Christmas Eve marks the second most important holiday in the French Foreign Legion. Before the actual celebrations, each Foreign Legion regiment organizes Christmas challenges. The challenges help to maintain cohesion within the units and provide a bit of fun for their hard-working men. See several images taken in different Foreign Legion regiments during the Christmas challenges that took place in late 2024.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025
Another year draws to a close, the twelfth year of activity since the FOREIGNLEGION INFO online project was launched in 2012. At the same time, the holidays and the New Year are approaching. So, as always, it is time for a little summary and wishes.
2e REG: Exercise Cerces 2024
From November 19 to 27, 2024, more than 1,000 soldiers of France’s 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e BIM) took to the field for Exercise Cerces 2024. For two weeks, they practiced maneuvering and firing, working on their combat skills in the complicated winter conditions. Among them were the legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), the “mountain” regiment of the Foreign Legion.
2e REP: Pope Francis’ visit to Corsica
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, made the first papal visit ever to France’s Corsica. Legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) were among the security forces responsible for maintaining order during the pontiff’s visit. This elite regiment is stationed on the island.
1er REG, 2e REG: 2024 Saint Barbara Day
In early December 2024, the combat engineers of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) of the French Foreign Legion once again commemorated their patron, Saint Barbara (Sainte Barbe in French).
PHOTOS: 1938 Camerone Day in Syria
A new part of the PHOTOS series. See a rare set of pictures taken in Syria in late April 1938. They show legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1er REI; now 1er RE) during the most important holiday of the Foreign Legion (April 30), commemorating the famous 1863 Battle of Camerone.
13e DBLE: 2024 Deployment to Réunion
In November 2024, elements of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) deployed to Réunion. It is an island in the Indian Ocean, located east of Madagascar, and an overseas department of France. The legionnaires will remain there for the next four months.
2e REI: New chapel nears completion
Within the French Armed Forces, the Foreign Legion is known as a corps that has traditionally maintained a strong conservative and Christian spirit. So it was no surprise when the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) launched, in 2021, a fund-raising campaign to create a new chapel for its legionnaires. After several years, the construction of the chapel is nearing completion.
3e REI: Visit from General Youchtchenko
In late November 2024, the French Foreign Legion’s commander-in-chief, General Cyrille Youchtchenko, came to visit the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI) stationed in French Guiana, South America.
1er REG: 3rd Company in Mayotte in 2024
Currently, in November 2024, legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) are deployed to Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. See some images.
1er REC: 1st Squadron in Djibouti in 2024
In early November 2024, the 1st Squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), nicknamed as “Romans,” officially became the 3rd Squadron 5th Overseas Combined Arms Regiment (5e RIAOM). This French regiment is stationed in Djibouti, Horn of Africa. The Foreign Legion cavalrymen will serve there for at least three months.