Between October 8-12, the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) conducted its annual military exercise called Vaillant (Valiant). This year, Exercise Vaillant took place at Camp des Garrigues, a military camp near Nimes in southeastern France.
Most complete database of French Foreign Legion historical events
The coming 11th November 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the tragic World War I, in which millions of brave soldiers died. Between them, several thousands of legionnaires. In France during WWI, their unit became the most decorated unit of the French Army. No other comment is needed. This is a small contribution to remember their fallen brothers-in-arms (and also the fallen legionnaires of all conflicts and campaigns from 1831 until the present): since now, you can browse the most complete database of French Foreign Legion historical events ever created. Well-ordered data collected together from almost 30 books + tens of magazines + the internet. The gathered data are presented as On This Day. Each day is supplemented with an image.
4e RE: Remise de Kepi blanc at Armentières in October 2018
Last weekend, a platoon of the French Foreign Legion’s enlisted volunteers had finished their four-week initial training at an isolated farm in southern France. Led by a Staff Sergeant (a long-serving legionnaire), the platoon subsequently did a 40 mile-long march (60 km), known as the Marche de Kepi Blanc (White Kepi March) to have the right to make a military oath, obtain the sacred White Kepi and become the Legionnaire.
DLEM: Detachment open to public
During October 6-7, 2018, the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (DLEM) opened to the public the doors of Quartier Cabaribère, their military base in Dzaoudzi, Mayotte.
2e REI: Vehicle Commander-Gunner Training
In September 2018, legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) passed an Infantry Vehicle Commander-Gunner (CTVI) course in southern France to become commanders of the VBCI infantry vehicles the regiment uses now.
4e RE: 2018 Foreign Legion Half Marathon
On October 6, 2018, the 41st Foreign Legion Half Marathon took place in Castelnaudary, southern France. The event has been organized by the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE), the training regiment of the Foreign Legion, in their garrison town since 1977.
2e REP: Saint Michael Day in Corsica + Mali
In 2018, the French Foreign Legion’s paratroopers commemorate the 70th anniversary of their service. In 1948, the first Legion paratroopers celebrated Saint Michael, their patron adopted by all French airborne units in Hanoi, the capital of then French Indochina in June 1948. 70 years later, the legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) celebrated Saint Michael Day (September 29th), their regimental holiday, by Lake Nino in Corsica. See some nice images.
2e REG: Mountain Commandos in Greenland
In early September 2018, mountain commandos from the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) took part in an artic military exercise in Greenland, close to the North Pole.