I have found some old posts too. Dont know if they exist other places, like on Voltigeur's site or as a backup. Should i make a new post for each of the old ones or just paste them here and let the admin create new threads?
edit: ahh what the heck..here they are and split in ~10k char posts.
Joining the FFL
To join the FFL simply turn up in France and tell any French policeman, or you can make your own way to one of the 17 recruiting stations around France. 1. Paris 2. Lille 3. Rouen 4. Poitiers 5. Metz 6. Dijon 7. Strasbourg 8. Reims 9. Marseille 10. Aubagne 11. Bayonne 12. Bordeaux 13. Lyon 14. Nice 15. Perpignan 16. Nantes 17. Toulouse. When you arrive you will stay wherever you are untill there are enough of yous to begin tests, usually 3-10 days during this time you do all the shit jobs cleaning dishes etc. you dont have to know French as they will teach you. Don't bring anything you like as they take all personal belongings off you and sell them or keep them for themselves. next is aubange here you are tested on 1. physical health eg. doctors 2. psychotechnical test eg. maths and an IQ test 3. security clearance, they check with interpol so be honest some crimes are acceptable eg.assault etc. 4. physical fitness-press ups sit ups and 2.6k in 12 mins. if you fail you cant apply for 3 months. 5. interviews, they ask about your life and why you want to join. If you pass these you are shown videos of Legion history and see the Legion museum etc. after this you sign for 5 and a half years (including basic training) be aware if you don't keep up with training they can still kick you out during your initial 6 months only when you get the kepi blanc are you an accept legionnaire. I will write about basic training later in the week as i am pissed off typing. any questions just ask
Posted by Phil Wu on December 23, 1997 at 16:17:52:
In Reply to: Joining posted by Marc on December 23, 1997 at 07:50:21:
Do they recruit 32 year olds?
Yes, the age range is between 18 and 40, if you have a good shape.
Do they prefer men with former Military Service?
I don't know. Maybe some real legionnaires on the board will answer.
If I was to join, what should I bring with me?
Like any army on the world, you can just bring yourself to join. But it's better to bring some useful things, for ex. dictionary, cigarettes(if you smoke), and so on. Also don't forget to open a store box in the bank the place you join and put in all thing you don't want to bring to the Legion.
What percentage of persons joining get rejected?
It says about 10000 persons try to join every year, only about 1500 get accepted.
When do they get rejected? Week 1? Week 10?
Any time before the basic trainning (4 months) is completed. But it says almost all the cases are occurred in the selection proceure (0-3 weeks)
A few ? about joining the legion. posted by Henrik Svahn on December 16, 1997 at 16:13:37:
I am not a legionnaire, just gathering information and preparing for joining 3 years later ##
Yes, you can go to the recruit center any day of the year, any time of a day.
Wearing glasses seems not to be a problem. I, diopter -7, see everything blurred if not wearing glasses. An ex-legionnaire told me there is few chance to be accepted, but another told me if I insist, they will still let you enlist.Anyway, I'll go for eye operation to address my eye next year.
In Reply to: A few ? about joining the legion. posted by Henrik Svahn on December 16, 1997 at 16:17:41:
: First, I have to congratulate you for a SUPERB web site.
: A few questions:
: Can you join the legion whenever it suits you,
: or is there special times of the year when you can join?
: Is it possible to join if you wear glasses or contact-lenses?
All info I have reviewed ref: glasses or contacts
seem to require 20/30 vision uncorrected with
glasses or contacts allowed to assist to 20/20.
Check into LASIK vision surgery if you're serious.
Dan
: If i do not like the foreign legion after joining,
: can i left without penalty ?
Phil Wu said near everything but one more:
Legion can cut your contract for - bad discipline
reason (think about this because as new modern army
now Legion has keep her iron discipline from past)
Books - Sites
Christian Jennings' book "Mouth full of Rocks, is a great book . I'm readding it again for the 6th time
: Try this site:
:
http://www.pathcom.com/~repman/
: Also read Christian Jennings' book "Mouth full of Rocks, Modern Adventures With the French Foreign Legion"
Posted by unasyned on January 13, 1998 at 21:44:58:
: "THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION"
: AUTHOR: JOHN ROBERT YOUNG
: PUBLISHING COMPANY: THAMES & HUDSON
Posted by Henrik Svahn on January 13, 1998 at 17:24:08:
The French Foreign Legion - A Guidebook to joining
Author: Simon Jameson
An interesting book with lot of facts.
Anyone interested can buy it at:
http://www.bokus.com
(swedish)
In Reply to: Where can I find/get the song of the Foreign Legion?
: Does anyone here know where to buy the CD/tape/notes of the legion songs? What I need is the song being sung by the legionnaires, like Le Boudin.: All suggestion will be appreciated.
check the site of the french online seller
www.fnac.com you can also go directly here
http://www.fnac-direct.fr/fnacdirect-bin/rech_disqv?suite=&type=3&id=23744882550599&ld-titre=&ld-compositeur=&ld-interprete=&ld-interprete=&ld-titre=legion&ld-chanson=&ld-support=&go=Rechercher
you can order on line; let me know if i can help
Life in FFL
: You will continnue to train for your regimental placement, you are not fully trained when you leave the 4em R.E.
The 2.6km test is only one of the tests you'll have to pass. You will have to pass psychiatric tests, physical tests etc. and you'll have to pass the "Gestapo" questioning.
They choose the best ones every week, and the rest will have to leave. In '89 there were about 100 persons a week, that passed through Aubagne.
You might very well be sent home during basic training if they don't think that you have a place n the Legion, you might have difficulties learning French for instance.
I hop it cleared some things out for you, if your going to join, I'll just say GO FOR IT!
LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA
Captain SWEDE
: I read somewhere (I forget where) that Legionnaires aren'r allowed to leave France when on leave, does anybody know if this is true?
You're stuck in France for the first three years. After that you may leave the country.