$Unique_ID{COW01355}
$Pretitle{416}
$Title{France
The French Foreign Legion}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{legion
foreign
france
french

}
$Date{1991}
$Log{Table 1.*0135501.tab
}
Country:     France
Book:        Fact Sheets on France
Author:      French Embassy, Washington DC
Affiliation: French Embassy, Washington DC
Date:        1991

The French Foreign Legion

     The French Foreign Legion, or Legion Etrangere, was founded on
March 10, 1831 by King Louis-Philippe.

     The tradition of foreign volunteers serving in the French army dates
back to the year 886 when a Scottish regiment was organized to serve the
King of France. Prior to the establishment of the Foreign Legion, more
than 400 foreign regiments had taken part in conflicts in which France
was engaged.

     Since August 1831, when it was sent to Algeria, the Foreign Legion
has had an outstanding record in Europe, Asia, America, the Middle East
and Africa.

     The most famous battle of its history was at Camerone, Mexico, on
April 30, 1863 when fewer than 60 men under the command of Captain Danjou
resisted an entire army and perished rather than surrender. A monument
was erected there to commemorate this event.

Territorial Organization

     General Headquarters are at Aubagne in southeastern France. The Legion
vacated its former headquarters at Sidi-bel-Abbes in Algeria when that
country became independent (1962). The headquarters at Aubagne include:
administrative and other joint services and recruiting offices.

     The training camp is at Castelnaudary, also in southern France.

     Regiments are currently stationed in: metropolitan France (Orange,
Canjuers, Calvi, Bonifacio) and overseas France (French Guiana, the Pacific,
the Indian Ocean).

Enlistment

     The Foreign Legion does not discriminate on the basis of nationality,
race, political or religious beliefs. Knowledge of the French language is
not required.

     The candidate must:

     - be a bachelor between the ages of 18 and 40 (if under 18, parental
authorization is necessary),

     - be physically suited to serve anywhere in the world,

     - be over five feet tall,

     - not be a fugitive from justice.

     An applicant must provide his own transportation to France. The
application for enlistment must be filled out on French territory. If
the application is accepted, the contract may be signed only in France.
If the contract is not ratified, rail fare to a specified destination
within France is provided, but the trip back to the applicant's country
is at his own expense.

     A recruit is enlisted as a private regardless of his level of education,
previous career, qualifications, specialty or former rank in any other
army. The initial enlistment is for five years. Legionnaires then have the
option of reenlisting for a period of from one to five years.

Vocational Training

     During his period of service, the legionnaire can learn or improve skills
in one of the following specialized fields:

     Administration (secretarial work, accounting, etc.)

     Signals (radio, switchboard operator, teletype operator, etc.)

     Automobiles (driver, mechanic, body mechanic, welder, fitter, etc.),

     Miscellaneous (musician, nurse, cook, photographer, draftsman, physical
     education instructor, all areas of printing, etc.)

Remuneration

     Legionnaires receive:

     - free food, lodging and clothing;

     - the same pay as members of the French armed services, based on rank,
seniority and assignment location;

     - a pension after 15 years of service.

Uniform

     The uniform is khaki-colored and is worn with a green tie and a black
and red kepi with a white cover. On the left sleeve is a badge in the form
of a pomegranate with seven branches--gold for infantry, silver for
cavalry--bearing the number of the regiment.

Motto

     Honneur et Fidelite (Honor and Fidelity)

Training

     Rigorous and extensive, the training given to enlisted men is
comparable to that given to U.S. Marines. Legionnaires are expected to be
able to operate under the most difficult conditions and to be highly skilled
in all types of physical activity.

     A high level of discipline is maintained and legionnaires must observe
a strict code of conduct even outside the barracks.

Traditions

     Celebration of the Anniversary of Camerone

     Every year on the evening of April 29 a vigil of arms is held. On
April 30 the official account of the battle is read at a solemn military
ceremony at Aubagne, and the wooden hand of Captain Danjou (kept as a
relic in the Museum of the Foreign Legion) is displayed before the troops.

     March Music

     The march music known as "Le Boudin" was composed by Mr. Wilhem,
music director of the Foreign Legion in 1862.

Museum of the Foreign Legion

     Originally at Sidi-bel-Abbes, it is now at Puyloubier in the vicinity
of Aubagne. The facade bears the inscription Legio Patria Nostra (The Legion
is Our Country).

     The museum has three halls hung with the portraits of 12 high-ranking
officers killed in battle. The names of officers fallen since 1831 are
engraved on marble panels. Standards, regimental colors and emblems of the
Legion hang from the walls. Weapons are carefully classified by country and
campaign.

[See Table 1.: Enlistment Centers]