Been there for two days, did my medical and sport tests and was shown the door. The Chinese Cpl in charge told me that I was too fat and that if he had been in at the reception he wouldn't have even let me in to try. I am 186 cm and 95 kilograms. There isn't much fat on me but I really could lose a few kilograms. The Cpl also sad that ‘only’ doing the norm is not enough and that I have to do better. I did 7.4 on the beep test (Luc-Léger) and 5 pullups. Norms are lvl 7 on the beep and 4 pullups (the official web page says 3 but in the Legion they still ask for 4).
I think that they didn't let me pass because there was a LOT of people, so they raised the required norms to get rid of the as much people as they could. In those 2 days there were at least 40 candidates and only 5 passed to the next level of selection. On that next level there were about 130 people (more or less). That's in black shirts and sweaters. In rouge (red) section there were about 30 people.
Also big number of people were turned down on medical reasons. Few people had bad teeth and even a few geniuses failed drugs test (!). In my group even 6-7 people had some heart problems. My guess is that it is because medical is right after breakfast which is not really copious (a loaf of bred and some jam) and people drank a giant cup of instant coffee with, it so they get pumped with caffeine.
My next goal is simple. 10, 10, 10 : 10 kilos down, lvl 10 on the beep test and 10 pullups. I don't know if I'm going to try again. That depends on what cards life is going to play so I'll just wait, train more and see what the future brings.
And a word of advice. Don't go if you can't do at least lvl 8-9 on the beep test and at least 7-8 pullups. And cut on the coffee in the mornings. You really don't need to drink and eat everything you get in there. Be smart and for God's sake, kids, DON'T DO DRUGS!!
I was in Aubagne so I don't know what it's like in other centers. If you have any questions fell free to ask.
I think that they didn't let me pass because there was a LOT of people, so they raised the required norms to get rid of the as much people as they could. In those 2 days there were at least 40 candidates and only 5 passed to the next level of selection. On that next level there were about 130 people (more or less). That's in black shirts and sweaters. In rouge (red) section there were about 30 people.
Also big number of people were turned down on medical reasons. Few people had bad teeth and even a few geniuses failed drugs test (!). In my group even 6-7 people had some heart problems. My guess is that it is because medical is right after breakfast which is not really copious (a loaf of bred and some jam) and people drank a giant cup of instant coffee with, it so they get pumped with caffeine.
My next goal is simple. 10, 10, 10 : 10 kilos down, lvl 10 on the beep test and 10 pullups. I don't know if I'm going to try again. That depends on what cards life is going to play so I'll just wait, train more and see what the future brings.
And a word of advice. Don't go if you can't do at least lvl 8-9 on the beep test and at least 7-8 pullups. And cut on the coffee in the mornings. You really don't need to drink and eat everything you get in there. Be smart and for God's sake, kids, DON'T DO DRUGS!!
I was in Aubagne so I don't know what it's like in other centers. If you have any questions fell free to ask.