Originally Posted by Hutchie

I was lucky not to have gone to Vietnam, I actually put in for it in basic (reverse psycology). Years later I went to the wall and found 4 guys names engraved, that I went thru basic training with. Every one gave me the vibe that they would be cannon fodder when we trained. I would not have wanted any of those guys near me in combat.

Are you saying the guys who were killed were guys you didn't want near you in combat? Yeah, because it's only the fvck ups who get killed in combat right? And you would have just been a real hero I'm sure.

They gave their lives, the most they could give, more than any of us have given. You didn't go, therefore you don't get to comment on how they died or the nature of their combat service.

I realize this thread is quite old but I found it incredibly helpful. I need some help and I hope that you guys can give me some advice or some links for my questions:

1) I am very phsyically fit. I have trained martial arts since I was four years old having obtained a 5th degree black belt in a Korean hybrid martial art, a 1st degree black belt in Krav Maga, a blue belt in BJJ and I have studied Jeet Kune Do, Kyoksuhin Karate and Judo. I am a work out nut doing P90X on a daily basis and adding on other various workouts as well. So fitness is not an issue. I do have a lower back injury but it rarely acts up. Will they do x-rays or will the lower back issue be a problem?

2) Hitting on the fitness part, what all is expected from you on the day of? I know it's a minimum of four pull ups, a mile under 12 minutes and some kind of "beep test" but I also heard that you have to climb up a rope without using your feet and you have to fight the first day. Could someone help distinguish fact from fiction?

3) I graduated high school but I am a martial arts coach and haven't really needed anything outside of "this is how you throw a kick and a punch" since I have a manager to run my business. I am petrified of the psychometric technique tests and other tests. Are there any links you guys could provide to help study and prepare?

4) I know nothing about the French language. I know they'll teach me but I like to be prepared. Will Rosetta Stone or some other language soft ware help?

Yes, I know the Legion isn't a cake walk. Yes, I know what I'm getting into (at least a general idea, of course). I leave in June or July of this year and I am ready for the next five years to be hell. I want and need this to happen and I'm scared I'll be sent home. There is nothing left for me here and I HAVE to get away (not trouble with the law, just personel). Please, help me with any links of tests to help get me "smarter" (LOL) and help me with fact vs fiction.

Legio Patra Nostra

You can forget all that Beau G'este BS Le Legion Estrange is a highly trained Unit and you will be selected at what you would be good at just like any other Army , rank comes very hard because of lack of turn over if you make Cpt. in your first five you've done well .

How many people do they turn away tetvet? I heard it was 1 in 3.

Its not so much being tuned away but do you fit in do you have the right personality that meshes with your Comrades , in the U.S. it is the same in Rangers , SF and Special Ops .

Originally Posted by TheFutureIsNotYetWritten

How many people do they turn away tetvet? I heard it was 1 in 3.

It´s one out of seven who makes it in.
Your back problem will probably be a showstopper.
You're expected to complete the Kepi Blanc march of 62 mi with full kit pack.

It's taking severely hard repetitive hits to the back that cause me problems, nothing else. I run every day, I train long hours every day, not a problem.

So the Legion has become more special ops then average military then?

The physical challenges you face in the military has nothing in common with what you have tried before. The vast majority of soldiers who have to leave the service do so because of attrition of especially knees and back.

No, FFL is quite similar to the other French army units.

Have you served or is this coming from a friend or the things you have read? I really appreciate your help, of course, but I just want to make sure I'm not expecting A) a cake walk as some would have me believe B) that I'm am or not joining something a Ranger couldn't even survive (i.e. harder then the special forces) and of course C) that I'm as psychologically prepared as possible. So I want to make sure that I'm getting info as up to date and direct as possible short of flying over to France and asking at the Fort myself.

Why don't you just Google it the Legion is not permitted to serve in metropolitan France because they mutinied some years ago in Algeria , I think they are based in Corsica .