Serving Legionnaire, will answer any questions!!

IIRC my initial med test at Versailles with a Schlabo Dr was pretty brief and just checking height/weight.
My next med test at 1'RE was also pretty cursory.
I had strained my back moving beer barrels when working in the UK (a month before).
When asked to touch my toes, it hurt, but I got there and nothing was picked up and I eventually went all the way through.
If you have a scar (permanent marker for life) you could construct a cover and see how it goes or you could just wait out but the scar will always be there anyway.
Le choix est a toi mon pote :)
 
gareth said:
IIRC my initial med test at Versailles with a Schlabo Dr was pretty brief and just checking height/weight.
My next med test at 1'RE was also pretty cursory.
I had strained my back moving beer barrels when working in the UK (a month before).
When asked to touch my toes, it hurt, but I got there and nothing was picked up and I eventually went all the way through.
If you have a scar (permanent marker for life) you could construct a cover and see how it goes or you could just wait out but the scar will always be there anyway.
Le choix est a toi mon pote :)
Click to expand...

I see.. Well in this case I may just go for it! I know I am mentally ready & as physically ready as I'll ever be.
The hernia/scar has not affected me at all since the operation, yesterday morning I went for a 10mile run for **** sake, back to boxing 4times a week, this for me is proof enough that I am eligible enough to at least attempt the legion!
But then it may not be enough proof for them..
As you say, the choice is mine!

I think I may just go for it & hope that I am lucky like you were to not have any thorough medical checks. :)
Cheers Gareth.
 
Sorry it took a long minute to reply.
I registered on Cervens and read alot. For some reason I cannot seem to post anything.
So I came here in hope for answers. Like I said, ive got the cahonas, ive got the cardio. Been running 10 miles a day(with one minute break) and pushups/pullups/chinups on tree branches. I am just hoping that my cultivation of marijuana charge won't make the Legion spit in a cup and tell me to get the **** out. Thats literally what the U.S Marines did. Spit in a cup and said the military ain't for people like me...get out.
I got a withhold of adjudication. fancy word for not convicted. It was 3 years ago. Got any advice?
 
TheGrim said:
Sorry it took a long minute to reply.
I registered on Cervens and read alot. For some reason I cannot seem to post anything.
So I came here in hope for answers. Like I said, ive got the cahonas, ive got the cardio. Been running 10 miles a day(with one minute break) and pushups/pullups/chinups on tree branches. I am just hoping that my cultivation of marijuana charge won't make the Legion spit in a cup and tell me to get the **** out. Thats literally what the U.S Marines did. Spit in a cup and said the military ain't for people like me...get out.
I got a withhold of adjudication. fancy word for not convicted. It was 3 years ago. Got any advice?
Click to expand...

Forget about cervens, there are genuine anciens on there but it's also full of posers, fake legionnaires and groupies
 
My son left about 3 weeks ago to join. I have not heard from him and am wondering if he would know by now if he was accepted? Where would he be still in Paris? If he was accepted when could we expect to hear from him?
Thanks just concerned.
Kathy
 
If it's been 3 wks, and he did bother engaging, he'll be still going through Aubagne.
I got word back to my parents through one of the British guys who got binned.
If he gets to Castel, and is not sous anonymat (name change), he'll be able to write.
This was my experience back in the early 90's- do any of the guys who've finished more recently have any changes to this?
 
gareth said:
If he gets to Castel, and is not sous anonymat (name change), he'll be able to write.
This was my experience back in the early 90's- do any of the guys who've finished more recently have any changes to this?
Click to expand...

No change regarding writing and now they can make phone calls a little now and then once finnished the farm.
 
Three really long and ball-busting weeks.
IIRC the first week was in Quartier then wks 2-5 were away getting hammered.
Have you had comms with your son yet?
 
SCT said:
Forget about cervens, there are genuine anciens on there but it's also full of posers, fake legionnaires and groupies
Click to expand...

Hi SCT, while researching the FFL I came across cervens and quickly felt the same way, the "groupie" guys far outnumbered the actual or ex-serving legionnaires and i noticed there was a lot of circlejerking. A 2REP legionnaire I once spoke to said much the same thing you did about cervens but in very colorful language and less kind terms about all membership there.

However, I don't know of any other English language information source for potential recruits.

This forum seems to have a lot more knowledgeable people, so I was hoping someone could clarify something I read which disturbs me...

a former 2REP Legionnaire, David Mason has a book called "Marching with the devil". He was former Australian Army (reserve I believe) before joining the legion when the army stonewalled him on his transfer to clearance diving in the Navy, anyway.. An excerpt can be found here: Marching with the Devil: Legends, Glory and Lies in the French Foreign Legion - David Mason - Google Books

This part in particular disturbs me because it suggests the quality of training in the legion is very low. No infantry minor tactics, no initiative at the lowest levels etc. Let alone the beatings dished out which are described with extreme frequency in the book.

However I also realize Mason's service was some 20+ years ago, and I've seen it commented that the legion has changed dramatically in that time.

can any serving legionnaires confirm whether this is bullshit or not, or is it the case where you don't actually start learning on the job stuff until you get to your unit? Is the french curriculum that different from the stuff practiced by other western nations?
 
I've said it before on here:
I learned how far I could push myself and how much punishment I could take in the LE but it wasn't till I joined the British army that I learned the art of soldiering and how to soldier correctly and without being treated like a cun t.
 
we had 2 come back to our regiment with exactly the same opinion of the ffl,i don't know if they served the full 5 but both where exceptional soldiers who flew through brecon etc
 
plsk said:
Hi SCT, while researching the FFL I came across cervens and quickly felt the same way, the "groupie" guys far outnumbered the actual or ex-serving legionnaires and i noticed there was a lot of circlejerking. A 2REP legionnaire I once spoke to said much the same thing you did about cervens but in very colorful language and less kind terms about all membership there.

However, I don't know of any other English language information source for potential recruits. :)


This forum seems to have a lot more knowledgeable people, so I was hoping someone could clarify something I read which disturbs me...

a former 2REP Legionnaire, David Mason has a book called "Marching with the devil". He was former Australian Army (reserve I believe) before joining the legion when the army stonewalled him on his transfer to clearance diving in the Navy, anyway.. An excerpt can be found here: Marching with the Devil: Legends, Glory and Lies in the French Foreign Legion - David Mason - Google Books

This part in particular disturbs me because it suggests the quality of training in the legion is very low. No infantry minor tactics, no initiative at the lowest levels etc. Let alone the beatings dished out which are described with extreme frequency in the book.

However I also realize Mason's service was some 20+ years ago, and I've seen it commented that the legion has changed dramatically in that time.

can any serving legionnaires confirm whether this is bullshit or not, or is it the case where you don't actually start learning on the job stuff until you get to your unit? Is the french curriculum that different from the stuff practiced by other western nations?
Click to expand...

The book is bullshit written by a failure with a grudge. Fornication? The very thought :)
 
The book looks good and from what I've read of it since the link was put up- it's accurate too.
I joined just before the author got out and it was just like that.
The problem with the LE was it was run by the French although it could easily have been up there with the best if they'd used their heads and taken on board the massive wealth of int from the guys who'd being serving elsewhere.
Our contact drills were go firm and dig a shell scrape and hope for the best.
No advance to contact or anything- I didn't know any better being a young kid, but I sussed that this wasn't the right way to go.
I really hope that it's changed in the last 20yrs as it could be so much more!
The author did his 5 and got out at fin de contract so isn't a failure with a grudge just someone reminiscing on his experiences.
I'm sure if he had a hoofing time he'd have said but as my own experience relates- doing the 1st contract relied on me switching off and counting my days and just drinking kro and getting by with my ever decreasing social circle as most of them legged it.
I wouldn't and couldn't call anybody (even a deserteur), who gave it a go, a failure and I've never been into this "Betes de guerre, soldats d'elite" bollocks either, as unfortunately despite the rumour machine -they're not.
The TA would have had better soldiering skills than us- they didn't even teach putting up ponchos or light-discipline and the kit was shite too.
 
gareth said:
The book looks good and from what I've read of it since the link was put up- it's accurate too.
I joined just before the author got out and it was just like that.
The problem with the LE was it was run by the French although it could easily have been up there with the best if they'd used their heads and taken on board the massive wealth of int from the guys who'd being serving elsewhere.
Our contact drills were go firm and dig a shell scrape and hope for the best.
No advance to contact or anything- I didn't know any better being a young kid, but I sussed that this wasn't the right way to go.
I really hope that it's changed in the last 20yrs as it could be so much more!
The author did his 5 and got out at fin de contract so isn't a failure with a grudge just someone reminiscing on his experiences.
I'm sure if he had a hoofing time he'd have said but as my own experience relates- doing the 1st contract relied on me switching off and counting my days and just drinking kro and getting by with my ever decreasing social circle as most of them legged it.
I wouldn't and couldn't call anybody (even a deserteur), who gave it a go, a failure and I've never been into this "Betes de guerre, soldats d'elite" bollocks either, as unfortunately despite the rumour machine -they're not.
The TA would have had better soldiering skills than us- they didn't even teach putting up ponchos or light-discipline and the kit was shite too.
Click to expand...

I disagree with most of what you say except for the kit was crap (although my time was long before yours). Get the book and read it. He has an axe to grind
 
Sorry SCT but when I was in it was Euro Disney/sketch all the way.
I don't mean to denigrate on your experiences but as you said- we are different generations of Anciens.
I should imagine that it was even harder back when you did instruction and went to regt but every generation has their own stories to tell.
I would really be interested in hearing from someone who has recently finished on how it is now.
All respect mate.
 
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