Respected current and former légionnaires, respected caporals,
I salute you.
I am writting this post in order to get some facts straight about the FFL and the pre pre accession requirements because I have had this sudden burst of interest in becoming a légionnaire, for the last two weeks. Not a single day goes by without me thinking of that other life I could maybe have.
Since then, I have read and watched a large amount of video and textual material on various matters related to the legion. A lot of retired légionnaires say that there are a lot of légionnaire impostors and deserters spreading misinformation about the institution, the life there in, the training at the farm etc, etc.
I have decided to register here and ask the question myself in the hopes to get more insight because I'm not sure of what to believe in here and this is the place to get answers.
1) Is it true that they have upped the pull-ups at the accession centers from 4 to 10-15 just to get yourself trough the door recently?
2) Is it true that one is better off telling the truth at the gestapo interview instead of trying to mold the story into something that, shall we say, upps the chance for joining? (not that I would have anything to hide)
3) Is climbing rope a mandatory skill at any point during selection? And if you can't do 6 meters in 6 seconds only hands you drop out?
4) Is it true that the management wants you to spend your money on additional equipment despite being given standard issue kit, body armor, for example? Or a rucksack? (it would be desirable to buy a 'better one' so the majority of your earnings actually stays in France?)
5) As for the martial preparation for the selection process, I found Stoengs training plan, which isn't practical for me, no woods in the vicinity.. Should one focus on push-ups, dips, Luc léger, général running and pull-ups mainly? Will it be enough?
6) Is it true that the 100 people deserting per year do so not because it is 'too hard' to endure life at the barracks (meaning it's much easier later- more freedom in general) but because they have unexpected family and other matters to tend to?
7) A degree of flat feet, are they a problem?
8) How much of a plus is knowing 3-4 languages? And what about a university diploma?
9) Would you say being a légionnaire would enrich ones life somehow? I mean, I know various royalties have served in this institution, including the King of Serbia.
I understand that this is too subjective of a question, perhaps not clearly defined but do give it a shot. Enrichment means different things to different people.
10) What about the likelihood of onset PTSD?
11) Can and will the legion sentance its légionnaires to death by firing squad if they commit a major breach of some written or unwritten rule? (not that I'm intending to do any of it surely, but I found a comment somewhere from a supposed ex légionnaire stating that his friend got shot for doing something forbidden.)
Greetings from the Balkans.
I salute you.
I am writting this post in order to get some facts straight about the FFL and the pre pre accession requirements because I have had this sudden burst of interest in becoming a légionnaire, for the last two weeks. Not a single day goes by without me thinking of that other life I could maybe have.
Since then, I have read and watched a large amount of video and textual material on various matters related to the legion. A lot of retired légionnaires say that there are a lot of légionnaire impostors and deserters spreading misinformation about the institution, the life there in, the training at the farm etc, etc.
I have decided to register here and ask the question myself in the hopes to get more insight because I'm not sure of what to believe in here and this is the place to get answers.
1) Is it true that they have upped the pull-ups at the accession centers from 4 to 10-15 just to get yourself trough the door recently?
2) Is it true that one is better off telling the truth at the gestapo interview instead of trying to mold the story into something that, shall we say, upps the chance for joining? (not that I would have anything to hide)
3) Is climbing rope a mandatory skill at any point during selection? And if you can't do 6 meters in 6 seconds only hands you drop out?
4) Is it true that the management wants you to spend your money on additional equipment despite being given standard issue kit, body armor, for example? Or a rucksack? (it would be desirable to buy a 'better one' so the majority of your earnings actually stays in France?)
5) As for the martial preparation for the selection process, I found Stoengs training plan, which isn't practical for me, no woods in the vicinity.. Should one focus on push-ups, dips, Luc léger, général running and pull-ups mainly? Will it be enough?
6) Is it true that the 100 people deserting per year do so not because it is 'too hard' to endure life at the barracks (meaning it's much easier later- more freedom in general) but because they have unexpected family and other matters to tend to?
7) A degree of flat feet, are they a problem?
8) How much of a plus is knowing 3-4 languages? And what about a university diploma?
9) Would you say being a légionnaire would enrich ones life somehow? I mean, I know various royalties have served in this institution, including the King of Serbia.
I understand that this is too subjective of a question, perhaps not clearly defined but do give it a shot. Enrichment means different things to different people.
10) What about the likelihood of onset PTSD?
11) Can and will the legion sentance its légionnaires to death by firing squad if they commit a major breach of some written or unwritten rule? (not that I'm intending to do any of it surely, but I found a comment somewhere from a supposed ex légionnaire stating that his friend got shot for doing something forbidden.)
Greetings from the Balkans.
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. #3, no climbing a rope is not mandatory to join. If you have the possibility to practice it all the better. During instruction you will be tested on it.
