1976: Transfer of Basic Training Units from Corsica to Castelnaudary

Starting in June 1962, training units of the French Foreign Legion were based in Corsica, where they had arrived from Algeria. In October 1976, they left the island and moved to mainland France to be stationed in the town of Castelnaudary, in the southern part of the country.

The Legion’s training units, at the time gathered into the Foreign Legion Training Group (Groupement d’instruction de la Légion étrangère, GILE), included two basic training companies: the 1st and 2nd Enlisted Volunteer Companies (CEVs).

In Corsica, the 1st Enlisted Volunteer Company (1re CEV) was based in Bonifacio (the south of the island), in the Montlaur citadel. In the 1970s, the latter was also occupied by the GOLE and the 2nd Foreign Regiment (now the 2e REI
). The 2nd Enlisted Volunteer Company (2e CEV) was initially based at the same location but had to leave in 1971; it was then stationed in the citadel of Corte (north of Corsica).

On October 11, 1976, following disapproval from the locals, both enlisted volunteer units left Corsica for mainland France. The 1re CEV was temporarily housed at the Foreign Legion Disabled Veterans Institution (IILE) at Puyloubier near Marseille, in Southern France. The 2e CEV temporarily replaced the 4th Squadron at the military base of the 1er REC in Orange, Southern France, while the squadron moved to Corte in Corsica.

The enlisted volunteers, still in the midst of their four-month basic training, stayed at their provisional locations until late November. A new location for both of their companies had to be found quickly. Ultimately, the small town of Castelnaudary in Southern France was chosen.

The first enlisted volunteers and their Legion cadres arrived there on November 23. They were stationed in the Quartier Lapasset (also Caserne Lapasset), an old barracks in the town center, last used as Mobilization Center No. 143. On December 11, 1976, the first Foreign Legion parade was organized in the town.

In early August 1977, the Team Leader Training Company (CIC) of the GILE left Corte in Corsica and moved to Castelnaudary. Only the Specialist Training Company stayed on the island and was transferred to the 2e RE. A month later, on September 1, 1977, the battalion-sized GILE was reorganized and redesignated. It became the Foreign Legion Training Regiment (RILE). Three years later, on June 1, 1980, the training unit was redesignated again. The RILE became the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE).

The old barracks were insufficient in capacity and therefore it was decided to build new ones. Since July 1986, French Foreign Legion training units have been based in the Quartier Capitaine Danjou, a large modern barracks built on the outskirts of Castelnaudary. However, the 4e RE used the Quartier Lapasset until the early 1990s.

GILE in Bonifacio in the Montlaur citadel — Montlaur Citadel in *Bonifacio*, home to the 1re CEV GILE.

GILE in Corte in the Citadel — The citadel of *Corte* (on top), home to the 2e CEV GILE.

GILE is leaving Corsica, October 11, 1976.

2nd Volunteer company of GILE is travelling to Orange — 2e CEV GILE on the way to *Orange*, October 1976.

1st Volunteer company of GILE is travelling to Puyloubier — 1re CEV GILE moving to *Puyloubier*, October 1976.

1st Volunteer company of GILE in Puyloubier — 1re CEV GILE during a ceremony in *Puyloubier*, November 1976.

GILE parading in Castelnaudary in December 1976 — The Foreign Legion’s first parade in *Castelnaudary*, December 11, 1976.

GILE headquarters in Castelnaudary in December 1976 — Crowd of people in front of the Quartier Lapasset in *Castelnaudary*, December 11, 1976.

A new entrance of the Quartier Lapasset (also called Caserne Lapasset).

The citadel of Corte, 1972. Young legionnaires from the GILE's 2nd Enlisted Volunteer Company sing during their instruction.

Information & images source:
Kepi blanc magazines

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