The French Foreign Legion: Ultimate Modern-Day Warriors And Their Rendezvous With Danger

Also known as an Army within an Army, the French Foreign Legion was established in 1831 as an effort to enable foreign nationals to serve in the French Armed Forces under French officers.

In the early years of its establishment, more often than not criminals were admitted. That has certainly changed, because for some time now convicted felons will not be granted the opportunity to serve and to wear the coveted ‘Kapi Blanc’ that is only achieved by 1 out of every 12 applicants!

This elite military unit of close to 8,000 volunteers, considered by many as mercenaries with a 5-year contract that can be renewed, during which foreign volunteers get a new identity. After completing their tour, they can keep their new identity along with French citizenship or they can simply go back to their former life.

Roughly 75% of all Legionnaires are non-French and come from more than 100 countries.

The French Foreign Legion has been deployed to the most dangerous hot spots during its long history such as Rwanda, Chad, Lebanon, Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many more. 1 out of 10 Legionnaires will not make it back home alive from depolyment.

Many more of their deployments will never be known to the public.

But whenever the French government issues the order, the mission becomes sacred for the Legion.

To learn more about these modern-day warriors, pull up your chair and check out this amazing 50-minute documentary I found for you.

You will be impressed!

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Technorati Tags: Armed Forces, French Foreign Legion, Kapi Blanc, warriors

Tags: Armed Forces, French Foreign Legion, Kapi Blanc, warriors

Monday, June 21st, 2010 Uncategorized

10 Comments to The French Foreign Legion: Ultimate Modern-Day Warriors And Their Rendezvous With Danger

is there any way i can travel to france without a passport? | world travel tours
June 21, 2010

[...] The French Foreign Legion: Ultimate Modern-Day Warriors And Their … [...]

John W. Zimmer
June 21, 2010

Wow Tiger – this is a long video! I remember the legion in a movie that started with a fort of dead fighters “holding” rifles and then the movie flashed back to the events that led up to that moment. Very interesting and truly an option if one wants to start over.

Tiger
June 22, 2010

Hey John,
I know. The video is a lot longer than the ones I usually make available.
But somehow I got sucked into it myself and I thought, heck, maybe somebody else
out there might be intrigued, too. There’s nothing on TV anyway, right?!
Yeah, the Legion is truly interesting to say the least.
I even forgot to mention that years ago I met a former Legionnaire (from Madagascar). The nicest
guy you could meet. Spoke of his 5 years (duringt th 80s) as a great adventure and being able to travel.
To Chad, Lebanon, etc. if you know what I mean.
Thanks for writing in, John.

SenseiMattKlein
June 26, 2010

Interesting video. Almost makes we want to join but I doubt if they take the over-50′s black belt or not. lol. These guys are bad-right up there with Navy Seals, SAS, Gurkas, Special Forces.

There was no way that left flank would be overrun.

pharmacy tech
June 29, 2010

Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article

Tiger
June 29, 2010

Thanks for writing in.
I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed the article.
Come back again soon.

Tiger
June 29, 2010

Glad you enjoyed it, Matt.
The video turned out to be longer than I usually post clips, but I somehow got sucked into it.
Yeah, these guys are amazing and I find it impressive how they mold a highly effective force around 100 nationalities/cultures.
Great to hear from you, Matt.