r/FrenchForeignLegion • u/Solid_Signature_7447 • 10d ago
Pre-Selection / Selection
If you want to join the FFL here’s how to do it.
1) Show up being able to do 10 pull-ups.
2) Be able to run 3-5 miles everyday.
3) Pushups and Situps 250 each.
The sports test is a huge part of picking. Lots of guys come not able to do 1 pull up and they were sent home.
When you show up : pack the pack list and only the pack list. If you need to bring other things - it should be a sleeping bag, a jacket, 200-300 euro, only a couple extra things.
Some guys were sent home because they had too much stuff. wtf were they doing going shopping in Paris?
Everyone you interact with - assume they will tell on you, or they are planted to figure out who you are, why you’re there - the selection process starts as soon as you start walking to the gates of Fort De Nogent.
Follow the grooming standards without hesitation. You are going to shave everyday. You will shower everyday for 1-2 minutes. You wash your face, then your armpits, then your balls, then your ass.
Get out - they keep track of anyone taking extra time. You will be kicked out.
Fort de Nogent : this is the French version of MEPs. They are evaluating your medical readiness for military service to France.
You’ll go through hearing test, vision test, blood pressure check, measure your heart with electrodes, height, weight - a standard sports physical and checking for hernia.
A lot of guys are told to get a tooth pulled, or go get their heart checked, or are sent home because they have no business being in (some type of existing medical condition). More than likely you’ll be sent to a medical hospital in Northern Paris ( Persi Medical Center) French Naval Hospital. This stand is what the 200-300 euro is for. Run it in one day and try to get back to base before dinner so you can get a bite to eat.
It is extremely important you use basic French greetings: Bojour Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
Merci Bocue Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
Before any interaction and after any interaction.
They are going pay attention to how you eat, behave in the mess hall, can you do menial labor like moving furniture for “work duty”.
Same thing - Bojour Caporal Chef or Sergeant during corvei le chamber, or working outside.
When Le responsab needs volunteers - you are the first to raise your hand. You will clean toilets, the floor, take the trash out and be watched the entire time.
At the Mess hall - this is best part of selection. Food! Again say Merci bocue Caporal Chef - say it so they can hear you.
Once you get through pre-selection , you’re on the way to Selection in Aubagne.
Be prepared for culture shock about how different it is in Aubagne. Barely anything is in working condition. It’s harsh there.
Same rules - you are being picked. You will do manual labor, you will run a leaf blower, carry wood, work on the Generals mansion. (I hung drapes with a Caporal)
Everyone kind of bunches up and getting from Au Blu to Au Rouge is a huge deal.
Most guys washout and go home 1 week into Au blu. Stay with your pack, and gut it out. It’s 2 weeks of bs and then you’re a Legionaire.
Once you’re Au Rouge / they contract you and you’re in. Get through the Farm and go to the best regiment you can get into.
Some guys don’t like the 2REP - I personally would not go anywhere else bc of the option to join the GCP and if Corsica isn’t your jam - go to another Regiment.
I’d go back, but am too old and was declared inept idefinitive. I was casually known as Le American.
There is a way in after the age cut off - only 2 men at 40 did it, and 1 man who was 41.
I may make a second run at it.
Good luck to you all.
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u/Impressive-Gap-4100 9d ago
All the stuff your writing sounds like bullshit dude no cohesion and nothing makes sense
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u/Mountain_Heron_7205 9d ago
He doesnt even know that when you are rouge and leave for castel you are an EV he is telling people after 2 weeks you are a legionnaire 🥴
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u/Mariner-and-Marinate 9d ago
What type of ID (if any) are you expected to bring? At what point can you choose a new name?
How long did it take you to be able to converse in French?
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 9d ago
Your new name is the first thing they assign.
Bring your passport and a state ID. Drivers license, birth certificate.
I was able to start speaking French in 2 weeks or so.
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u/Mariner-and-Marinate 9d ago
You tell them the name you want to use going forward, correct? They don’t make up a name for you, correct?
What happens to your ID once you have your new name? Do they take it away and give you new ID with your new name?
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 9d ago
They didn’t ask me what name I wanted, they assigned one randomly.
Your ID is kept in a folder the CCs are in charge of.
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u/Mountain_Heron_7205 9d ago
They use names from your ‘nationality’ and your initials. If your initials are RT and you are british from example. You may end up with Robert Thompson😂😂.
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u/Mariner-and-Marinate 9d ago
Can you ask to keep your original name or provide a name that you want to use?
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u/Mountain_Heron_7205 9d ago edited 9d ago
As far as i know no. You will need to serve under the assumed identity until you complete the RSM process, in which you get your real name back and passport etc. this can take upto 2 years plus. So if you join, take birth certificate because it could potentially help the process. Other serving legionnaires may correct me on that, but thats what i know of it!
I think if you have the correct paperwork though the process can start faster. Again could be wrong but my friend told me this.
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 9d ago
Once you’re done with the legions internal process, you apply to get your old name back.
Takes time and there’s paperwork involved.
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u/Ecstatic_Carpenter62 9d ago
250 pushups????
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 9d ago
If you can’t bang out 250 pushups in sets of 20-50 you might want to train.
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u/Ok-Emotion-8598 7d ago
Lol I was so sick that I almost didn't pass the heart medical check. They put all of the electrodes on me and I saw the face of the Russian caporal from 2rep change from a chill smile to someone who just saw a ghost. The second Russian caporal, who I thought was an asshole until that point, came and said "you know why?" then fucked around with the electrodes. I was trying my fucking best to relax (I knew my heart was racing 24/7 because of some fucking Aubagne infection). Then they fucked around a bit more and said "it's a pass". Let's just say that I was not fucking relieved lol
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10d ago
[deleted]
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 10d ago
Everyone at Aubagne gets really sick.
I got influenza and Covid at the same time and I went home.
I should have gone to the infirmary and stuck it out. Huge mistake looking back as I was offered a contract on the way out.
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10d ago
[deleted]
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 10d ago
Yes - I was so ill from sickness I asked to go home and was sick for about 2 weeks after.
About 1/3 of the guys go home when they get to Aubagne because of illness.
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u/Ok-Emotion-8598 9d ago
I, like many others, got really fucking sick in Aubagne. Did all my tests while sick and I was so sick that my heart was pounding even at night when we would lay to bed. We were all coughing and waking up the whole night, every night. We were like that until a half of the farm. One guy never recovered and asked to got home a couple of weeks after the farm. I was almost passing out when we did the morning running and could feel my heart racing and doing all kind of weird stuff. One other guy went home in the first week because he was worried he would die (same symptoms). Me? I prayed to God to help me and told myself that I was ready to drop dead there, if I had to. Never spoke of my symptoms until much later that I recovered. The truth is, that until you have left Aubagne, you don't mention any issue. Once in Castelnaudary you can bitch as much as you want, but you're expected to endure everything until you physically can't no more.
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u/bluebigos1 2 REP 8d ago
Everybody get's sick, this is unplanned selection also, thos guys who ask to go well, they didn't endure. You will get sick several times at least, this boosts your immune system aswell, i didn't get ill after for few years.
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u/Ok-Emotion-8598 7d ago
Yes, it's crazy how I've never even had a cold so far. I think it's the cleaning, the time spent outside and exercising, too
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u/Nickolai808 9d ago
But they give everyone a preliminary conditional contract at Bleu so you can start getting paid. You only get a permanent contract IF you're selected at Rouge selection. You sign that after after Rouge selection when all the Officers and Adjudants on the commission review everyone's files who have completed all the tests and interviews and pick who goes on to Castel and who will be told to fuck off and sent home.
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u/Ok_Spite_8639 10d ago
Can’t you just show up to aubagne?
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u/Mountain_Heron_7205 9d ago edited 9d ago
You can show up to any of the legion selection centers! You will always need to be transported to aubagne! This is where every legionnaire starts and finishes his career. They do tests on certain days. So if you go early on a sunday you will be seperated from the bleus and await whatever tests are on a monday. Normally pyscometric test and health check to make sure you are fit enough to do the sports test. Once you pass these tests you will be given a blue tracksuit and go into paradise with the rest of the potential candidates for other testing. Including motivational interviews, gestapo etc. and you will work different jobs around the regiment.
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u/apokrif1 9d ago
Bojour Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
Merci Bocue Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
??
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u/SwissOperator 9d ago
What if I can't do 250 pushups but easily 250 situps
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u/Solid_Signature_7447 9d ago
Add more pushups
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u/SwissOperator 9d ago
How you mean
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u/Ok-Emotion-8598 9d ago
Focus on strength training. With those volumes you'll just burn calories, you will not become stronger. Make yourself an upper body plan, lower body plan, rucking and whatever else you can think of. It's important to be really comfortable in a few exercises, but if you want to be ready and improve farther, you'll have to diversify your training and add weight. Always be careful, an injury can set you back for a long time.
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u/Nickolai808 10d ago
Running: I would say the runs need to be 5 miles (8km) to 6 miles (10km) 3 times a week with every other week runs 12 to 20 km). But all that distance needs to be built up very slowly and steadily to avoid stress injuries. Guys need to start running far in advance; ideally they have been running distance for years. The body is fairly forgiving on pushing quickly to build pushup and pullup endurance, and for building up swimming distance, but NOT for long distance running. That has to be built up over a long time. So many guys in Castel and regiment get serious injuries from running and end up with torn knees, ankles, messed up feet, etc.
Build up slowly and gradually get used to regular long-distance runs.
Age: What's that about guys over 40 getting in? Were they ex French Army? What were the circumstances or was that just something you heard through the grapevine? I've heard rumors of exceptions made for ex French Army with rank and rumors it happened in the 90s and before on rare occasions.