.

[brasilianischer stolz]

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

too many Rambo movies, perhaps?

[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?

[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.

[wannabee]

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.

Lol why did he signed new contracts then? Or just got sick of it during his last maybe...?

[seacon]

Italians used to be one of the Foreign Legion pillars. I was in Aubagne for Camerone too and had the chance to talk to several S/O from recruitment. When I asked them the same thing they said that there are very few Italian EV and most leave after a few days...
seacon

[Fragment]

Just like all the guys are saying. This ex legionnaire that gave bullshit to the Legion (not the one who completed his career after many years), the other pussymother ****. You can't expect to be send off to action and shoot people in the head after 5 months in the Legion. Come on! FFS. What's the matter with you guys?? And now this guys comes as well. Military life isn't all about war and killing, even if it would be wonderful (lol). I don't see anything wrong with the Legion, that's how it works when there is peace on earth. AND ALSO... it depends on with what kind of legionnaire you talk to about Legion life. Some mother****er who came there to make money, doesn't give a shit and has a very medium fitness tells you that of course i hate the Legion all we do is clean and work out. Then there are these guys that come with goals, and know that if you work your ******* ass off for a while (maybe long while), but in the end you will go to war and do what you have been trained for so long time. I am so tired of these mama papa playstation boys. You have been watching too many movies and heard too many stories. GROW UP and see the world how it is. Not always full of action and happiness. Mostly a ot of bullshit. I know what to expect from the Legion the first year(s) (brooming, cleaning...) before they and I become ready for missions, and if that's what it takes to become a proud legionnaire, then that's what i will do. If you don't like the broom, don't go.

Last.. something like "the Legion is only for those who make 100 Euros and are from Romania." **** you man! It's not about the money. It's not always about the money.

stop the B.S

// Swedish guy

[wannabee]

Dude, when you start 2 topics about questions allready asked, of which one (the which reg is best) is absolutely stupid you should NOT start nagging to other people about moma popa playstation. This guy went, he realized it's not for him and he left. What's wrong with that? Better like that then deserting after half a year. You can only imagine how it is untill you go, NOTHING can prepare you for 100%

Just my 2 cents

[Fragment]

I'm talking about all the high expectations. Seems like everyone thinks they will go to war after basic training today.

[wannabee]

I'm talking about all the high expectations. Seems like everyone thinks they will go to war after basic training today.

Well, dunno what Kristo or the legionnaires he talked to mean by "action" but to me that's not necessarily war.