13e DBLE: Exercise Gevaudan 2025 | French Foreign Legion Information

From February 3 to 13, 2025, the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) organized Exercise Gevaudan 2025 (Gévaudan 25) in the Gevaudan region in southern France.

The high-intensity military exercise, spanning Aveyron and Lozère departments, aimed to bolster readiness for modern warfare, drawing inspiration from recent conflicts. Over 500 personnel from 11 units participated, including 300 legionaries from the 13e DBLE (forming a task force GTIA MONCLAR) and legionnaires from the 1er REG and the 4e RE. They deployed more than 100 vehicles, four helicopters, one airplane, and 30 drones.

Named after the Gevaudan region in Lozère, historically linked to the 18th-century Beast of Gevaudan legend, the exercise unfolded in two phases. In the initial phase, from February 3 to 7, troops at Camp Larzac (home of the Demi-brigade) in Aveyron focused on team cohesion and marksmanship. The second phase, from February 10 to 13, shifted to Lozère, where a fictitious scenario involved seizing the town of Mende, engaging 30 communities within a 30-mile (50 km) radius. Training emphasized night combat, urban warfare, tactical assaults, and combat search and rescue, conducted with blank ammunition to enhance realism. Special forces units, including the PSIG and the RAID, joined the final day’s hostage scenario, underscoring the exercise’s complexity.

Commanded by Colonel Brunet of the 13e DBLE, Exercise Gevaudan 2025’s strategic intent was to prepare for high-intensity conflicts. Each legionnaire carried approximately 90 pounds (40 kg) of gear, reflecting the physical demands of modern operations.

After achieving the training objectives, the 13e DBLE hosted a public display on February 13 at Stadium Mirandol in Mende, showcasing equipment and recruiting reservists and dog handlers. The display also included integrating a detachment of new legionnaires into the regiment.

Foreign Legion - 13e DBLE - 2025 - Exercise Gevaudan 2025 - France

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