2022 Bastille Day Military Parade | French Foreign Legion Information

The 14th of July marks the French national day, Bastille Day. As usual, a large military parade took place in Paris to celebrate that most important holiday. As every year, the French Foreign Legion participated. See images.

The Foreign Legion detachment was traditionally headed by Foreign Legion Pioneers (39 NCOs and legionnaires), a platoon of bearded soldiers led by an NCO. This makes an exception among the other French military units taking part in the parade, which are led by officers. The pioneers were followed by the Foreign Legion Music Band, another traditional participant in the ceremony. The band consisted of 60 officers, NCOs and musicians who formed two blocs, with chapeau chinois in the middle (Turkish Crescent or Jingling Johnny, it serves as a prominent instrument).

Besides these two traditional Foreign Legion participants in the parade, the Legion infantry element was represented this year by a detachment of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), the youngest regiment of the French Foreign Legion. The detachment comprised 106 officers, NCOs and legionnaires, headed by their Colonel Combe and the regimental color guard.

During the popular event, the legionnaires are closing the parade of marching troops. That’s due to the Legion’s traditional marching speed which is much slower than the rest of the French Army – 88 steps/minute vs 116 steps/minute.

Without any surprise, even the 2022 Bastille Day Military Parade took place on the Champs-Elysées, a well-known avenue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The military parade passed in front of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Before the start of the Parade: