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10 Things you don’t know about the French Foreign Legion

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Eva du Monteil 2015/01/21


The French foreign Legion has a bad reputation. In France, most people take it to be comprised of a band of merciless outcasts with low IQ. A historical detour that dates back to as far as the origins of the Legion, will explain how this prejudice came about. Here’s what you probably don’t know about one of the most intriguing armies in the world.

1. “Foreign” in the name French Foreign Legion does not refer to faraway battlegrounds

It refers to the Legion itself: the Legion comprises 150 different nationalities and is 75% foreign, making it the most diverse Army in the world. Also, you don’t even need to speak French to join.

2. Only French nationals can become officers

And technically, because of the rule of anonymity (see below), even French citizens who wants to join must change their nationality to another French-speaking country.

3. There is no other force in the world today that has known so much war for so long

The Foreign Legion was primarily used, as part of the Armée d’Afrique, to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century, but it also fought in almost all French wars including the Franco-Prussian War, World War I and World War II. Over just the past two decades they have been deployed to Bosnia, Cambodia, Chad, both Congos, Djibouti, French Guiana, Gabon, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Kuwait, Rwanda, and Somalia. Recently they have fought in Afghanistan, as members of the French contingent.

4. The Foreign Legion was invented to put troublemakers to good use

The French Foreign Legion was created by Louis Philippe in 1831 to remove disruptive individuals from society and have them fight the enemies of France. Recruits included failed revolutionaries from the rest of Europe and soldiers from the disbanded Swiss and German mercenary regiments of the Bourbon monarchy. The Royal Ordinance for the establishment of the new regiment specified that the foreigners recruited could only serve outside France.


5. You can give a fake name when you join the legion

When Louis Philippe created the Legion, he guaranteed anonymity for the new recruits as a condition of their service: this began the Legion’s tradition of recruits enlisting under a false name. Legionnaires must give up their civil identity upon enlisting and join the legion under a declared identity. They will use this new name during their first year of service. At the end of the first year, a legionnaire may reclaim his old name through a process known as “military regularization of the situation”, in which fresh identity papers are obtained from the person’s home country. And in case you’re wondering, yes, a legionnaire may choose to spend his entire five-year career under his declared identity.

6. Which means that yes, deserters can join the legion

The legion guarantees protection from foreign authority. This is an example of where the rule of anonymity comes in handy for the French government. However, odds are high that if you don’t renew your contract after it expires, your country will come after you: that’s what happened to Second Lt. Lawrence J. Franks Jr. of the US Army who was sent to jail for desertion after he disappeared and enlisted in the legion. The fact that you can only join outside your country may technically contribute to the ‘desertion’ element. The legion recruits in 11 locations, all of them in France.

7. There are actual tests to be admitted to the legion

Long gone is the time when the legion would take anyone, no questions asked. Today, candidates must take multiple rounds of physical and psychological tests as well as interviews to gauge the sincerity of their motivation. There is no guarantee that you will get in, in spite of the risks and expenses one may take to join the legion. Based on reports, the psychological part of the training is the hardest. Still, the legion’s tests are not academic in nature: for one thing, they accept volunteers who come with no degree. Their mere requirement is that you can read and write in your native language.

“The Legion is Our Fatherland”

8. No, you will not become a French citizen by joining the legion

And that’s in spite of serving for at least 5 years for France. However, you will be granted the French citizenship if you are injured in battle while part of the legion. Under the provision called “French by spilled blood”, one can apply for the French citizenship.

9. The legion has adapted

In light of increased competition between armies, the French Foreign Legion has had to adapt to keep enlisting recruits. That means social media: they have their own Youtube and Dailymotion channels as well as a Facebook and Twitter page.

10. Well, not so much

While times have changed, the Legion’s rules still hold: for example, women are still not allowed to join. Also, the legion won’t grant exception for volunteers- their first contract is five years, no less.


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