1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie, 1er REC. The only cavalry regiment within the French Foreign Legion, since the dissolution of 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e REC). Created in Tunisia in 1922, the 1er REC moved from Bou Sfer, Algeria to Quartier Labouche, Orange (southern France) in October 1967. Since July 2014, 1er REC has been stationed at Camp de Carpiagne near Marseille, southern France.

The 1er REC participated in several military campaigns and operations. It served in the Rif War, Great Syrian Revolt, World War II, First Indochina War, Algerian War, Gulf War and conducted operations for example in Chad, Cambodia, ex-Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Mali or Central African Republic.

 

History of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

See the history of 1er REC during the 1920 – 2014 period. Well-ordered data, including more than 50 pictures from all periods; from the Rif War till the conflict of Mali:
History of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

 

Current structure of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

The regiment is devided (in 2017) into 6 squadrons. It comprises around 820 officers and legionnaires. A reserve squadron comprising some 80 non-Legion reservists is also assigned to the regiment.

The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment is the only cavalry regiment within the current Foreign Legion and the only unit of the Legion using heavy armored fighting vehicles. The 1er REC is an armored cavalry regiment of the 6th Light Armored Brigade, serving in the brigade together with 2e REI, 1er REG and 13e DBLE.

Since 2015, three armored squadrons + two recce & anti-tank squadrons has served with the regiment.

• HQ & Logistics Squadron (Escadron de Commandement et de Logistique, ECL)
• 1st Squadron (1re Escadron, 1er ESC)
• 2nd Squadron (2e Escadron, 2e ESC)
• 3rd Squadron (3e Escadron, 3e ESC)
• 4th Squadron – Reconnaissance & Surveillance Squadron (Escadron d’Éclairage et d’Investigation, 4e ESC – EEI)
• 5th Squadron – Reconnaissance & Surveillance Squadron (5e ESC – EEI)
• Reserve Squadron (Escadron de Réserve, ER)

 

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment’s official website: 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie

 

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment’s current news

See the news and updates from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) posted on our website:
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment’s latest news

 

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment’s regimental song

The regimental song of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC):
La colonne

 

Location of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

 

 

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