See a nice video published by the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP). The video presents the initial parachute training for the fresh legionnaires who had finished their four-month basic instruction at Catelnaudary and arrived at the regiment.
44 years ago: Deadly accident in Africa
In late May 1976, an air accident occurred during a military exercise in the then French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (TFAI, today’s Djibouti), a country located in the Horn of Africa. A French Army helicopter crashed. Eight men on board were killed, including six legionnaires from GOLE (Foreign Legion Operational Group). Another two legionnaires died later. At the time, the incident became the deadliest accident for the Legion since the end of the Algerian War (1962). And it still remains the second deadliest accident for the Legion since 1962. Nevertheless, for unknown reasons, the fatal crash has been completely forgotten in France. Here is the article dedicated to this sad event and to pay homage to the victims.
1er REC: Legionnaire heading an armored platoon during Operation Barkhane in Mali
Adjudant Franc from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), the only cavalry regiment of the French Foreign Legion, is currently deployed to Mali (West Africa). He and his men operate within Operation Barkhane, a French counter-terrorism operation in the Sahel region of Africa. Having passed 16 years with the Foreign Legion, he is now a respected platoon leader.
Read more1er REC: Legionnaire heading an armored platoon during Operation Barkhane in Mali
Foreign Legion: Useful back exercises with Major Gérald
In his another great video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube, Major Gérald, the head of the Sports Office of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), presents very useful basic workouts for strengthening your postural muscles. This very important training prevents you from several types of injuries of your back and help you to maintain a good posture.
Read moreForeign Legion: Useful back exercises with Major Gérald
42 years ago: Operation in Kolwezi began
On May 18, 1978, in Corsica, legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) were alerted and a few hours later, they took off in direction of then Zaire in Central Africa. The next day, May 19, they jumped over Kolwezi, a mining center in the south of the country. The legionnaires would rescue over 2,000 Europeans captured and held by local rebels…
1er REC: Bidding a final farewell to two legionnaires killed in Mali in May 2020
On May 8, 2020, a ceremony took place at Camp Carpiagne in southern France to bid a final farewell to the two legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) who were killed in Mali.
Read more1er REC: Bidding a final farewell to two legionnaires killed in Mali in May 2020
French Foreign Legionnaires in Southeastern Europe during World War I
105 years ago, in late April 1915, the Allied forces consisting of French, British, Australian and New Zealand troops landed in the Gallipoli peninsula in todays Turkey, to open a new theatre of the First World War. Among the landing French troops, there was also a Foreign Legion Battalion with a strength of more than 1,000 legionnaires. The tormented odyssey of forgotten heroes had started…
Read moreFrench Foreign Legionnaires in Southeastern Europe during World War I
French Foreign Legion recruitment for invited candidates only
Since 11 May 2020, Foreign Legion Recruitment ONLY FOR INVITED!
UPDATE OF 11 MAY 2020: Candidates living outside France should send the form once they are present in mainland France.
Read moreFrench Foreign Legion recruitment for invited candidates only
Operation Barkhane: A legionnaire died
On April 23, during Operation Barkhane, a military tanker of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) was struck by an improvised explosive device near Gao in Mali, West Africa. Two legionnaires were seriously imjuried. One of them died a week later, on May 1.
Foreign Legion: 2020 Camerone Day
On April 30, as every year since 1931, the French Foreign Legion celebrated their most important holiday, Camerone Day. That day, all officers and legionnaires of the Foreign Legion commemorate the Battle of Camerone, an action which occurred in Mexico 157 years ago, in 1863.