80 years ago, in August 1936, the regimental insignia was distributed to legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) of the French Foreign Legion. It remains the oldest distinctive unit insignia used within the Legion. The 1er REC also remains the only cavalry unit of the current Foreign Legion.
1er REG & 1er REC: Operation Sentinelle in Nice 2016
On August 24, 2016, French Army General Bertrand H. de La Chesnais visited French soldiers, including legionnaires, at Nice, France. Legionnaires from 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) and 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) are patrolling the city as part of Operation Sentinelle. The city is located in the Côte d’Azur area on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. Last month, on the Bastille Day of July 14, at least 84 people were killed in Nice during a terrorist attack…
French Foreign Legion: New units establishing
While the year of 2014 was marked by reorganization of the French Army with reducing its personnel and several unit dissolutions, including combat units within the Foreign Legion (e.g. 5th Squadron of 1er REC, 5th Company of 2e REI), the current year of 2015 is significant by reverse policy actions – increasing personnel serving in the French Army and (re-)creating the new combat units.
1er REC: Solidarity with the Disabled Veterans
A month ago, legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) came to offer a helping hand to the Foreign Legion’s Disabled Veterans Institution of Puyloubier, southern France. Every year, a group of active legionnaires from one of the regiments based in France is participating on grape harvesting in vineyards belonging to the Institution.
1er REC, 2e REI: Operation Sangaris in August 2015
See nice photos of legionnaires from the Foreign Legion’s 4th Squadron, 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) and the 4th Company, 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) during Operation Sangaris taking place in the Central African Republic (CAR), in August 2015.
1er REC and 2e REI: Central African Republic 2015
See some images of legionnaires from the French Foreign Legion deployed in the Central African Republic (CAR) during June 2015. The legionnaires are working there together with soldiers from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to stabilize this African country.
1er REC: Legion’s Cavalry in Mali 2015
A few images of cavalry legionnaires during an operation in Mali, June 2015. The legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) are currently a part of GTD (Desert Tactic Group) MISTRAL in this African country, while serving in Operation Berkhane.