2e REG: Heads of the French and Norwegian Armed Forces with Legionnaires in the Alps

At the end of March 2025, in the heart of the Alps, General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of the French Armed Forces, and General Eirik Kristoffersen, his Norwegian counterpart, held a detailed exchange on the expertise of mountain troops alongside the legionnaires of the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), which specializes in mountain warfare and engineering support.

Welcomed and guided by Colonel Roy, commander of the 2e REG, the generals visited the mountain military post of the 2e REG in Valloire, a well-known ski resort and a crucial training ground for mountain legionnaires. There, the generals explored the extensive capabilities of these elite mountain troops in conducting operations in extreme cold environments.

Under demanding alpine weather conditions, the generals also participated in a live-fire exercise in snowy terrain at Camp Rochilles, the 2e REG’s high-altitude base, located at nearly 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level.

The following day, after a rugged overnight stay at high altitude, they embarked on a mountain excursion designed to assess the high level of preparation and resilience required to operate in such challenging terrain.

A day before their weekend visit to the 2e REG in Valloire, General Burkhard welcomed General Kristoffersen to Paris and presented him with the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction.

France and Norway regularly cooperate in both bilateral and NATO frameworks to enhance their operational effectiveness in extreme cold conditions.

General Burkhard, in office since 2021, has extensive experience with the Foreign Legion, having joined it as a second lieutenant in 1989. He spent his early years in the 2e REP in Corsica and later served in various units, including commanding the 13e DBLE in Djibouti from 2008 to 2010.

PHOTOS: Heads of the French and Norwegian Armed Forces in the Alps in March 2025
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