In 2016, the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) will move from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be stationed in France, for the first time in the regiment’s history. The 13e DBLE is one of the last two Foreign Legion’s regiments which have never been stationed in Europe (together with 3e REI).
The 13e DBLE was the Legion’s last regiment stationed in Africa. In July 2011, after 49 years of its presence there, the unit left Djibouti (a country located in the Horn of Africa) and, reduced to only several dozens of permanently attached men (55-60 officers, NCOs and legionnaires), it moved to the UAE.
In 2016, the 13e DBLE will move to France to be based at Camp du Larzac, a large military camp located in the Midi-Pyrénées region, southern France. The CEITO, an infantry tactical shooting training center operates within the camp. The Legion will return to Larzac after 34 years. Between 1978-82, there were stationed legionnaires from the 61e BMGL.
Between 2016-18, according to the French Ministry of Defence, the 13e DBLE would expand to a strength of around 1,000 men.



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