In late November 2019, the legionnaires from the 3rd Company, 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI) carried out shooting exercises in Suriname, a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America.
1er REG + 2e REG: 2019 Saint Barbara Day
Within a week, in late November and early December 2019, the two engineer regiments of the French Foreign Legion organized an annual commemoration of their patron, Saint Barbara (Sainte Barbe in French). See photos.
4e RE: Remise de Kepi blanc at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
In mid-October 2019, a platoon of Foreign Legion enlisted volunteers from the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) finished their initial four-week instruction. After having passed a long march, they were allowed to make a military oath and be called legionnaires. The ceremony took place at the Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, an old castle in southwestern France. See the video.
Read more4e RE: Remise de Kepi blanc at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
Foreign Legion: Explosive training exercises with Major Gérald
See an interesting motivational video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube in late November. The already third video of a training series shows simple and effective physical training techniques for developing your explosive strength. They are presented by Major Gérald (similar to the rank of Sergeant Major in the US + UK, the most senior warrant officer) from the Sports Office of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), the Legion’s HQ located in Aubagne.
Read moreForeign Legion: Explosive training exercises with Major Gérald
Operation Barkhane: 13 French soldiers died, including a legionnaire
On Monday, 25 November 2019, two helicopters of the French Army crashed in Mali (West Africa), during anti-terrorist Operation Barkhane. The crash cost lives of 13 soldiers, including a French Foreign legionnaire from the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG).
Read moreOperation Barkhane: 13 French soldiers died, including a legionnaire
55 years ago: An important Foreign Legion engineer task force was disbanded
See a fully reworked article dealing with the history of a forgotten Foreign Legion engineer task force, the only engineer battalion-sized unit of the Legion that has ever been established in North Africa (no, the short-lived 12th Pioneer Battalion from 1939 wasn’t in fact a Foreign Legion formation). Organized by a half of the then 3e REI, the legionnaires of this important unit were tasked with the urgent transfer of the Legion’s Motherhouse from Algeria and its installation in France and Corsica, after the end of the Algerian War in 1962.
Read more55 years ago: An important Foreign Legion engineer task force was disbanded
2e REI + 1er REG + 1er REC: Training before deployment
In October-November 2019, a company from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), a company from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and two squadrons of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) moved to military camps to participate in an intensive training before their overseas deployment. See images.
Read more2e REI + 1er REG + 1er REC: Training before deployment
70 years ago: A Foreign Legion airborne battalion was established
Read a freshly reworked article dedicated to a Foreign Legion airborne battalion that was established in North Africa 70 years ago, in mid-November 1949. The battalion would train legionnaires to take part in the First Indochina War (1946-1954) as paratroopers. Six years later, the unit was redesignated to a regiment, but for a very short time.
Read more70 years ago: A Foreign Legion airborne battalion was established