The Foreign Legion, another French exception | Reporters • FRANCE 24 English

2018 ж. 26 Сәу.
1 824 226 Рет қаралды

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Shrouded in mystery and prestige, the French Foreign Legion is just as feared by its enemies as it is envied by its allies. The legionnaires come from across the world, prepared to fight for a country that is not even their own. In the Legion, they learn to fight in extreme conditions, live together and work as a team. But who are these soldiers and what motivates them? While embedded with the 13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion in Mali, our reporters found out.
“The Legion is our home” is the motto of the Foreign Legion, the legendary elite branch of the French Army. Africans, Americans, Asians, Europeans, anyone between 17 and 40 years old can sign up to fight for France.
The Legion was formed in 1831 and, to this day, inspires fascination. From the very start, it earned a reputation for being an army made up of wanted criminals. Today though, the Legion says entry is forbidden to anyone linked to violent crimes, sexual assault or drug-trafficking.
However, the Legion still gives a chance to those who want to leave their pasts behind, earn a living and serve in an army with one of the best reputations in the world.
Only one in five hopefuls makes it through the notoriously tough selection tests and once they’re in, the Legionnaires have to agree to a strict set of rules if they are to stay in. They’re punished if they fail to learn French and misunderstand orders.
Claire Paccalin and Fanny Allard followed the 13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion at their French base and during a counter-terrorism operation in Mali.
They spent six days camping out in the desert near the border with Niger to find out how the Legion works and what motivates these men to fight for a country that is not their own.
Maxime, an 18-year-old Belgian, told them why he quit a carpentry apprenticeship to join the Legion. They spoke to Brandon, an American who drives his comrades crazy by playing country music at the barracks. Then there's Sergeant Giacomo, who started out camera-shy but later opened up about being a Legionnaire.
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  • I'm a former FFL officer, I served 8 years with the 1st Foreign Cavalry (1er REC), including the first Gulf War, Africa and Bosnia. Glad to share a few facts about the Legion. It is important to understand first that the French Military is a very old institution, set as a professional force during the Middle Age, with core values coming from the code du chevalier (“knight’s code”), the Monarchy, Napoleon’s era, colonial empire and the decolonization period, WW1&2 etc. As a result, traditions, corps, missions and commitments are very diverse. For centuries, it has been a tradition in France to hire foreign volunteers in specific regiments within the Army framework. French Kings always had foreign troops to their service, usually coming from loyal or controlled vassal states or principalities (Swiss, German, Italian, Belgium etc). The Republic has simply maintained the tradition. Almost all officers (90%) of the Légion Etrangére (LE) are French, mostly from Saint-Cyr, except a small proportion coming from the ranks. The Legion is made of foreigners, is under regular Army command, with the same equipment and organization. The Legion is not a special force or a militia. It is an elite corps of the French Army with different people and adapted rule of procedure. Within the Army, there is a strong competition between the Legion and the Marines (Troupe de Marine, or “Coloniale” in French, which also belongs to Army). Regiments of the Legion are sprat among three Brigades of the Army: the 6th Light Armored Brigade (2nd REI, 1st REC, 1st REG and recently 13th DBLE back from Abu Dhabi), the 11th Parachute Brigade (2nd REP), the 27th Alpine Brigade (2nd REG) and overseas deployment (3rd REI in Guyana and DLEM in Mayotte island). An initial training Regiment (4th RE) and a small administrative and recruitment unit (1st RE) are directly under the command of the Foreign Legion Command (COMLE), headed by a Brigadier or Major General, simply nicknamed “Père Légion” (Father of the Legion…), who reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff Legionnaires are ABSOLUTELY NOT mercenaries; they don't fight for money (monthly wage, the "solde", is the same as in the Army), or for ideology, not even for French citizenship, which is difficult to get, unless you are wounded in combat (Français par le sang versé, “French by spilled blood”). They are volunteers under contract, to serve France, a country they hardly know, but they fight for the Legion: the motto is “the Legion is our fatherland” - Legio Patria Nostra in Latin. The Legion offers them a new start, a new identity, a family, with rules, discipline, limits and even a future. Contracting with the Legion does not imply to abandon your first nationality. Around 140 different nationalities are represented in this nearly 9000 strong force. On purpose, around 25% are francophone of even French origin but enlisted under a different nationality. All NCOs are from the ranks. Those highly professional NCOs are the true strength of the Legion. Few become officers. Women are not permitted. “Honneur et Fidélité” (honor & loyalty) are fundamental values when regular Army motto is “Honneur et Patrie”. A Legionnaire serves with HONOR, and is LOYAL to the Legion. In the Legion, traditions are very important, numerous and highly respected. They evolve slowly but regularly and are listed in the Recueil des traditions de la Légion Etrangère, set by a special committee. They include a specific uniform (with the famous Képi Blanc), the Boudin marching song (“We shall soon all perish according to tradition…”), the Code of Honor, slow pace marching and many, many more. Criminals are not accepted anymore, and there is a very serious and long check on each candidate, with Interpol assistance. Selection is very harsh, as there are up to 9 candidates for one “seat”, probably the highest rate worldwide for a conventional military force. The main strength of the Legion is its unique cohesion, based on people from different culture and background but under French military rule, all ready to start a new life and to fight for their new family: their comrades in arms from the Legion. Selection, training and equipment are important, but they would not make the difference without tradition and this “esprit de corps melting-pot”, which is unique to the Légion Etrangère. Vive la Légion ! (long life to the Legion !)

    @shpontz@shpontz5 жыл бұрын
    • Courage pour la fin!

      @mehlem.kochan@mehlem.kochan5 жыл бұрын
    • salut, très intéressant ton texte tu m'as appris quelques truc! merci d'avoir pris le temps de développer ce genre de commentaire!

      @MrBryandu44@MrBryandu445 жыл бұрын
    • Ok I know this is going to sound really stupid but what if you join and you don't speak French??? Do they kick you out do you have to speak French as a requirement of joining???

      @rebekahmcfatridge6691@rebekahmcfatridge66915 жыл бұрын
    • They make you learn it.....quickly.

      @Meownold@Meownold5 жыл бұрын
    • Rebekah Mcfatridge no

      @benny3637@benny36375 жыл бұрын
  • "The wake-up call is brutal..." *calmly ties laces in complete silence*

    @kingravenink@kingravenink6 жыл бұрын
    • It’s not brutal at al

      @NAJOX47@NAJOX475 жыл бұрын
    • Coz they're not loud retards for no reason

      @bcuz8998@bcuz89985 жыл бұрын
    • That’s the news for you. Exaggerate anything and everything.

      @adavalos1989@adavalos19895 жыл бұрын
    • Maybe for the news crew 5am constitutes brutal

      @BBP081@BBP0815 жыл бұрын
    • They are trained and paid for silence. But would you civilian call 10 to 14 hours work day in which you walk all day or run with heavy eqpuiment being shot sometimes and then 6 hours sleep time if you get lucky vacations?

      @_____J______@_____J______5 жыл бұрын
  • If you enter the Legion, survive the training, you have done an incredible feat. The feeling of being with an elite outfit with quite a proud history must be amazing.

    @michaelsix9684@michaelsix96843 жыл бұрын
    • คับสวัดดีคับ

      @user-qj2to1ql7l@user-qj2to1ql7l2 жыл бұрын
    • Bastille a glorified imperlist group.

      @derekkearns3377@derekkearns3377 Жыл бұрын
    • US Navy SEALS a lot tougher but everyone is a NATO Ally so we love the FFL too

      @johnm249@johnm249 Жыл бұрын
    • I would have been a perfect Legionaire because I did not get married until I was 44

      @johnm249@johnm249 Жыл бұрын
    • History they are famous. I know it is a dream of many young teenage men, and was a place to escape or prove yourself if dissatisfied with previous military service elsewhere. But the true history is more like the US in Afghanistan. From Mexico to Vietnam and other conflicts. Unfortunately these failures are due to French colonial policies.

      @edwardpearce9668@edwardpearce9668 Жыл бұрын
  • Decent Journalism is a rare thing these days, good job.

    @blingbling574@blingbling5744 жыл бұрын
    • Well she was embedded after all😆

      @hawkrolla@hawkrolla2 жыл бұрын
    • Anything you agree with or like is "decent journalism". Anything you don't is crap right?

      @danielrn133@danielrn1338 күн бұрын
  • ''You're Croatian, you don't know country music'' lmao as a non-American country music lover I loved that part

    @Overlord99762@Overlord997625 жыл бұрын
    • You don't need to be american to know that Country sucks

      @PrincipeCharro@PrincipeCharro3 жыл бұрын
    • @@PrincipeCharro it doesn't

      @Overlord99762@Overlord997623 жыл бұрын
    • Yugo war songs 😂 u don’t know country music.

      @Normalguy1690@Normalguy16903 жыл бұрын
  • "you don't feel like talking to me do you?" "No" haha i love that

    @ronlewis3964@ronlewis39645 жыл бұрын
    • It was perfect, his express too.

      @antidoteify@antidoteify4 жыл бұрын
    • Yeah, lmfao. Dude needs to work and she's just... THERE.

      @yourmomskitchen3236@yourmomskitchen32362 жыл бұрын
  • The Tennessean shot his first rifle when he was 15? He must have been a city boy.

    @santamanone@santamanone4 жыл бұрын
    • santamanone that’s what I was thinking,and the English reporter was still surprised.

      @RamblinGamblinStan@RamblinGamblinStan4 жыл бұрын
    • Im not even American and i shot my first rifle when i was 10

      @nico-zt9od@nico-zt9od4 жыл бұрын
    • Tennessee has a city??? What?

      @tronaboron2064@tronaboron20644 жыл бұрын
    • said he was from nashville so...

      @pieceofschmidtgames6389@pieceofschmidtgames63894 жыл бұрын
    • Question is why would he not join the us army

      @YeeheCS@YeeheCS4 жыл бұрын
  • I've served 11.4 years in the British Army and have recently left service in July of this year. I did not not want to leave but I came to the end of my contract, I can still soldier and looking further my military career. I've discussed it with my folks obviously they were a little concerned at first but there fine with it now so I'm enlisting in the Foreign Legion on New year's day 2020. I'm excited!

    @leecountffl9826@leecountffl98264 жыл бұрын
    • Ouch...starting allllll over.

      @teller1290@teller12904 жыл бұрын
    • Lee count ffl , Are you a legionnaire now ? Greetings from France :)

      @ChachouLP@ChachouLP3 жыл бұрын
    • @@ChachouLP unfortunately not yet still in the British Army.

      @leecountffl9826@leecountffl98263 жыл бұрын
    • @@leecountffl9826 why ?

      @ChachouLP@ChachouLP3 жыл бұрын
    • @@ChachouLP I tried to enlist new years day 2020, I lasted 24hrs, however they gave me a second attempt. In the meantime coronavirus happened so I'm back in the British Army, and I waiting to try again, your a Miss I presume?

      @leecountffl9826@leecountffl98263 жыл бұрын
  • The Legion (with absolute respect from the Alps) has been mentioned as one of the best ever examples of international integration, 100+ nationalities with one idea of family and purpose, all together. Much of the world could learn a lot from them. Vive.

    @Swisswoods@Swisswoods4 жыл бұрын
    • they probably are the first "world army"...

      @kolerick@kolerick4 жыл бұрын
    • UK , USA & NATO they don’t have enough manpower to recruit in army so they are hiring from Asian & African country .

      @bhubankumarchhetri3311@bhubankumarchhetri3311 Жыл бұрын
    • I wonder how cities could learn from The Legion.

      @bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477 Жыл бұрын
  • Fun fact : The legion was founded by one of Napoleon's best Marshal, the Marshall Soult who was the main artisan of the iconic victory of Austerlitz against the Russian and Austrian army. :)

    @tonyhawk94@tonyhawk943 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you for the heads-up!

      @lirazel2001@lirazel2001 Жыл бұрын
    • and surrendered to the british and wellington

      @paulmcdonough1093@paulmcdonough1093 Жыл бұрын
    • @@paulmcdonough1093 No he didn't he was never decisevely beaten by Wellington nor captured.

      @tonyhawk94@tonyhawk94 Жыл бұрын
    • ​@@tonyhawk94 he loses in Toulousse against British,Portugal,Spain combinate army. I didn't have idea he founded Legion.

      @Cerratoman@Cerratoman Жыл бұрын
  • I'm from Argentina, I always was fascinated by the FFL. I'm training hoping one day be part of them

    @ricardomartin6961@ricardomartin69614 жыл бұрын
  • I had worked with Legionaries during my time in the military and enjoyed meeting and working with true professional Soldiers.

    @bobjohnson9820@bobjohnson98205 жыл бұрын
  • I've realized I've learned more history lessons watching KZhead and reading comment sections then I actually have learned in school. Edit: Wow I didn't expect this many likes thank you all. But I do learn some interesting stuff that people say on here.

    @shusterandy@shusterandy5 жыл бұрын
    • Same.

      @AhWhyIsTherePoopInYourMouth@AhWhyIsTherePoopInYourMouth4 жыл бұрын
    • My learning of history owes more to my readings of specialized books and videos than to school. I did not learn anything at school, the lessons were poorly thought, boring and without interest.

      @jerrymail@jerrymail4 жыл бұрын
    • You dont just learn historical facts in school. You should receive a critical thinking regarding the creation of our concept of history. Additionally you should learn how to research historical facts and their handling in the historical discourse.

      @Jemi8288@Jemi82884 жыл бұрын
    • @Chewbacca I talk about Middle School and High School in France. The History Lessons are really, really bad and uninteresting.

      @jerrymail@jerrymail4 жыл бұрын
    • @Chewbacca I must admit, my teachers were very boring, they were only reciting endless lists of dates without ever explaining anything, without "telling" History. My passion comes from movies, and that's why I became an author, especially about the American Civil War (that may seem a strange choice for a French :-D )

      @jerrymail@jerrymail4 жыл бұрын
  • This unit saw some very fierce combat about a month or so after this video was filmed. Sadly there were miltiple wounded, but luckily no legionnaires were lost. They won the day after a hard fought battle and should be commended.

    @walex5462@walex54625 жыл бұрын
    • Source?

      @squakrock@squakrock4 жыл бұрын
    • No source , completely made up lmfaooooooo , ppl will do anythin for likes lol

      @luisortiz-yn4me@luisortiz-yn4me3 жыл бұрын
    • @@luisortiz-yn4me you only need to search 2 year ago legion work in French ministre of interior

      @thepny_chasseur_de_tricera5361@thepny_chasseur_de_tricera53612 жыл бұрын
    • @@luisortiz-yn4me seems like someone is jealous from our military :)

      @louisboyer837@louisboyer837 Жыл бұрын
    • @@louisboyer837 lol

      @luisortiz-yn4me@luisortiz-yn4me Жыл бұрын
  • I'm a US Marine, I heard an active duty Legionnaire once say, "We fight for the Legion, not France." Of course all warriors say we fight for the man next to you but this wasn't just what he was talking about, he was talking about the Legionnaire's mind set as a whole.

    @American-Nobody@American-Nobody4 жыл бұрын
    • They fight for France even if they don't want.

      @Raisonnance.@Raisonnance.4 жыл бұрын
    • The Legion is the only part of the French military that does not swear allegiance to France, but to the Foreign Legion itself.[

      @francinesicard464@francinesicard4643 жыл бұрын
    • @@francinesicard464 it' pointless to ask them to swear allegiance to france. they do not have patriotism for france.

      @nikolatomic5287@nikolatomic52873 жыл бұрын
    • In the 1960's they tried a Coup D'État... by trying to assasinate the French President over not ''bringing back the bodies of the fallen legionaire of the Algerian wars''... So DeGaule forced the incorporation of the Legion into the French Army and the people trying to stage the assasination were removed for ever

      @vonb2792@vonb27923 жыл бұрын
    • @@francinesicard464 1 - Legionary, you are a volunteer, serving France with honor and fidelity. Art. 2 - Each legionnaire is your brother in arms, whatever their nationality, race or religion. You always show him the close solidarity which must unite the members of the same family.

      @jmb2140@jmb21403 жыл бұрын
  • good french camaraderie from around the world and im proud of them! much love from quebec canada!

    @davidlefranc6240@davidlefranc62403 жыл бұрын
  • The French Foreign Legion: you did and do a great job. You're tough and get the job done. Greetings and respect from Australia

    @nancyhobson9710@nancyhobson97104 жыл бұрын
    • Find the lowest form of human being, then look "down under" and you'll find weaponised prostitutes of the FFL sleeping alongside Kellog-Brown& Root (KBR) prostitutes .The world's biggest "JOHN" (USA) calls them "contractors."

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
  • Massive respect to France from Montana!

    @isaiahgrey2458@isaiahgrey24584 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks you , for my myself I am going to join French army tomorrow in infantry of marines. 🇫🇷🇺🇸

      @georgedelanoy9548@georgedelanoy95483 жыл бұрын
    • @@georgedelanoy9548 Thank you for that tremendous commitment!

      @isaiahgrey2458@isaiahgrey24583 жыл бұрын
    • None of them are French 😉

      @angelicupstart1977@angelicupstart19773 жыл бұрын
    • @@angelicupstart1977 actually most are, you get the nationality when you serve for the legion

      @motmot8879@motmot88793 жыл бұрын
    • @@angelicupstart1977 when joining the FFL you become french. they treat your background like you were born the day before you joined up. for all intents and purposes, they are French.

      @sukaira9334@sukaira93342 жыл бұрын
  • "LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA" Great report. I would love to see more videos like this in the future.

    @kronhertz4956@kronhertz49566 жыл бұрын
    • Legio Patria Prostituti.

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
  • When I graduated from college in 2000, I had heard of the Legion. But I went ahead and joined the U.S Army. Went to 82nd ABN, did the Afghanistan thing. I've had a great life since then. I admit though, looking back, I think I would have liked being in the Legion. As one woman reporter said years ago, its the last great adventure for men.

    @normandy1140@normandy11403 жыл бұрын
    • It is much better to have served in the 82nd bro. We are a bigger family!

      @psotos@psotos3 жыл бұрын
    • @@psotos Compared to the Legion, the 82nd isn’t a family at all. They aren’t kidding when they say … “The Legion is our Homeland.” Or they swear in their Oath that their comrades are their brothers. Ask Gen Swartzkopf when they made him an Honorary Legionnaire. They literally gave him a card with a phone number… “If you ever get in any trouble anywhere in the world any time, call the number. We’ll come & get you.” Let’s see the 82nd do that.

      @jameshepler62@jameshepler622 жыл бұрын
    • @@jameshepler62 you’ve clearly not been in the 82nd. My brothers in arms support me even now and I’ve been out 35 years. We meet up at paratrooper gatherings, we meet up on Facebook and then link up in person. I am part of a special brotherhood that is respected worldwide. I’ve parachuted into Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D Day and smoked cigars and drank beers with my fellow paratroopers some of whom parachuted into Normandy in 1944. Stay silent you know nothing.

      @psotos@psotos2 жыл бұрын
    • @@psotos I was in Special Ops & was in & out of Bragg all the time. I know more than you think. You are an exception, not the rule. In the Legion, Brotherhood is literally the rule, not the exception. The key is probably, you’ve been out 35 years. Not saying it wasn’t like that then. But it’s different now, and changing downward by the day sadly. The military is becoming a political toy. And the newer succeeding generations are more about themselves than “Duty, Honor, Country.” The Legion doesn’t have that problem it swears primary loyalty to itself & its members. It’s not just one unit is like that. It’s the entire organization, every Regiment & Battalion. They are next level to most of the world’s militaries.

      @jameshepler62@jameshepler622 жыл бұрын
    • @@jameshepler62 What units were you in?

      @psotos@psotos2 жыл бұрын
  • I have 17 months left in the British Military and once I'm finished here, I'm going to join the Legion.

    @leecount8421@leecount84216 жыл бұрын
    • i hope you will suceed, i want to join french air force

      @loresh1000@loresh10005 жыл бұрын
    • Loris thanks, you too.

      @leecount8421@leecount84215 жыл бұрын
    • I wanted to go into the Paras, the army picked up something on my medical records and they said no to my appeal. I start training for the RAF Regiment in December/January, but the role of the RAF Regiment is not one I want to do, so I'll do my three years then join the FFL

      @connorwoodward6930@connorwoodward69305 жыл бұрын
    • Lee Count Where do you serve in the British Military?

      @EIREriddick13@EIREriddick135 жыл бұрын
    • Why? (genuinely curious)

      @bigman25plus25@bigman25plus255 жыл бұрын
  • Very interesting that someone from my home state of Tennessee traveled half way around the world and ends up with the FFL. Wow!

    @WestTNConfed@WestTNConfed6 жыл бұрын
    • [90thIN] Seth Prather lol I’m from Nashville too, and I was what?! That’s amazing the diversity of the unit.

      @blitzkrieg459@blitzkrieg4596 жыл бұрын
    • blitzkrieg459 turned down for D.U.I? ridiculous. I had a coworker who failed a background check to scoop up sand!B.P. oil spill.

      @gulfrelay2249@gulfrelay22496 жыл бұрын
    • Astro Mars is he Alan Seeger?

      @patrickmcshane7658@patrickmcshane76585 жыл бұрын
    • 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment from Fayetteville Ga 30214

      @Dunning.Kruger@Dunning.Kruger5 жыл бұрын
    • Some americans don't respect us... They are A best Army

      @fredericr7867@fredericr78675 жыл бұрын
  • The tone of there cadence, their marching posture, and then it leads into dropping to the knew, (5:13) and then being commanded to open fire! Wow, such emotion, beautiful videography!

    @jed-henrywitkowski6470@jed-henrywitkowski64705 жыл бұрын
  • The legion is what it is, The embodiment of dedication to an ideal no matter what the cost

    @rosshaslett362@rosshaslett3625 жыл бұрын
    • Weaponized prostitution, dedication to demonic ideals'. That's what it is.

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
    • Natewatl omg stfu snowflakes

      @tigertank3024@tigertank30244 жыл бұрын
  • Much respect for the Legion, very dedicated and well-trained fighting force, to mock is to not know who or what they are. Met many of them years ago, very dedicated and extremely professional.

    @colingoldthorpe5918@colingoldthorpe59185 жыл бұрын
  • "When the terrorist sees the foreign legion, he does not sing anymore."

    @jardindelafontaine7785@jardindelafontaine77856 жыл бұрын
    • nimes 00030 no he dances instead

      @lion1368@lion13686 жыл бұрын
    • Liam Hare He dances with death.

      @jslfcs7087@jslfcs70876 жыл бұрын
    • Who cares about the color of your sockets? Same with the skin. And if you hate our Soccer because it is too black for you; check your NBA first.

      @Kingleazard@Kingleazard5 жыл бұрын
    • but there are also too much terrists in France, we shall call back the Legion, they'll have more work here than in Mali . Terrorists strike almost every week now in France, and governement just says "they are not from ISIS so don't worry" .... what a joke , execute these traitors !

      @aesirknight9202@aesirknight92025 жыл бұрын
    • @@aesirknight9202 france is the terrorist!

      @robertwagner6183@robertwagner61835 жыл бұрын
  • A great outfit The Legion are exceptionally well trained professional soldiers their history is facinating and honourable (some would argue that point ) but I have nothing but respect for these men and this branch of the French armed forces .

    @shadow-Sun@shadow-Sun5 жыл бұрын
  • Got total respect for the Legion and its soldiers. Real espirit de corps. Proper martial ideals.

    @danielpatrick3761@danielpatrick37615 жыл бұрын
  • Read up on the Legions service at Bir Hakeim 1942 a fight to be remembered for ever!

    @mfarl2001@mfarl20015 жыл бұрын
    • It was the 13eDBLE, the same legion unit of this broadcast

      @ceciletokarev3689@ceciletokarev36894 жыл бұрын
  • Fascinating . Really admire the individuals who choose to join the Legion.

    @utpalwailong4913@utpalwailong49133 жыл бұрын
  • Way to go Corporal Brandon! Representin' the Volunteer State of Tennessee for the Legion! VIVE LA FRANCE from Tennessee!

    @tennesseeridgerunner5992@tennesseeridgerunner59924 жыл бұрын
  • Much respect and admiration to the Legion from the USA! Vive L'France!

    @amramjose@amramjose4 жыл бұрын
  • I am a french expat, and I would give "my kingdom for a can of Navarrin d'agneau" :-)

    @jonatan100402@jonatan1004026 жыл бұрын
    • JmtjF 😂 menu 3

      @blaisebravo6797@blaisebravo67976 жыл бұрын
    • Menu 3 WELL SAID

      @blaisebravo6797@blaisebravo67975 жыл бұрын
  • Thank you France for the help 👍🏻🇺🇸

    @kcass72@kcass725 жыл бұрын
  • Vive la France! Thanks guys for served .We were part of NATO task forces 234 mixed up of Foreign Legions all Man were great & respected .We all were in Afghan rohilla parts most terrorist operation here .but Dueto tough French guys all went through well .Miss you all guys .👍

    @bravoapk276@bravoapk2764 жыл бұрын
  • While not the only elite French military unit, the Foreign Legion certainly is one of the best in the world & with a long record of experience. They're often the first to fight for France in foreign lands.Not sure when this documentary was made but looks relatively recent. It seems the FFL have new standard assault rifles. Also I'm glad they didn't adopt the digital camo pattern which is seems to be all the range nowadays. In practice, they found the digital camo isn't as effective as the more traditional camo styles.

    @AlternityGM@AlternityGM6 жыл бұрын
    • True. The regular French army uses a BDU-style pattern so it makes sense the Foreign Legion also uses it as they are not Special Forces who sometimes use MultiCam. The French Army has decided to continue shying from digital when they announced a new pattern for 2024 that is based on MultiCam.

      @aoj-iy9fz@aoj-iy9fz Жыл бұрын
  • Tres bien! Absolutely brilliant and badass. Informative and precise

    @randallpetroelje3913@randallpetroelje39135 жыл бұрын
  • Met some french soldiers in Africa. They are insane. Hope I cant meet some FFL

    @CrazyMonkeyKid7@CrazyMonkeyKid76 жыл бұрын
    • Yes, I think in term of training the french army may be the best in the world.

      @JohnDouille@JohnDouille4 жыл бұрын
    • Obi-Wan Kenobi definitely not lol

      @Chungus581@Chungus5814 жыл бұрын
    • Why not?

      @gregmcfaul3657@gregmcfaul36574 жыл бұрын
    • @@Chungus581 Well, he's right bro, don't understimate france

      @johan4310@johan43103 жыл бұрын
    • France and his army still in Africa...since 2 centuries

      @ohpatriote5622@ohpatriote56223 жыл бұрын
  • The Italian Sergeant looks so sad leaving the Legion !

    @navneethetaanful@navneethetaanful5 жыл бұрын
  • FFL reminds me of Spartan. They are trained solely to fight enemies with strict disciplines, without fear of death and loyalty to one cause only. They deserved a lot of respect.

    @kiankoonlim6536@kiankoonlim65365 жыл бұрын
    • The spartan "way of the warrior" is a myth but the Legion is real

      @KonEl-BlackZero@KonEl-BlackZero5 жыл бұрын
    • actually, most armies are supposed to work like that .

      @aesirknight9202@aesirknight92025 жыл бұрын
    • @@aesirknight9202 "Supposed" is the key part of your sentence.

      @rawradio9549@rawradio95494 жыл бұрын
  • Thing I found funny was the Legion make sure everyone speaks French. I was standing next to a fellow soldier who complained out platoon Sargent would not talk to you unless you spoke Spanish.

    @irishjw@irishjw6 жыл бұрын
  • Vive la france, vive la legion etrangere.

    @Ggwp15mins@Ggwp15mins6 жыл бұрын
    • @@andrewleonard475 take a look at the history of the foreign legion moron

      @black_eagle_7559@black_eagle_75594 жыл бұрын
    • @@andrewleonard475 a lot of army around the world say it.

      @charlesdecharleville6287@charlesdecharleville62874 жыл бұрын
    • @@black_eagle_7559 Oh yes, the foreign legion is proof that the french army is so bad at fighting that they need foreigners to do it for them.

      @andrewleonard475@andrewleonard4754 жыл бұрын
    • @@andrewleonard475 XDDDD not just because of history, you know ? Colony etc ? Just because take locals fighting for us is better than taking metropolitans troups and send them in asia, africa or old time, america, learn history no ? The metro troops are capable too, ur just a hater of our army, Keep crying moron

      @black_eagle_7559@black_eagle_75594 жыл бұрын
    • @@andrewleonard475 the metro troops are the regulars, non foreigners, sorry, il was thinking that you have a brain, but mostly of french bashers dont know how to use it sorry for that

      @black_eagle_7559@black_eagle_75594 жыл бұрын
  • Paix! Nous vous remercions pour ce video Ce corps d'elite est vraiment une legende. Bucuresti, RO

    @gnedelcu7@gnedelcu74 жыл бұрын
  • I like the wagon fort style encampment

    @canadiandrumer@canadiandrumer5 жыл бұрын
  • Respected job

    @CMASKV@CMASKV6 жыл бұрын
    • Weaponized prostitution is not to be respected.

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
  • Lot of respect for the French army and Foreign Legion

    @SgtSayWhat@SgtSayWhat4 жыл бұрын
  • Awesome vid. Very informative

    @hipflask@hipflask5 жыл бұрын
  • Je me suis retiré après 20 ans au Corps maritime des États-Unis. Merci pour votre service, Beaucoup de respect.

    @michealfriedman7084@michealfriedman70842 жыл бұрын
  • Admirable Work

    @valhalla_7778@valhalla_77785 жыл бұрын
  • As a U.S. Marine, my most cherished memories of the FFL are getting into bar fights with FFL guys. We usually started by asking, "How many French divisions does it take to defend Paris?" The answer is, of course, is that no one knows because it's never been done before. But there was always a non-verbal agreement, never ever spoken through the years, that the fights wouldn't break bones or incapacitate each other. We all wanted to wake up the next morning prepared to fight the real common enemy.

    @pasquinomarforio@pasquinomarforio5 жыл бұрын
  • I Attended the #7 French Commando School at Breisach in 1977 as a member of a Platoon made up of Scouts and Infantry from E-TRP 1ST AND 10TH CAV , We were at Wiesbaden out of Fort Carson as a Strike Force and I was there for 30 months ,The Cadre were all Ex -Legionnaires ....I must admit it was a hell of a lot of Fun !

    @dennisriblett4622@dennisriblett46225 жыл бұрын
    • Hello Dennis, i also spent a week at Breisach around 1980 when i was in a British tank regiment attending the commando course. There was also French troops and American troops taking part. My lasting memories were the high rope course, and being told not to raise the union jack flag before the French tricolour on the morning parade, looking back i really enjoyed the week.

      @barrycalvert9336@barrycalvert93364 жыл бұрын
    • How often did you smash broads?

      @gabrielmondragon7124@gabrielmondragon71242 жыл бұрын
  • Respect from ROK. True soldiers, sound mind in a sound body

    @user-id3uj3db6o@user-id3uj3db6o3 жыл бұрын
  • My father always admire this fighting force.

    @clown7841@clown78414 жыл бұрын
  • Great reporting Claire👍

    @blaircalvin5025@blaircalvin50254 жыл бұрын
  • “It’s alarming their equipment is so old” lmao 40 year old trucks in military service are still basically brand new, guy would have a stroke to find out how old the M2 browning is

    @loganbaileysfunwithtrains606@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Жыл бұрын
  • Mad Respect!

    @rudeone4life@rudeone4life6 жыл бұрын
  • Respect !

    @scottcarter512@scottcarter5125 жыл бұрын
  • Im scot english and very proud normandy french

    @davidroldan9423@davidroldan94235 жыл бұрын
  • Great, Great Video and you have to thank these folks in this elite Force, I've heard about them that there one hell of fighting force! 👍⭐️🏹⚔️

    @country3608@country36082 жыл бұрын
  • Legendary.

    @brettlaw920@brettlaw9204 жыл бұрын
  • As an American I’d never join a foreign Military but these people got balls that most people don’t have.

    @davismathis845@davismathis8455 жыл бұрын
    • But as an American, the only way for you to join a decent military is to enlist in a foreign one. There can't be much pride in being in an army that just loses all the time: Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Cuba, Korea... Best wishes

      @robertcottam8824@robertcottam8824 Жыл бұрын
  • 3:16 Can't believe I've been that close to the FFL base, been over that bridge

    @dmjaxun9848@dmjaxun98484 жыл бұрын
    • idk if you lucky or not

      @flouy7430@flouy74304 жыл бұрын
    • Lot of other bases in this place

      @red-onecpasmoijetaitentrai3400@red-onecpasmoijetaitentrai34004 жыл бұрын
  • I didn't know that they're unique & diverse. Thanks for the educational & informational upload.

    @ferdinandmiranda899@ferdinandmiranda8994 жыл бұрын
  • I wanted to join the Legionnaires as a kid but when I did JROTC in the US I realized I was not cut out for any kind of military service!

    @MrAutore@MrAutore4 жыл бұрын
    • Don't worry bro. They dropped don't ask, don't tell. You can still be gay and join the Army

      @Bringmeoneofthosechickens@Bringmeoneofthosechickens4 жыл бұрын
  • Great segment!

    @mrpeel3239@mrpeel32396 жыл бұрын
  • I served in the U.S Marine Corps and now im getting ready to join the FFL can any others with similar experience tell a bit about how it compares?

    @camiloparada9529@camiloparada95295 жыл бұрын
    • I heard another legionnaire in a different video say that the legion is a little slack on inspections compared to the Marines. I think an ex Marien would find it easier than an ex-army or Airforce guy. That is just my opinion, I was never in the legion, and I'm' 86 so no chance now.

      @johnhansen2187@johnhansen21875 жыл бұрын
    • Bravo Bruh! I’m getting out of the U.S. Navy and after spending a couple months in my home State I’m gunna book a flight to France to join. Hopefully I see you there!

      @elijahbarely9885@elijahbarely98854 жыл бұрын
    • Two years later, how was your experience?

      @billmorrison9068@billmorrison90682 жыл бұрын
  • Respected by many the legion.

    @AaronfromEngland1989@AaronfromEngland19896 жыл бұрын
  • He will never feel like civilian again.

    @tomseggie9929@tomseggie99294 жыл бұрын
  • Claire Pacalin was "embedded" with the legionaries. It's a miracle that she can still walk.

    @llorensl@llorensl6 жыл бұрын
    • Swine

      @dzikijohnny@dzikijohnny5 жыл бұрын
    • "French touch" isn't it?

      @marcamant7258@marcamant72585 жыл бұрын
    • You going to explain your comment?

      @samanthagoulding5957@samanthagoulding59575 жыл бұрын
    • Bwahahahahahaha!!!!! A miracle indeed....

      @MrGiorgioud@MrGiorgioud5 жыл бұрын
    • @@samanthagoulding5957 you just need to be mature enough to understand

      @thedyslexicorangutan8049@thedyslexicorangutan80495 жыл бұрын
  • The Legion is firstand last a brotherhood of the most professional Soldiers on Earth. they owe loyalty to their fellow Legionaires.

    @8aleph@8aleph6 жыл бұрын
    • A brotherhood of male prositutes showing "loyalty to their fellow prostitutes."

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
    • @UMBRELLA CORPORATION mercenaries are the lowest form of human life, with the exception of those who go into business to hire and sell them as groups. Or in this case France, as an archaic holdover from the 18th and earlier centuries when so-called governments or rulers either purchased or pressed foreigners or their own citizens into units which they then used themselves, or sold to others The most dishonest word used by the United States government in the past 20 years is the term contractors in reference to its mercenaries. What is more, the term is a contradiction of the United States Treasury definition of a contractor as the individual or business entity that contracts with another entity. These bloodthirsty armed assailants acting as agents of the United States, I am certain, do not have individual contracts with the United States but are properly termed subcontractors because of the evil doing entities, be they Partnerships or corporations, that gather them together and do in fact have contracts with the United States government. So much for my rant against the United States of America. As for France, the practice of creating false identities is nothing short of organized crime, but then France has shown itself as willing to sell weaponry to enemies of innocent nations or even it's so-called allies -- so why is it a surprise that they maintain a cadre of armed individuals who are willing to enter into a Faustian relationship with the laughably idealized nation of Liberty equality and fraternity? Show me another so-called nation that has had so many different changes of government and type of government since the year 1750. To be honest, I think that the reformed nation of Germany that has improved itself so well as a freedom-loving nation since VE day and denazification should be given rule over France, the so-called birthplace of modern democracy.

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
    • Natewatl Are you another one of these Putin’s troll ?

      @frederic4844@frederic48444 жыл бұрын
    • @@natewatl9423 we do the shite so you can sleep safe you ungrateful pos

      @gregmcfaul3657@gregmcfaul36574 жыл бұрын
    • @@natewatl9423 obvious troll is a troll

      @sisamusudroka3000@sisamusudroka30003 жыл бұрын
  • *Thanks for posting this video!!!*

    @MisteriosGloriosos922@MisteriosGloriosos9222 жыл бұрын
  • Kudos to the French Foreign Legion..,so reminiscent of "SPQR," of very long ago.

    @ademmalik3388@ademmalik33882 жыл бұрын
  • RESPECT TO FFL!

    @mrznjaljubav3014@mrznjaljubav30145 жыл бұрын
  • Quelle fierté pour la France !

    @PasDeBrasFR@PasDeBrasFR5 жыл бұрын
  • Exceptional Soldiers.Long long basic, tough and so motivated.Would not like to be a bad guy and engage them in a fire fight.

    @davidwadsworth8982@davidwadsworth89825 жыл бұрын
  • My sons friend Lorenzo died last year with them. Extremely sad

    @Kiwionwing@Kiwionwing6 жыл бұрын
    • Lorenzo Rodriguez, South African from the Bluff in Durban. I served with him too. we played rugby for the French Army together RIP bru

      @blaisebravo6797@blaisebravo67975 жыл бұрын
    • I know it's personal but can you tell where it happened? Mali or some other terrorist pit? Sad but honorable.

      @teller1290@teller12905 жыл бұрын
    • rip

      @jivasasha@jivasasha5 жыл бұрын
    • Je suis desole , Monsieur pour la perte du fils de votre ami . SVP . Dites lui Merci et si je peux me permettre , dites lui aussi qu il est certainement en tres bonne compagnie et qu il peut etre fier de lui . Un Francais .

      @enricoroutabille7943@enricoroutabille79435 жыл бұрын
    • @@blaisebravo6797 May your Legionnaire Brother Rest in Paradise. I have lost to many Military Brothers that I served with in both the U.S. Marine Corps and in the U.S. Army. Much Respect.

      @chicodecoster@chicodecoster5 жыл бұрын
  • Brandon fighting for democracy. Very rare situation he's in. Thanks bro

    @Nipit-po8fl@Nipit-po8fl5 жыл бұрын
  • Mr. Johnny English doing his best 2:33

    @flowerofash4439@flowerofash44395 жыл бұрын
    • Hehehe....:)

      @Infoseek777@Infoseek7775 жыл бұрын
  • Respect

    @Pavlosk8@Pavlosk85 жыл бұрын
  • I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.

    @Kasyom@Kasyom5 жыл бұрын
    • hope you dont get in a sand storm. was in one in new mexico. BAD!!

      @williamdaniels6943@williamdaniels69435 жыл бұрын
    • I assume you dont like high ground either

      @sisamusudroka3000@sisamusudroka30005 жыл бұрын
    • An office is much safer.

      @leecountffl9826@leecountffl98265 жыл бұрын
    • @@sisamusudroka3000 Genius !

      @davidladjani108@davidladjani1085 жыл бұрын
    • Sand is very evil

      @haughtywren788@haughtywren7884 жыл бұрын
  • These are very good men doing a very important job.

    @sundowner998@sundowner9984 жыл бұрын
  • Met some of the guys on R&R in Cyprus and having done time where they had just been serving I was impressed with their behaviour in front of civilians on holiday. Reminded me of how well diciplined the Gurkhas are. .... Except the Legion like the vodka :) - cost me :)

    @petemcdonald8894@petemcdonald88945 жыл бұрын
  • This documentary video is good and very informative.

    @exposingproxystalkingorgan4164@exposingproxystalkingorgan41642 жыл бұрын
  • Love France from America longest Ally

    @timothymartino4716@timothymartino47166 жыл бұрын
    • Timothy Martino since the first days of your country as a free country

      @blackfenbldr9178@blackfenbldr91786 жыл бұрын
    • so why all the surrendering mocking. we don't do this like the USA didn't won a war since 1945 and recently cowrdly left the battlefield in syria. I dont speak directly to you but french bashing isn't worth it, it's brainwashing to me. i hope some day americans get an idea or self crtic and make their own mind aminds a wr without political influence like Trump's

      @titi710@titi7105 жыл бұрын
    • @@titi710 The man you are responding to does not deserve that type of criticism. In the US many love France and many despise France. That's the way it is. Timothy Martino should not be held responsible for something he did not do nor expressed since he obviously loves France.

      @valmeysien9680@valmeysien96805 жыл бұрын
    • @@titi710 US has only " lost " the Vietnam war after withdrawing because it was pointless. Every other war was won; Afghanistan, Iraq, you name it

      @Alexander-zt9kz@Alexander-zt9kz4 жыл бұрын
    • @@Alexander-zt9kz I'm interested in knowing what your definition of winning a war is? The Korean war wasn't exactly a victory and Afghanistan is definitely not a victory.

      @brynotar@brynotar4 жыл бұрын
  • " La Legion Etrangere " Best army in the world. period.

    @Kingleazard@Kingleazard5 жыл бұрын
    • There favourite colour is WHITE

      @jeff6199@jeff61994 жыл бұрын
    • British Gurkhas are the best.

      @shreezankunwar8163@shreezankunwar81633 жыл бұрын
  • LPN Legionnaire une jour Legionnaire toujours..

    @mac1975@mac19756 жыл бұрын
  • my uncle was 18 years in the legion, one cousin 18 months and another one 3 years

    @oranjelicht@oranjelicht Жыл бұрын
  • a lot of great guys there

    @liamh6225@liamh62254 жыл бұрын
  • im kenyan and when my country was mentioned i feel so inspired cause I want to join too reply if you are from E.A

    @chiccomazrui9168@chiccomazrui91683 жыл бұрын
    • Imagine wishing to join a French mercenary group which maintains French imperialism in Africa, especially as an African yourself. These Foreign Legions have been caught bombing Malian weddings, killing 19 and getting away with it. And here you are trying to join them? As if all those anti-France protests in Western Africa, be in be in Mali or CAR, weren't enough to open your eyes.

      @psychout3481@psychout34812 жыл бұрын
    • @@psychout3481 troll

      @fabs8498@fabs8498 Жыл бұрын
  • I want join FFL but get France visa verry hard for Nepalese... Higher costs for visa iam a middle class family.... So for me hard but i do hard work and collect money..... I join FFL .... That's my dream..

    @roshanthakur8081@roshanthakur80816 жыл бұрын
    • Roshan Thakur maybe visit the french embassy in Nepal to ask them some questions

      @lioneliv3195@lioneliv31956 жыл бұрын
    • I already try Embassy they want bank statement , that's my problems i have no lot money

      @roshanthakur8081@roshanthakur80816 жыл бұрын
    • Roshan Thakur Get a tourist visa,...go to France, join the Legion.

      @thatdutchguy2882@thatdutchguy28826 жыл бұрын
    • PM me

      @hammerdown184@hammerdown1846 жыл бұрын
    • Go Gurkha

      @345675387@3456753876 жыл бұрын
  • My mom had me shooting paper targets at 6 years old with a Ruger 22 rifle from the sitting position. Mom was a Marine! So was dad! I served 27years. I'm 72.

    @tacitusthehistories5417@tacitusthehistories54173 жыл бұрын
  • Equipment from the 1980s isn't really "old". The US Military, the mightiest military in the world, still uses a lot of equipment from that time period, for example the M4 Carbine (basically a M-16), F-15 fighter jet, Chinook transport helicopter etc. etc..

    @generalripper7528@generalripper75283 жыл бұрын
  • I have so much respect for them, but it's kinda sad because when there's no one else to go upfront against the enemies the legions the first to go and get shot.

    @SAIKODA777@SAIKODA7775 жыл бұрын
  • Most Interesting!! and very well presented.

    @jamesbulldogmiller@jamesbulldogmiller6 жыл бұрын
  • the big bonus to the FFL we all know is the new identity ! it helps people that wanna help themselves

    @bakedpagan4674@bakedpagan46744 жыл бұрын
  • I regret not trying out for the french foreign legion when I was younger

    @hmoobmeeka@hmoobmeeka5 жыл бұрын
    • How old are you

      @metigame1450@metigame14502 жыл бұрын
  • Respect à la Légion!

    @gaetaboss_mattj3047@gaetaboss_mattj30475 жыл бұрын
    • Sorry, mate, but weaponised prostitution is nothing to respect.

      @natewatl9423@natewatl94234 жыл бұрын
  • Yet France ends up being their nation at the end, this is the reason of their sacrifice. They end up (glorious, and highly respected in France) French citizens.

    @joshuahillel2450@joshuahillel24505 жыл бұрын
    • I say these ones really deserved their passport.. Not like these refugees..

      @joshuahillel2450@joshuahillel24505 жыл бұрын
  • Ah my gramps was apparently in the legion.Proud granddaughter. I still never found out that much about him.still luv you.

    @radiolefantome8936@radiolefantome8936 Жыл бұрын
  • Take the time to read about "Marcel "Bruno" Bigeard who was a French military officer, fought in World War II, Indochina and Algeria. He was one of the commanders in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and is thought by many to have been a dominating influence on French 'unconventional' warfare thinking from that time onwards". (a quote from Wikipedia). I doubt you will find anyone else with such a dangerous and yet exciting life! I wish his exploits would be published in English. I can't even formulate the words that describe my admiration for him!

    @TheWolfgangfritz@TheWolfgangfritz3 жыл бұрын
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