In France, the 11th of November marks Armistice Day. That day – known as Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day) in mostly English-speaking countries – the entire nation in France and abroad commemorates the end of hostilities of World War I. Thus, yesterday, on November 11, even the French Foreign Legion – as well as the rest of the French Armed Forces – commemorated the 104th Armistice Day, and remembered the 36,000 legionnaires and foreign volunteers who were killed or wounded during WWI. See the photos.
Foreign Legion: Two legionnaires are 2022 French military boxing champions
During four days, between November 2 and November 4, 2022, the French Military Boxing Championship took place at the National Center for Defense Sports (CNSD) boxing hall in Fontainebleau, in the metropolitan area of Paris. Dozens of boxers from France’s armed forces (Ground, Air, Navy and Gendarmerie) participated, including those from the Foreign Legion. The championship returned after a ten-year pause.
Read moreForeign Legion: Two legionnaires are 2022 French military boxing champions
1er REC: First French Army operational unit to receive EBRC Jaguar vehicles
On 23 August 2022, the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) received officially their first EBRC Jaguar armored vehicles of the new generation. The regiment became the very first operational unit of the French Army to get them.
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1er REC: 2022 Operation Daman
In July 2022, Colonel Henri Leinekugel Le Cocq and an important part of his 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) arrived in Lebanon in the Middle East. On the 14th, the colonel took over the command of the 43rd mandate of France’s Force Commander Reserve (FCR). The FCR, consisting of about 700 soldiers, is a main reserve force of the UNIFIL, a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: A new mission in Djibouti from June 2022
Last week, several units of the French Foreign Legion landed in Djibouti, a country in the Horn of Africa, for carrying out the usual mission to maintain order and a French presence in this former colony of Frence. Their mission would last four months.
Read more1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: A new mission in Djibouti from June 2022
100 years ago: A cavalry regiment was officially created within the Foreign Legion
In late June 1922, a decree issued by the then French President of the Republic, Alexandre Millerand, ordered the creation of “…a cavalry regiment named 1er R.E.C…” within the French Foreign Legion, which was to be composed of a depot squadron and four combat squadrons. Thus, the very first cavalry regiment of the Legion was officially created, with the HQ stationed in Tunisia. To commemorate this important event, a new article was dedicated to this unit to map its entire history, from the early 1920s until nowadays.
Read more100 years ago: A cavalry regiment was officially created within the Foreign Legion
1er REC: 2022 Commando Training Center
See a new, awesome video clip dedicated to the Commando Training Center of the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), currently the only such training facility run within the Foreign Legion.
1er REC: 5th Squadron train at Camp Larzac
In February 2022, the 5th Squadron cavalrymen of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) trained at Camp Larzac, a military training area located in Southern France.
4e RE: 2022 Remise de Kepi blanc at Camp Carpiagne
In late January 2022, a platoon of enlisted volunteers from the French Foreign Legion’s 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) finished their initial four-week instruction and were allowed to make a military oath. The ceremony took place at Camp Carpiagne, home to another Legion unit, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC). As a matter of interest, the French national rugby team – Les Bleus – was present during the ceremony.