How fit ?

[Steyba]

Hi!
I am joining 2 June and I am just wondering how fit a candidate should be? How fit do they expect a candidate to be ? be able to run = ?

[voltigeur]

Be able to finish at least 7 levels of the "Luc-Léger" test, as far I know that is the main/only one to do for selection.

[Phantom309]

I plan on going sometime soon and am currently running 20 -25 miles a week, cycling about 50, going to the gym for weights 3 - 4 times a week and getting some push-ups in most days. I'm far from the fastest runner, which is a concern for me but I think its easy to fall into a trap of never thinking your quite fit/fast/strong enough and before you know it the years start ticking by, as a result I've got to a stage where, although I'm not happy with my fitness and have other concerns, I have to go and have a crack. The advice I hear again and again on this board is to just have basic fitness (which I think I have, tell me if I'm wrong) and better french. My point is, there doesn't seem to be a convenient answer to your question like "Yes, run 10k in 36 mins and your in," just make sure you can grind out a few miles at a half decent pace and do some sit ups, pull ups and press ups.

Just my thoughts on the subject, having not gone for selection I can't say for sure.

[Nickfury]

You sound like you are preparing well, better than most who go.

Even if you pass all the fitness tests there is no guarantee of getting in. Just do your best. THey look at EVERYTHING.

The training will really pay off if you make it and go to Castel for basic.

Good luck man!

[Phantom309]

Thanks dude, I do get the impression a lot is mental. An ex Legionnaire I used to know told me he was once made to fill a bin bag with grass clippings using only a pair of nail clippers, no amount of fitness training can prepare you for that I guess!

[Nickfury]

I spent a day at La Ciotat (among many many other places in Aubagne and Malmousque and Puyloubier).

I spent a long day sweeping and mopping out an entire building and working in the kitchen with a chef who would spew obscenities and would explain something ONCE in FRENCH and expect you to JUMP. And who called you names and threatened you if you spoke ENGLISH...(it pays to study French, know the names of silverware and plates...haha)

Also clearing out a warehouse of heavy tables and moving them with another EV to another building...

Well one interesting task that took up several hours was wiping down EVERY potted plant in the building with a rag. Wiping EVERY leaf carefully to get ALL the dirt and dust off....and picking out every dead leaf or stem etc..

I had to laugh at that...I thought "I traveled to France to join the Legion for this?""

But while I was laughing ... I also knew I was lucky to still be there (at that point maybe 75-80% of the guys I had seen or known or started with had been cut). It is a good use of labour for the Legion and a good way to test your motivation.

I mean if you can't handle that, and decide to **** off then you wouldn't have been able to handle all the rest of it, the days of boredom and trivial tasks and frustrations of daily life in the Legion.

You just have to find ways to laugh and realize it is just part of the "adventure" haha. For me it was the good times with the guys and joking and the novelty of it all ...granted I was only in Aubagne but would do it again in a heartbeat.