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CPL_Goodell

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Hey guys,
I'm currently an active duty Marine. I'll be getting out in about 9 months and I would like to join the FFL. I have a few questions I hope you guys can help me out with. I understand the acceptance rate is 1 in 9 however I'm more than confident I can pass all the requirements. I know a little French, but I also understand the way they select is off of favoritism. If that is so, how will they feel about an American? If i pass everything is there still a chance they will send me home? Regardless I'm gonna head to France next winter and give it a go. The worst that will happen is I get a vacation before college. I also understand you have no choice in your job or regiment you're sent to. That being said how do they choose and what can I do to influence the decision that is made of where I go or do? After boot camp what's your school like?
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions much respect.
 

voltigeur

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Many guys pass all the requirements, but there are only a few slots open. Once you get to the final selection procedure with BSLE, this is where (I suppose) they look also at your attitude, the propensity of desertion, considering if you're a team player, making it a career in the Llegion (i.e. more than the original five year contract). Charles Stoeng will correct me if I'm wrong.
 

Old Adj

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Hey guys,
I'm currently an active duty Marine. I'll be getting out in about 9 months and I would like to join the FFL. I have a few questions I hope you guys can help me out with. I understand the acceptance rate is 1 in 9 however I'm more than confident I can pass all the requirements. I know a little French, but I also understand the way they select is off of favoritism. If that is so, how will they feel about an American? If i pass everything is there still a chance they will send me home? Regardless I'm gonna head to France next winter and give it a go. The worst that will happen is I get a vacation before college. I also understand you have no choice in your job or regiment you're sent to. That being said how do they choose and what can I do to influence the decision that is made of where I go or do? After boot camp what's your school like?
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions much respect.
Many guys pass all the requirements, but there are only a few slots open. Once you get to the final selection procedure with BSLE, this is where (I suppose) they look also at your attitude, the propensity of desertion, considering if you're a team player, making it a career in the Llegion (i.e. more than the original five year contract). Charles Stoeng will correct me if I'm wrong.
There's your answer! It's very difficult to say anything else. Use the search function, people have tried to answer similar questions thousands of times.

There is not favoritism nor racism, FFS.

Can't answer your question about school after boot camp, either because boot camp IS your basic school. Afterwards, specialist training might be given in your Regiment or in any number of specialist schools all over France and the French Army, depending on your speciality.
 
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Stay where you are and remain a ‘hard charger’. Having worked with the USMC, I believe there are many options open to you. Why join the FFL and lose your rank? You will simply be at the bottom of the food chain once more.
The choice is your's anyway. Bonne chance.
Per Mare per Terram/Semper Fidelis.
 

CPL_Goodell

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I could spend 20 years in the USMC and the only thing I'll have to show for it is a pension. I've spent time working with the recon guys, I've done multiple operations with them in Afghanistan, I just want something else in my life.
Everything here is so delicate, the training is mundane. I've been watching and reading FFL books and documentaries and some of that stuff wouldn't make it in the USMC due to weak minded pussies who want life easy. We also have mothers of America who keep the training easy and weak if it's above a certain temp, we can't PT if we are wearing combat gear ie sappi plates Kevlar helmets etc. can't PT it's hazing if we do a ruck it has to be at a certain pace, can't be a run. It also bothers me that I'll be re-enlisting into a peace time Marine corps. I hate the idea of sitting on my ass doing nothing just waiting for a meu to deploy, so I can sit on a boat and hope something goes down somewhere.
 

gatorojo ✞

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I could spend 20 years in the USMC and the only thing I'll have to show for it is a pension. I've spent time working with the recon guys, I've done multiple operations with them in Afghanistan, I just want something else in my life.
Everything here is so delicate, the training is mundane. I've been watching and reading FFL books and documentaries and some of that stuff wouldn't make it in the USMC due to weak minded pussies who want life easy. We also have mothers of America who keep the training easy and weak if it's above a certain temp, we can't PT if we are wearing combat gear ie sappi plates Kevlar helmets etc. can't PT it's hazing if we do a ruck it has to be at a certain pace, can't be a run. It also bothers me that I'll be re-enlisting into a peace time Marine corps. I hate the idea of sitting on my ass doing nothing just waiting for a meu to deploy, so I can sit on a boat and hope something goes down somewhere.
I like the way you think, Cpl Goodell, you're a man after my own heart. God bless Uncle Sam's Misguided Children!
Enlist in the US Army and get the 75 Ranger Regiment in your contract. None of your complaints will apply. Life in the Regiment makes Ranger School look like a girl-scout social, and living the warrior life will no longer be an abstract concept. They were spending 75% of their time deployed during all the "Peace time" between Vietnam and the first Gulf War and I don't see anything changing in the foreseeable future.
 

CPL_Goodell

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I appreciate that insight gatorojo. I'm going to look into that. Do you have any idea what they're up to these days?
 

Rapace

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(...) It also bothers me that I'll be re-enlisting into a peace time Marine corps. I hate the idea of sitting on my ass doing nothing just waiting for a meu to deploy, so I can sit on a boat and hope something goes down somewhere.
Think hard before travelling to France... You may not find in the Legion the PC bullshit that is apparently prevailing in the USMC, but France is not more ‘at war’ than the US of A. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to get bored during your time in the Legion, like in any armed forces. Don't go there with preconceived ideas that you'll be ‘jumping on Kolwezi’ every other month or you might face cruel disappointment.
 

CPL_Goodell

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Think hard before travelling to France... You may not find in the Legion the PC bullshit that is apparently prevailing in the USMC, but France is not more ‘at war’ than the US of A. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to get bored during your time in the Legion, like in any armed forces. Don't go there with preconceived ideas that you'll be ‘jumping on Kolwezi’ every other month or you might face cruel disappointment.
By no means do I feel as if France is more at war than the US nor do I have any preconceived ideas that I'll be Rambo but what I do understand is that the FFL is involved in peace keeping operations in Africa as well as the Amazon. I've also been led to believe that the FFL has some of the best training in the world: Djibouti desert training, jungle training in the Amazon and cold weather training in the Alps. Forgive me if I am wrong but from what I have been told it's common for a FFL soldier to take part in most of these schools on a regular basis.
 

CPL_Goodell

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I have been doing some research on the opt40 Gatorojo and it's currently not available to prior service, however 18x is which I believe is the green berets.
 

warchild

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I have been following the posts here and happen to agree with both CPL Goodell and Gatorojo. I first respect his discipline in not trashing his service or core while in uniform much respect. Let me get to it... The United states military in a lot of ways is deteriorating in ethos and warrior spirit. The type of soldier or Marine of the past that made the U.S services what it is is not the soldier or Marine of today nor what they want, which makes the Legion attractive to Warriors like us.
Everything must change but our services have become politicized and so have our military leaders without taking into account what our military turns into because of it (Benghazi) lol. It seems like a social experiment now. I would though suggest looking into the ARMY like Gatorojo suggested and seeing what and were you can possibly go in special operations (SF) Green Beret. It is a different planet compared to conventional forces. Going to the Ranger BAT or SF selection should provide a lot of what you're looking for. Plus you have to prove you deserve to be there and if you don't cut it you won't even enter that world. But if you were to get into (SF) Green Beret you would find yourself all over the globe often. So much in fact that there would be nothing else but that mostly. As a regular soldier or marine you will not find that ever. They fight non-stop ; no matter if the U.S is at war or not and there is always a conflict somewhere and if there is one.... they are there, you just don't hear about it. It is their job that they are charged with to be on 24/7 call. The U.S military is moving away from large scale forces and will now conduct most of its combat through special operations. If I had the chance to go back into the ARMY I would in a second. It is the best in the world to me, even with all the regular ARMY massive issues. But I don't have that option you do. I suggest explore it before crossing the pond... My 2 pennies... from Warrior to Warrior.
 

CPL_Goodell

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I appreciate that Warchild, I have been putting a lot of thought into what I'll be doing with my enlistment almost up. I've worked with Marine Recon SAS and Army SF quite a bit, I respect what they do, but the operations these guys are getting are shit and a lot of my buddies feel the same way. I'm kind of at a loss at this point but I don't see myself going to a civilian job anytime soon. I've heard alot of good things about the Legion from people I work with and it kinda of got my dick hard but maybe I'm just seeing the greener grass.
 

warchild

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I appreciate that Warchild, I have been putting a lot of thought into what I'll be doing with my enlistment almost up. I've worked with Marine Recon SAS and Army SF quite a bit, I respect what they do, but the operations these guys are getting are shit and a lot of my buddies feel the same way. I'm kind of at a loss at this point but I don't see myself going to a civilian job anytime soon. I've heard alot of good things about the Legion from people I work with and it kinda of got my dick hard but maybe I'm just seeing the greener grass.
I can dig it brother. I appreciate the lowdown cause I don't know everything that is going on down range. I'm just surprised to hear it form a Marine. You Devil Dogs tend to be harder than most. It must be bad. The main reason that I'm interested in the Legion is the culture of it. The type of soldier they create is Ancient. They refuse to lose that the honor and discipline about them. The Army that I joined sure was not the Army of my father or his. It was a bit of a disappointing. How PC everything was. I think there is so much coddling going that it will eventually create a sub standard soldier that cannot handle anything. Now women in combat. And next thing you know the next Jessica Lynch gets a CIB (Combat Infantry Badge). The guys in Washington are destroying everything.... My bad Friday morning rant. I'm wondering how many other vets feel the same way. I can say it... I'm not in...and wouldn't.. if i was.
About not wanting to be a civilian I think we are sharing the same foxhole on that one.
 
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The Royal Marines of today are just as good as those in days of yore.
Now they are more intelligent and have much more to take on board.
Selection is just as hard and stats indicate that over the last 10 years, out of 50,000, who have applied to join, fewer than 3,750 have completed training.
That coveted 'green beret' is hard won. Parachuting is deemed an Adqual.

The worst thing that ever happened was for the SBS to no longer come under direct RM training and command. Unlike the SAS they were not disbanded after WW2.

Since the end of WW2 until now, only in 1968, was the Corps not involved in a war fighting scenario in some geograhical area. They remain supremely well blooded.

Sadly like other parts of the British Armed Forces they serve under the duress of incompetent, venal and squalid politicians, who have never served yet alone volunteered. Bluntly our Armed Forces purely regarded as disposable assets.
 

jwaltos

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There was one legionnaire whose posts I liked, Tomislav. Look up some of those if you can. As for the jungle, mountain and desert training... All that is possible and it depends on your rank. If you are a natural leader then you will most likely be tapped for a higher rank but that may curtail certain travel possibilities.
In my opinion, fools go looking for ‘action’. Rather, push yourself mentally and physically beyond everyone around you (but always be willing to drop back and help someone who really needs it). If it comes to a fight, every one of your shots will count and any hand-to-hand over in less than 10-15 seconds. One (dumb) thing I did in Djibouti was to see how long it would take me to jog from Arta to Arta plage and back in the middle of the day. I only made it back because a fellow I knew at the beach gave me litre of water. So as in all things, when over-reaching have a fail-safe in place.
Good luck.
 
O

Ossis. O

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Arta to Arta beach in the middle of the day?! What were you on, Colombian ‘marching powder’?
 

BDE

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Ahh Ossis, no different to a quick stroll between Kiwirrkurra and Well 33. I used to love that trek, there was this dingo who used to show up on where I'd stop overnight. Called him skippy, cause he'd stand on his two back legs when I was eating, and he'd keep the snakes away... No need for CMP it's the fresh air that keeps you going...
 
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