How to make the most out of your contract?

[Lord Pchelovod]

Imagine we've made it into Legion. We obviously want to make the most of our first contract. What is the best way to make the most out of our contract once we sign for the first 5 years?
● How would a legionnaire get the best/preferred unit or regiment?
● If a recruit has a preferred role/occupation in Legion, what are the best ways to get it?
● What is the best way to make the most out of the 5 years?
● What do current or former legionnaires recommend?

 

[dusaboss]

Lord Pchelovod I'm not a legionnaire but I really can't see how anyone can give you a answer.

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

Lord Pchelovod I'm not a legionnaire but I really can't see how anyone can give you a answer.

Well everyone's Legion experience is different. Of course you get food and living all for free, and you get paid a wage.

The question is, how do you make your experience the best and finish the contract with most satisfaction/efficient use of time?

Some people want to just wait for contract to finish, but surely there are better ways to pass those 5 years?

So I come here to ask the question to former or current Legionnaires; maybe they have something they wanted to do sooner, or found a way to get more out of their service.

 

[Le petit caporal]

The minimum amount of taule and the maxi of permission / leave ?
A few stripes for the pay
A few stages /courses, that can help in civvy street
I have nearly all my driving licenses, bus and lorry...petrol tanker

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

The minimum amount of taule and the maxi of permission / leave ?
A few stripes for the pay
A few stages /courses, that can help in civvy street
I have nearly all my driving licenses, bus and lorry...petrol tanker

Well of course, I hope that anyone that does get into Legion doesn't get into scandal or war crimes. What kind of courses can we expect to be able to take in Legion for new skills?

 

[Le petit caporal]

For some one doing just a five year contract and back to civvy. Mechanic, cook, medic, secrétaire, HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and cooling) specialists, signals/telecoms (transmissions in French military) can also be useful in civvy (e.g. merchant navy), driving, civil works/construction, bus driver (know several in Nîmes who are currently working there and many others in the past too) or you can try your luck as a security guard, static/mobile, dog handler (many of these jobs are occupied by the so-called Zupards, boys from the hood)... Am sure there is more.

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

That sounds good. 5 years is a good sum of time. I think finishing with trade skills would be good for transition to civilian.

How do you get onto the courses once you are in the Legion/assigned to a unit?

 

[keegan mactavish]

For some one doing just a five year contract and back to civvy. Mechanic, cook, medic, secrétaire, HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and cooling) specialists, signals/telecoms (transmissions in French military) can also be useful in civvy (e.g. merchant navy), driving, civil works/construction, bus driver (know several in Nîmes who are currently working there and many others in the past too) or you can try your luck as a security guard, static/mobile, dog handler (many of these jobs are occupied by the so-called Zupards, boys from the hood)... Am sure there is more.

From what I understood on the forum, it takes more than one 5-year contract to be up for private contracting right?

 

[Le petit caporal]

I have never done private contracting, and never will. I know one legionnaire who went private with less than 5 years service (he was killed).

 

[dusaboss]

I have never done private contracting, and never will. I know one legionnaire who went private with less than 5 years service (he was killed).

Hmm... Will full 5 years (or 10, 15) reduce your chances of being killed? I don't know... probably more experience is better but things those days are changing fast and no training can prepare you for many situations where you can find your self in. Of course any training is better than no training, good long training is better than crappy short one, but biggest killer of soldiers today are IEDs . Really there is no much protection against that apart from knowing how they are made, hove they can be set and how to avoid them. Any army who don't train their men on that matter, are really far behind.

 

[Le petit caporal]

That sounds good. 5 years is a good sum of time. I think finishing with trade skills would be good for transition to civilian.

How do you get onto the courses once you are in the Legion/assigned to a unit?

If you intend just doing 5 there's no point asking. For example : sniper, mortar or anti tank aren't of much use for that kind of stuff in civvie
To get on a course (stage) of any kind, good conduct and a decent French (a lot of classroom courses and theory with exams during and at the end of the stage). It means, for a Serb, who knows it all about the Legion but speaks and, writes in English, he won't get any if he cannot grasp French. Just saying...

Hmm... Will full 5 years (or 10, 15) reduce your chances of being killed? I don't know... probably more experience is better but things those days are changing fast and no training can prepare you for many situations where you can find your self in. Of course any training is better than no training, good long training is better than crappy short one, but biggest killer of soldiers today are IEDs . Really there is no much protection against that apart from knowing how they are made, hove they can be set and how to avoid them. Any army who don't train their men on that matter, are really far behind.

The dude i was referring to, Pop Sorin, was Romanian. An orphan brought up in deplorable circumstances, but was jovial (at least it seemed so, but who knows ?). He wasn't the only one like that. In March 91, I was Milan anti tank and I ran the club compagnie. Before, it was a hot dog and beer, with me, it was hot dog, burgers, French fries, hamburgers, Cantonese rice, spring rolls, merguez and other stuff, Kro, Heineken, whisky, Coca Cola, Orangina and Perrier, TV (many rooms hadn't TVs) and videos. There were dudes like Pop and others who came with their stools (I didn't have enough, so they brought theirs from their own room). They would install to watch the 2 vids (every morning I would go to the bibliothèque/foyer to select the films). They would watch them eyes wide opened (some, probably had never seen a colour TV before, never mind a vhs video). Week ends, no officers or sous-off', just the bureau de semaine. Lights out : 22.30 h and was meant to close the club. I didn't, and we watched a third vid, in silence, just in case. At times, especially at the end of the month, many had no money. I would give them credit and if the company 2IC, my boss, had learnt this it meant taule for me. Good lad was Pop, hadn't known any Romanians before him.
From what I heard from different sources, he was killed in the Comoros in 1995, during Bob Denards failed coup d'état. No idea where his body lies and I don't think many in Romania care. Age approx 23/25.

RIP wherever you lay, Pop

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

Well, everyone has to start somewhere - the first 5 years. Maybe things will change during service, maybe economy falls and signing another contract is only way to go forward. Even if it's only one contract, everyone wants to get the best they can. Will certain roles/courses or regiments be restricted just because I'm a legionnaire on his initial 5 year contract?

 

[Le petit caporal]

The budget dictates everything and depending what its, will depend how it is spent (no more throwing it out the window like by gone years). Save as much as you can your first contract and try to obtain some diplomas that may serve in civvy. Take it from there.

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

Oh yes definitely. The wages may not be best, but it is 5 years where your food and living bills are much less. I plan to invest most or all of my Legion wages, no gambling or spending on parties or trivial things. Not much good doing 5 years of hard service and leaving with little transferable skills.

 

[Rapace]

(...) To get on a course (stage) of any kind, good conduct and a decent French (a lot of classroom courses and theory with exams during and at the end of the stage). (...)

Very well summarised. Getting the best of your first contract is definitely a matter of having the right attitude (always available, disciplined, no unnecessary bitching, quick learner, etc.) both in and out of duty (no binge drinking or doing stupid things like fighting in bars, that would take you to the nearest police station). Rapidly achieving a good mastery of French is essential.

(...) Will certain roles/courses or regiments be restricted just because I'm a legionnaire on his initial 5 year contract?

Of course, as certain courses will require you to have reached a certain rank that you can't achieve in your first 5-year contract. In some cases, for specialised (and expensive) courses, the Legion may ask you to extend your contract, if you want to do it. A simple matter of ROI (return on investment).
In any case, training is given in priority to legionnaires identified as having 'potential'. This is the attitude thing mentioned above, but potential also means legionnaires who are identified as willing to make a career in the Legion (or at least, open to the idea). So, if your intention is to do only one contract, don't say it, leave some doors open for a potential extension. Be wise...

 

[Surfguy]

Mechanics always seem to be in work , I've got a couple of mates who spanner for a living and do well, its a trade you cant bluff your way through.

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

Getting the best of your first contract is definitely a matter of having the right attitude (always available, disciplined, no unnecessary bitching, quick learner, etc.) both in and out of duty (no binge drinking or doing stupid things like fighting in bars, that would take you to the nearest police station).

Is this common for off-duty Legionnaires to do stupid things? I'm a bit of a straight arrow, plain guy. Don't associate with people that drink, party, fight.
Are there common traps or situations where Legionnaires fall into and get in trouble?

 

[Papillon]

From what I understood on the forum, it takes more than one 5-year contract to be up for private contracting right?

No

Is this common for off-duty Legionnaires to do stupid things?

I'm a bit of a straight arrow, plain guy. Don't associate with people that drink, party, fight.

Are there common traps or situations where Legionnaires fall into and get in trouble?

Don’t no how things are now, but your list above in what you personally like and don’t do thinks you would have been spending a lot of nights on your own
Work hard and play even harder but hey we are all different think the bottom line is your own motivation for joining as like everything the more you put in the more drunk and jail you get out

 

[Lord Pchelovod]

Don’t no how things are now, but your list above in what you personally like and don’t do thinks you would have been spending a lot of nights on your own
Work hard and play even harder but hey we are all different think the bottom line is your own motivation for joining as like everything the more you put in the more drunk and jail you get out

Yes. I'm a pretty plain guy, not a big hedonist. Always time to go all out later.
I'll have to try and party harder then. Must be a first for everything.

 

[Rapace]

Is this common for off-duty Legionnaires to do stupid things? I'm a bit of a straight arrow, plain guy. Don't associate with people that drink, party, fight.
Are there common traps or situations where Legionnaires fall into and get in trouble?

What I mean by “stupid things” is not going out and having drink (or more than one) with your friends during off hours. I mean causing major trouble, mayhem (in French called “Trouble à l'ordre public”) like fighting in bars (or even completely destroying them, for the ‘fun’, like I've seen it done, not by legionnaires) anything that could take you to the nearest police station in custody for a few hours. You'll be pinpointed as a trouble maker and if this happens to frequently this will definitely be an issue. And I'm not even talking about more serious things that like stealing a car, having a car crash and killing people (even worse if you're intoxicated), etc. etc. (real examples). Just keep in mind that if you run into such major trouble, the Legion will not do anything for you. Those days are gone. You'll be tried and jailed in a civilian prison and kicked out of the Legion.