2e REI: 1st Company in the Indian Ocean | French Foreign Legion Information

Since late April 2021, the 1st Company of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) have been deployed to Réunion, an island situated in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. The island is an overseas department and region of France.

The 1st Company men deployed to Réunion for the so-called Short Duration Mission (MCD) which lasts usualy four months. They made part of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RPIMa), a French overseas unit stationed on Réunion (in Saint-Pierre). The regiment is one of the two French Army units based permanently in the Indian Ocean, along with the Legion’s DLEM in Mayotte. They are part of France’s Southern Indian Ocean Zone Armed Forces (FAZSOI).

The 2e RPIMa also provides men for two permanent detachments that are stationed on small, inhabited French tropical islands lying between Madagascar and Mozambique, around 900 miles (1,500 km) west of Réunion: Juan de Nova Island and Europa Island.

The legionnaires from metropolitan regiments, assigned temporarily to either the 2e RPIMa or DLEM, maintain the French presence in the region, patrol and guard the territory and, if there is a danger, they are ready to intervene. In addition, they participate in joint military exercises and in training activities.

As a matter of interest, the Legion opened for the very first time a recruiting office on Réunion, in late March 2021. The purpose is to attract more Francophones to join its ranks.

As we can see, even in 2021, the French Foreign Legion offers to its men an opportunity to serve in interesting locations outside the civilization.