For those wondering, it literally takes 26 days of actual “training†to earn your Kepi.
Once you hit Castelnaudry, be prepared to be sucked dry by mostiques.
After a week, or two (depending if your section is big enough or waiting for reinforcement), you will head to La Ferme.
This place is beautiful. Truly is.
Hills, forests, villages, bunnies, you name it.
I highly suggest you stare up at the sky during guard duty. I swear it’s closer to the stars than anywhere else. Not even Afghanistan was this vibrant. Specifically, around 2-3 in the morning if you get that rotation.
The training done here is pretty half baked. Our instructors in 3ème Co. we’re only able to do 7 pull ups maximum. So ... guess what ... monkey see, monkey do. Don’t do what I did and do more than they ask. They really don’t like that.
Unless you want to run around your sleeping quarters a few times.
If like me, you find it’s way too easy, (because it really is) bitch about how light your packs are. Also tell them that the humping speed is way too slow.
You’ll be upgraded ! To what is called a Transmission Spécialiste. Even with that old Radio I your pack, it’s still pretty easy. This is in part that your packs are barely stuffed with anything.
If you get 3ème co. LOLOLOL !!! Good luck. Or rather ... get used to dodo. And corvée. After corvée. Be prepared to be extremely bored. As you will not do much.
The runs are not any harder. They are long, but only because it’s so damn slow.
I had 26 pull ups. (#1. The best. Super comrade) according to our Sergent Chef
3150m Cooper.
13.7 Lec Luger
Swim pass
10m underwater pass
Cord was pass both times. I can’t remember the time but I do remember it was around 13 more or less seconds.
If like me, you went knowing ZERO French. Do not worry. You will pick it up with time.
Hang around the Francophones and ask questions about words in French. Just be wary, you may get headaches from all the smoking.
The beautiful Famas. Oh how I’ve dreamt of you so.
LOL. This thing over heats in Rafa like a cool kid with too many layers in the summer.
Awkward to hold as it is squared edges compared to our M16A4’s.
Needless to say, they will be doing a great service changing to the HK 416’s.
If after all this, you earn your Kepi Blanc. In the utter hopes that it will get more disciplined and more professional. Start talking to the Corporals and Corporal Chefs. Find some with 12+ years in Legion.
Ask them questions about Legion. Lol.
Then you start regiment training. Don’t expect much more than you’ve already done.
Cause it doesn’t exist other than 1 or 2 times.
After months of hanging on every step of the way hoping it would be my vision, my dreams I’ve had for oh so long, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.
Remember, perception is reality. My perception of the Legion will not be the same as yours for many reasons.
I wanted 2 rep. They kept saying I was going to 2 rep. But ultimately I decided to leave. I did not want to do 5 years with the Legion.
Many Eastern Europeans will call a Pas Compri blat, while flagging (canon sécurité) you, and your instructions may not take it serious. I can tell you inthe US Marine corps. We take it very serious.
Ukrainekids will be flipping from semi to Rafa during lectures. Not paying attention. And your instructors will be too busy on their phones to notice these things.
So I leave with a bad taste in my mouth. You may not get this bad taste.
We started as 76 in 3ème. 1ère section.
When I decided to leave, we were down to 34. Out of all who left 6 were sent home for being weak, everyone else either missedmommy, didn’t like the military lifestyle, or they said the Legion was shit.
We had 18 veterans. Portuguese marines, British Royal Marines, Brazilian paratroopers, Greek special forces, finish army, finish sniper, Romanian army, Maldivian army, morticians, South Africans, Nepalese, Ukraine, etc etc
Only two romanian army guys, the Finnish sniper, and one Brazilian army guy stayed out of the 18. Myself included.
The Romanians reasons were this, the Legion is shit compared to Romanian army but in Romanian army, they make 100€ / mos. so 1200€ / mos convinced them to stay.
The Brazilian was stripped of his uniform in Brazil and can no longer serve there. He found refuge in the Legion.
The Finnish sniper, after some years (I forget how many), you are not allowed to continue service inthe Finnish military from conscription so he found continued military service in the Legion.
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