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American Having A Go - Nov. 15

Murikan89

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New to the forum, been lurking for the past few months. Contemplated joining the FFL earlier this year, did my research, and I've got my flight to Marseille (joining in Aubagne) on Nov. 15th. American, 28, decent physical fitness (former higher level rugby player). I will be running double days with daily beep test, hill runs, gym and Rosetta Stone French lessons. Nervous, but excited to embark on this journey. I won't post a lot of private information on the forum, but I can say that this was a difficult decision to make. I cannot sit on my a** any longer. I chose this path to give my life some structure, stability, and remember that I can be better. Definitely not a decision I made lightly. Bachelor's, Commercial Pilots License, some good LoR's, all of which I have gathered I shouldn't mention in the interrogation; my degree is in international relations e.g. terrorism and insurgency, human security, etc... so it's relevant to the military but not useful in getting a job. Currently based in Croatia.

Any initial advice? Anything to brush up on for IQ test? Words of wisdom when being asked questions during the medical examination? What not to say during interrogation?

Thanks and I look forward to paying my dues and earning my spot in the brotherhood.
 

dusaboss

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What to say. Welcome, goodbye and goodluck. ;)
 

Rapace

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Welcome to the forum. Last minute advice..? What can we say that hasn't been said dozens of times before? Nothing really, so:
• Pick as much French as you can, it'll make your life a bit easier,
• Make sure you can do at least 3 ‘acceptable’ pull-ups (tractions in French) with palms out and arms fully extended between two pull-ups. That will be the very first test, even before letting you through the door.
• Make sure what you'll say during the interviews will convince the recruiters to take you on and that you won't end up deserting after 6 months.
• After the ‘excitement’ of taking the trip, being accepted (if you are) and getting your Képi blanc will come a period of disillusionment and boredom, when facing the sometimes dull day-to-day life in the Legion. Be prepared to that and don't become another quitter.
• Reset your brain and remember that in the Legion, you'll be expected to do things the Legion way. Whether you find it brilliant or stupid, nobody will give a f*ck, so don't argue and do things as told. When you have a couple of years under your belt and if you've demonstrated that your opinion is worthy, you'll be entitled to open your mouth... Maybe.
 

Murikan89

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Well said, thank you. I do have a question. Where is a detailed description of the jobs available in the Legion?
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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I don't think there is a detailed list. I suppose you could proceed by thinking what you would like to do and then checking which regiments do that kind of thing. Like most modern armies the Legion have medics, mechanics, drivers etc. Not an easy question to answer.
I found this on the official Legion site, copy and google translate. I must admit that it only scrapes the top of the jobs available. I know that there are blacksmiths, bricklayers, builders of all sorts...
http://www.legion-recrute.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=28&idA=81&block=24&titre=metiers
 

Murikan89

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Appreciate it. Anyone who was in the Legion, do you have a particular job you'd recommend from personal experience? Or certain things you liked/disliked about what you did? I guess I'm keen on hearing the unofficial job description of something you enjoyed or didn't enjoy e.g. Medic: Official description of noble and adventurous life saving vs. first hand account of running drips for hungover soldiers 95% of the time.
What I'm really keen on is doing something challenging but open to lots of training opportunities.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Murikane89, I wouldn't worry about jobs too much for the time being. Once you have finished basic you will be sent to your regiment and put into a company. You will then be sent on the company training course. For example if you are in the REP, and sent to the mountain company, you will learn about rock climbing and absailing in summer and skiing in winter. Perhaps using the REP as an example isn't such a good idea, because you have to first do the promo, (jump training). All this is done in French building up your vocabulary and understanding of the language.
As for medic, you will have to have a good working knowledge of the lingo before being sent on it. It involves a lot more than just hooking up drips.

When you get to Aubagne they may not even ask you what branch you would like to be orientated in, they are mainly looking to see who is likely to stay and who is not - in a nutshell. If they do ask and you say for example that you would like to be in the mortars in the support compagnie in 2 REI. Don't worry about, no-one really cares at that stage. It's only normal that later on you might change your mind.

When you do go on a course, it does not mean that your whole career will be in that direction. You could be a trained sniper and ask to go on a meccanics course. A Year later you could ask to go on a life guard's course. Those other courses are not lost because you will then go on to do a Sgt's course and knowing how to snipe and vehicles and your company's speciality and so on will all come in handy and is all to the legion's beneift.

When the commanding officer of 3 REI pinned my medic's badge, he shook my hand and said he'd done the same course x ( I forget how many years ago) and that it would come in handy. It should be pointed out that the Colonel Tresti, an Italien came up throught the ranks. two weeks later I was on a pirogue piltotes course.
 

dusaboss

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(...) I found this on the official Legion site, copy and google translate. I must admit that it only scrapes the top of the jobs available. I know that there are blacksmiths, bricklayers, builders of all sorts...
http://www.legion-recrute.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=28&idA=81&block=24&titre=metiers
The translation I get for the word carrossier “bodybuilderâ€￾. [emoji4] Pretty sure that is not an official job in Legion.
Assuming that would be "vehicle body worker". "Karoserija" means car (vehicle) body in Serbian.
 

Rapace

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The translation I get for the word carrossier “bodybuilderâ€￾. [emoji4] Pretty sure that is not an official job in Legion.
Assuming that would be "vehicle body worker". "Karoserija" means car (vehicle) body in Serbian.
Yes carrosserie in French means car body. So a carrossier is a skilled worker qualified to repair vehicles bodies (after an accident for example, when the car body is dented). Surprised to see such job in the list of jobs available in the Legion, but if it's from the official site... it must be true.
Let's not forget, either, first and foremost, the military type of jobs. There are plenty : infantryman, radio operator, platoon medic, sharpshooter, mortar crew member, machinegunner, etc.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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I think the word is panel beater. These are jobs which you do not really want to get into, otherwise you are stuck. You should stick to the more guts and glory jobs or stay a civvy.
 

Murikan89

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I think the word is panel beater. These are jobs which you do not really want to get into, otherwise you are stuck. You should stick to the more guts and glory jobs or stay a civvy.

Agreed. Rather have just become an apprentice or gone to an institute if I wanted to delve into the trades as a career. Tell me, as an Aussie, I mean Kiwi, are there opportunities to play rugby in the legion? I'm sure it depends on where you're stationed, and if thats the case, where's the best place for some competitive rugby--any potential to earn extra coin on Saturdays?
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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I'm not a rugby player myself, having left NZ at an early age. Heaven forbid not a soccer player either! But regardless of the regiment you can show off your rugby skills. In fact as far as I can remember it was quite appreciated in the REP. I know a Kiwi legionnaire in the REP who was allowed to play for L'ÃŽle Rousse (nearest big town). He had to get permission which was accorded and ended up, after quite a few games, with his leg in plaster. The fact that he had asked permission meant it was alright. Was he paid? I never asked, but I met his trainer at Camerone.
 

Murikan89

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I'm not a rugby player myself, having left NZ at an early age. Heaven forbid not a soccer player either! But regardless of the regiment you can show off your rugby skills. In fact as far as I can remember it was quite appreciated in the REP. I know a Kiwi legionnaire in the REP who was allowed to play for L'ÃŽle Rousse (nearest big town). He had to get permission which was accorded and ended up, after quite a few games, with his leg in plaster. The fact that he had asked permission meant it was alright. Was he paid? I never asked, but I met his trainer at Camerone.

Sounds good. Bit of a risk losing a soldier to potential injury though. Any additional non-listed items you guys recommend for the packing list?
 

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I'm not a rugby player myself, having left NZ at an early age. Heaven forbid not a soccer player either! But regardless of the regiment you can show off your rugby skills. In fact as far as I can remember it was quite appreciated in the REP. I know a Kiwi legionnaire in the REP who was allowed to play for L'ÃŽle Rousse (nearest big town). He had to get permission which was accorded and ended up, after quite a few games, with his leg in plaster. The fact that he had asked permission meant it was alright. Was he paid? I never asked, but I met his trainer at Camerone.
So Joseph, you don't usually talk a ton about your service and the link at the bottom of your posts no longer works. What were the best courses you went on in the Legion and the best postings or experiences, memories etc. If you don't mind answering. :D
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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So Joseph, you don't usually talk a ton about your service and the link at the bottom of your posts no longer works. What were the best courses you went on in the Legion and the best postings or experiences, memories etc. If you don't mind answering. :D
Great! At last someone who is interested in what I've got to say. Youpee. I'll reply tomorrow because I'm off out for a beer and I just know everyone is sitting on the edges of their seats to hear what I have to say. So let them suffer until tomorrow.
 

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Joseph, we are all interested in your stories. If we are in bar I would buy you a couple beers to loose your mouth and talk. ;)
 

Murikan89

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So Joseph, you don't usually talk a ton about your service and the link at the bottom of your posts no longer works. What were the best courses you went on in the Legion and the best postings or experiences, memories etc. If you don't mind answering. :D

Wouldn't mind the thread heading this direction. Very interested in your experiences and whatever words of wisdom you might have.
 

Nickfury

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New to the forum, been lurking for the past few months. Contemplated joining the FFL earlier this year, did my research, and I've got my flight to Marseille (joining in Aubagne) on Nov. 15th. American, 28, decent physical fitness (former higher level rugby player). I will be running double days with daily beep test, hill runs, gym and Rosetta Stone French lessons. Nervous, but excited to embark on this journey. I won't post a lot of private information on the forum, but I can say that this was a difficult decision to make. I cannot sit on my a** any longer. I chose this path to give my life some structure, stability, and remember that I can be better. Definitely not a decision I made lightly. Bachelor's, Commercial Pilots License, some good LoR's, all of which I have gathered I shouldn't mention in the interrogation; my degree is in international relations e.g. terrorism and insurgency, human security, etc... so it's relevant to the military but not useful in getting a job. Currently based in Croatia.

Any initial advice? Anything to brush up on for IQ test? Words of wisdom when being asked questions during the medical examination? What not to say during interrogation?

Thanks and I look forward to paying my dues and earning my spot in the brotherhood.
You have so many qualifications and options outside of the Legion, they will show you the door pretty quick...most likely.
You have to need to be there. That said you could take your chance with the truth... but they see so many guys from developed Western nations desert day in and day out it will be a very hard sell. You want to get in? You need to convince them you have nothing to go home to.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Well I certainly dropped myself in it there. The thread is about an American going to join in 9 days time not about Joe Cosgrove's Legion courses. I'll open up a thread tomorrow with something like that. Not Joe Cosgrove, I'm not that big headed. Maybe give some of the other Greens and ex-military to tell us of their experiences.
 

Murikan89

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I have a question. I used the search button but still unclear: what's the job that is closest to CSAR? I was checking out the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment's units and saw a job titled “Specialized Operational Search Group (Fouille Opérationnelle Spécialisée). Is this having to do with labouring or is the general "paramedic" job the closest you can get to something like CSAR?
 
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