The French Foreign Legion was created by King Louis Phillipe in 1831 to keep potential dissidents busy fighting for France rather than against it. Because enlistment historically required no official identification, many criminals joined under assumed names to hide their unsavory backgrounds.
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| A drawing showing French Foreign Legion troops in action against tribesmen in Morocco in 1908. By Le Petit Journal |
Anyone joining the French Foreign Legion must do so anonymously with a fake name. This practice is known as the anonymat. This is because the Legion wants to attract recruits from all walks of life, regardless of their background or circumstances. The anonymat allows recruits to start with a clean slate and build a new life for themselves.
Those selected for the French Foreign Legion sign a five-year enlistment contract and are dispatched for basic training (including French-language instruction, if needed) with the 4th Foreign Regiment, based at Castelnaudary, France.
Basic training in the Foreign Legion is notoriously rigorous, both physically and mentally. Recruits are pushed to their limits, both in terms of their physical fitness and their ability to work under pressure. They are also taught the basic skills of soldiering, such as weapons handling, tactics, and survival skills.
At the end of basic training, recruits are awarded the traditional white cap, the képi blanc, in an impressive torchlight ceremony. The képi blanc is a symbol of the legionnaire's commitment to the Legion and its values. The green beret remains the Legion's battle-dress headgear, but the képi blanc is worn on special occasions, such as parades and ceremonies.
A new recruit to the French Foreign Legion is paid £1,018 a month net. Food and lodging is included.
While the normal marching cadence is 116 paces per minute, the French Foreign Legion soldiers come on at a measured 88.
While the normal marching cadence is 116 paces per minute, the French Foreign Legion soldiers come on at a measured 88.
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