3e REI: 2026 Change of Command (Video) | French Foreign Legion Information

As we reported earlier, the French Foreign Legion went through a whole series of changes of command this summer, with several of its regiments getting new commanding officers. One of them was the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI), the only Legion unit permanently stationed in South America. On July 23, 2026, Colonel Grossin handed over command of the regiment to Colonel Gauzence de Lastours at a ceremony held at its home base in Kourou, French Guiana, a French overseas department on the northeastern coast of the continent.

The ceremony was presided over by Air Force Major General Géraud Laborie, who commands the French Armed Forces in Guiana (COMSUP FAG), the joint command in charge of all French military units in the territory. Among the guests were Catherine Vautrin, the French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, and Antoine Poussier, the prefect of Guiana and the senior representative of the French state in the department.

The regiment, whose tasks include helping secure the Guiana Space Center (CSG) at Kourou and running the French Army’s jungle warfare school (CEFE), has now released a video covering the main moments of the ceremony.

3e REI - 3 REI - Foreign Legion - 2026 Change of Command - Colonel Paul-Henri Gauzence de Lastours - 2026 — Colonel *Paul-Henri Gauzence de Lastours*, the new commanding officer of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment in French Guiana.

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