France fears its Legion is too foreign
Adam Sage, Paris
August 19 2019 The Times
New recruits to the French Foreign Legion are expected to learn its seven-point code of honour by heart. Many, however, have no grasp of the French language, nor the slightest idea of the meaning of the words they are reciting when they pledge, for instance, to serve France “with honour and loyalty”.
Indeed, in a recent documentary for French television, a Thai recruit was seen transcribing the code phonetically into his country’s alphabet so that he could reel it off when asked to do so. Its commanding officers have never minded much, just as long as some of the troops were French-speaking and able to help their brothers-in-arms to understand basic orders. Today, however, the Legion is panicking that it has far too few French speakers. Commanding officers have been forced to resort to using drawings and pictograms to communicate basic training.
About 16 per cent of existing members of the Legion are French speakers but only 11 per cent of the newest intake can speak the language. More critically, only a tenth of the force are French. Young Frenchmen tend to view the Legion as too tough and prefer the country’s regular army, which they consider a softer option, according to a former legionnaire. Those who do try to sign up often fail to get through the first day of the Legion’s selection process.
The issue is problematic, given that French remains the Legion’s working language. About 24 per cent of the serving soldiers are from other western nations, 28 per cent are Slavs, 13 per cent Asians, 13 per cent Latin Americans and 12 per cent Africans.
The French Foreign Legion has acquired an almost legendary reputation since its foundation in 1831. An elite force, it has been particularly useful to French governments over the generations because its soldiers are perceived as disposable, reducing the risk to the regular army.
The documentary for the France 2 television channel showed a training session on camouflage. Recruits recited the lesson off by heart, but pictograms were used to make sure they understood the message on the need to avoid bright colours, strong smells or sharp movements, and to melt into the surrounding scenery, for instance. A former legionnaire, from the USA, said: “You are supposed to learn French and you are supposed to communicate in French. If you don’t speak French, you’re going to end up cleaning the toilets.”
The need for the Legion to recruit Frenchmen is set to become more acute, with the army upgrading its IT systems along with its light armoured vehicles, tanks and missile launchers. This will require a better understanding of the French language within the Legion, according to insiders. It wants to ensure that at least 20 per cent of its members are French-speaking by 2025.
It has launched a recruitment drive in France, with temporary stands set up in the country’s main holiday resorts over the summer. Recruiters have been trying to convince the young, single Frenchmen sunbathing on beaches to sign up for a “life of adventure”.
Joining up
Erwin James Newspaper columnist and convicted murderer who joined the French foreign legion while on the run for killing two men. After serving for two years, seeing action in Africa, he handed himself in to the British authorities in 1984 and served 20 years in jail.
Jean-Marie Le Pen Founder and former leader of the National Front political party who joined the legion in the 1950s, serving as a paratrooper in French Indochina and Algeria. Defended the torture of Algerian rebels in his memoirs but denies taking part.
William Wellman The director and Oscar-winning screenwriter of the original
A Star is Born (1937) was known as Wild Bill during the First World War for his gallantry as a fighter pilot. After the war he directed more than 80 Hollywood films.
Cole Porter A picture of the American songwriter and composer has hung in the legion’s museum in Aubagne. It is claimed that he entertained fellow recruits on a portable piano during the First World War but some historians say that he lied about serving to aid his reputation.
August 19 2019 The Times
The Times view on the French Foreign Legion: Le Code de quoi ?
The famous fighting unit is struggling to recruit French-speakers.
Quel dommage.
The French Foreign Legion was set up in 1831 by King Louis-Philippe to further his country’s colonial interests. Since then the Legion has acquired a reputation for intensity and skill in battle. It emerged from the First World War as one of the most decorated units in the army.
It is unique in that it accepts foreign recruits: the Legion is now made up of soldiers from more than 140 countries. Yet
as we report today, there are fears that the French Foreign Legion could be becoming a tad too, well, foreign. Recruits are expected to learn the unit’s seven-point
code d’honneur by heart in French, which is the Legion’s official language. And yet some signing up have such shoddy French that they have no idea what they are pledging to do.
This is concerning, to say the least, because the Legion’s code of honour is demanding. Recruits must swear to train
avec rigueur, remain scrupulously
élégant at all times and never abandon their slain comrades or weapons. Oh, and they must lay down their lives in battle if needs must. A recent documentary for French television showed a Thai recruit transcribing the code phonetically into his country’s alphabet so that he could reel it off when asked. It would have been better if he had known what he was signing up for.
The Legion is in a bind. It needs its foreign recruits more than ever, as it is struggling to woo francophones. They make up 16 per cent of existing members and 11 per cent of latest intakes. Meanwhile, members of an effective unit must be able to communicate fluently in a lingua franca. The training for the Legion is brutal. By the end, newbies must march 75 miles in three days. Perhaps thereafter, those brawny and brainy enough to make it through this process should supplement their training with equally rigorous French lessons.
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