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Bastille Day 2018 parade

Rapace

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This year, the Legion will be represented, as usual, by the MLE (Musique de la Légion étrangère), the Legion band, and the sappers of 1er RE and 108 men of 2e REI led by their Chef de Corps (Commanding Officer), Col Steve Carleton (picture below). Attached, in pdf format, a file with all the details you'd like to have about the parade and never dared asking. 200+ pages all in French... :)

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SnafuSmite

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Thanks Rapace, a lot of info there basically answers all questions, I like the fact that they have an bio of each unit involved in the parade as well as their uniforms. 2REG is also represented with their VAC vehicles. Also the images and info on current OPEX was very good.
 

Rapace

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Yes, you're right. Forgot the 2e REG because they will be mounted on their vehicles. Led by their CO Col Grégoire Potiron de Boisfleury, a typically French aristocratic name. Generally more often seen in Cavalry units... :D
Note that a British Officer, Gen Nicholas Nottingham, will parade with the HQ of 1ère Division. He's holding the position of Assistant, Operations as part of an exchange program between French and British armies, with a French general holding a similar position in the 1st (United Kingdom) Division.
 

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This year, the Legion will be represented, as usual, by the MLE (Musique de la Légion étrangère), the Legion band, and the sappers of 1er RE and 108 men of 2e REI led by their Chef de Corps (Commanding Officer), Col Steve Carleton (picture below). Attached, in pdf format, a file with all the details you'd like to have about the parade and never dared asking. 200+ pages all in French... :)

View attachment 3763

As a Marine Corps Engineer, I love that the Sappers, Engineers of the FFL, love the axes and leather apron, Opening the way for all as is in combat, USMC Engineers do the Breeching! As we used to say, Engineers Up! During the original Gulf War we had the breech mission, 8th Engineer Support Battalion and in the Iraq War, 7th Engineer Support Battalion.

On the night of the breech for the Iraqi war, I was at the breech point and it was a sight to see the aerial show missiles and firing overhead and Patriot Missile Batteries firing and intercepting SCUDs.
 
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Le petit caporal

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Them who went to Irak have returned to France and certain were shipped straight to Mali. Have sinced returned to Nîmes and are benefiting in a long overdue leave.
 

SnafuSmite

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This year, the Legion will be represented, as usual, by the MLE (Musique de la Légion étrangère), the Legion band, and the sappers of 1er RE and 108 men of 2e REI led by their Chef de Corps (Commanding Officer), Col Steve Carleton (picture below). Attached, in pdf format, a file with all the details you'd like to have about the parade and never dared asking. 200+ pages all in French... :)

View attachment 3763
Col Steve Carleton has some serious medals on his chest Légion d'honneur among them!
 

Rapace

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It comes with the paquetage (kit).
Not as simple as that... It's true that, after a certain number of years of service, an officer is often presented with the Légion d'honneur, but it also depends on his états de service (records) and the number of citations, rewards received and positions occupied as well. The better the records, the higher the number of citations, the quicker he'll get “la rouge” (the nickname of the Légion d'honneur, due to the colour of the ribbon). In some minority cases, this may never happen though.
 

SnafuSmite

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Well he's got 2 crosses for valour on top of that, so I'd say he's been in the hot stuff and excelled on more than one occasion.
 

Le petit caporal

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Not as simple as that... It's true that, after a certain number of years of service, an officer is often presented with the Légion d'honneur, but it also depends on his états de service (records) and the number of citations, rewards received and positions occupied as well. The better the records, the higher the number of citations, the quicker he'll get “la rouge” (the nickname of the Légion d'honneur, due to the colour of the ribbon). In some minority cases, this may never happen though.
The Légion d'honneur and the attribution has recently received a trimming budgétaire... Pdt Macron obliged!
 

Rapace

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The Légion d'honneur and the attribution has recently received a trimming budgétaire... Pdt Macron obliged!
It's much more than a simple budgetary question. Pdt Macron wants to reduce the quota of Légion d'honneur awarded every year to restore the “value” of the decoration.
 

Le petit caporal

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More to that than what we think and is said. Of course, with people like Bashar el Assad wearing it... the petty diplomacy had to end. Maybe the Pope will be awarded one, who knows? C'est la France.
 

Rapace

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Well... Bashar was once considered respectable by the so-called ‘international community’. A qualified doctor, partly educated in Britain, he seemed to display a better behaviour than his father Hafez, and better also than his elder, more bellicose, brother Bassel, who was supposed to succeed their father, but was killed in a car crash. But we are drifting here...
 

Le petit caporal

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Of course... Did his education in England and there is not more respectable than that... Come on Croatia !

OK, back to Steevie (Col Carletone), I remember that just after taking command of 2e REI, he was dispatched to Mali (without his regiment) to replace the Chef de Corps of the 1er Spahis, wounded in an explosion (first sortie out on the field, i believe?). Not saying he has no claim to fame. Adaption is the key word here. You go where and when you are told. It can not be any other way, even for a high ranking officer.
 
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Joseph Cosgrove

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Not as simple as that... It's true that, after a certain number of years of service, an officer is often presented with the Légion d'honneur, but it also depends on his états de service (records) and the number of citations, rewards received and positions occupied as well. The better the records, the higher the number of citations, the quicker he'll get “la rouge” (the nickname of the Légion d'honneur, due to the colour of the ribbon). In some minority cases, this may never happen though.
A point worth noting is that a person who has the Légion d'honneur can only be judged by someone who has the Légion d'honneur. Which is why so may high court judges have been awarded them. And equally the Chef de Corps of a regiment.
 

Papillon

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This is why I stay on this thread and site when the conversation is educational the content is based on facts or others know more and corrections are taken so humble without offence!
Very interesting thank you and let’s hope we can have more conversation that educates ( well it does me) Thanks
 
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