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I'm old I think

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Bonjour tout le monde. I apologize if this has been posted before but I am 28 years of age, healthy, with some knowledge of French.

Is my age going to be a problem for me? I realize the policy is between 17 and 40 but I imagine that a 38-40 year old Legionnaire is mythic rare if not unheard of. So for me I think the stated rules and the actual rules are not always the same.
 

voltigeur

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There have been 38 year olds accepted. rare, but it does happen.
There are many variables that come into play to be accepted, not just age.
 

IRL_legion

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Probably easier with previous military experience at an older age.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Probably easier with previous military experience at an older age.
Valid point. Only it depends on what the recruiters think. Will he be able to take orders from a pup 20 years his youth? Will he be able to go through all the boring crap as a new recruit? It would be up to him to show that he can take it while in Aubagne and not try and show that he is (once again) in charge.
 

Le petit caporal

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I have heard recently and from high official source (general) that the problem is not the lack of candidates engagés volontaires, but the retaining of experienced, trained and specialists (i.e. personel not re signing up after 5 years). If you are ex mil, having a specialty of some kind it should work in your favour, whatever your age. Big Ifs, I insist.
 

IRL_legion

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I have heard recently and from high official source (general) that the problem is not the lack of candidates engagés volontaires, but the retaining of experienced, trained and specialists (i.e. personel not re signing up after 5 years). If you are ex mil, having a specialty of some kind it should work in your favour, whatever your age. Big Ifs, I insist.
So for people not coming with previous military experience it would be a good idea to express to them that you want to complete more than a 5 year contract.
 

Papillon

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I have heard recently and from high official source (general) that the problem is not the lack of candidates engagés volontaires, but the retaining of experienced, trained and specialists (i.e. personel not re signing up after 5 years). If you are ex mil, having a specialty of some kind it should work in your favour, whatever your age. Big Ifs, I insist.
Good point as don’t think I would have got in with declaring I had done civi prison but I had been in Recce platoon in the Brit army and done the French commando course in 1977.
 

Le petit caporal

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18 years to obtain a pension (aint that much) is it worth the sacrifice? Lower ranks, with lower qualifications are generally not re-enlisted after 5, 6, 7 or 8 years of service (only a few). It makes sense (if you are an accountant).

Post Shitum : do not lay all your eggs in the same basket. You watch many vids about the Legion and you listen mostly to officers and NCOs (sous-officiers) saying one thing and another. These dudes have their career traced in front of them. You are their means! Without you life wouldn't be the same. A quick 5 year contract and call it quits? Why not?

One last thing : spare me this honor and fidelity bull shit, fuquing muppets. Be true to yourself.
 
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Le petit caporal

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So for people not coming with previous military experience it would be a good idea to express to them that you want to complete more than a 5 year contract.

Yes, no, dont know. ..can he do 7 pull ups and score good in Luc Léger ?
Was he a commando, para, meccano or a waiter in the officiers mess ?
 

Papillon

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I think the Legion for some of us was like a chapter from a book: done it, got the T-Shirt, let's move on. Yes there are guys that want to make a life and career out of it and others for which it came at the right time but decided after five years to add more chapters in the book of life. But a cool T-Shirt to have been worn!
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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The minimum that is asked/required of you is 5 years. If you like it afterwards, carry on, if not walk out through the gates your head held high. Anything before 5 years there is no point in calling yourself a legionnaire, unless of course you are still serving.
You will be explained to that it is for 5 , five, cinq years. If you sign then you have given your word.
 

Countdown

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Does anybody know how long the longest serving legionnaire served?(without being a commisioned officer) Longest i have seen is Karl Peters with 28 years as a Caporal-Chef but i guess there are many with way longer service than that.

Long service is fascinating stuff. Jean Thurel served in the french army for more than 75 years and William Hiseland of England served for 80 years and saw combat at the age of 89!
 
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Le petit caporal

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I have known lower ranks (beneath caporal chef ) who have served 28 years
I have known sous officers who have served 40 years
I have known officers who have served 40 +
Depending on your rank and catégorie. ..there is a limit to evry thing
This does not mean you are a better person than another
 

Peter Lyderik

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Papillon

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The minimum that is asked/required of you is 5 years. If you like it afterwards, carry on, if not walk out through the gates your head held high. Anything before 5 years there is no point in calling yourself a legionnaire, unless of course you are still serving.
You will be explained to that it is for 5 , five, cinq years. If you sign then you have given your word.
Come on BoB ( square pants) life is not as simple as that but if it was it would be nice. Their is times when the Legion and all its resources can’t change the person or their behaviour or the motivation was to hide or disappear as we all arrived for individual reasons.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Come on BoB ( square pants) life is not as simple as that but if it was it would be nice. Their is times when the Legion and all its resources can’t change the person or their behaviour or the motivation was to hide or disappear as we all arrived for individual reasons.
Thanks for setting the record straight Papillon, I think !?
 

Papillon

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Thanks for setting the record straight Papillon, I think !?

Think some of the guys that new me at the time would have said I was an enigma if that was in their vocabulary! I have the greatest respect for guys that did their 5 or even more, but no respect for deserters, I understand the purest and their views but let’s strip it all back when it comes down to the command deciding its time to call it quits as no different than a P45 in the UK from a job or boss that don’t want you in my eyes.
Posted straight to the REP you have to meet a criteria as you will no so for a Bipolar alcoholic I did well or were the others that bad? 😀 Regrets No as like an anchor they hold you back enjoying the future.
 

Tammerfors

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Longest i have seen is Karl Peters with 28 years as a Caporal-Chef but i guess there are many with way longer service than that.
I think you already know this but there's many books written in his name, not all written by himself. There comes a feeling when reading that a lot of the stories are exaggerated (is that correct word?) and glorified. But definetly worth to read if you find one translated to Norwegian or English.
 
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