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The Legion in the media
- Thread starter Le petit caporal
- Start date
Another interview with ex Legionnaire Joel struthers.
Here is a good paper written about the sociology of the Legion. It was written by a Commander if that guy who went to West point and went to the Legion. It's worth the read in my opinion. Anything that gives a better understanding of what it takes to motivate a volantaire to join the Legion and want to stay.
https://monlegionnaire.files.wordpr...assimilation-in-the-french-foreign-legion.pdf
https://monlegionnaire.files.wordpr...assimilation-in-the-french-foreign-legion.pdf
Hi Tom. thanks for sharing, but it goes from p52, through p69, for a slow reader, I'll have to give it a miss.
Joe, honestly you really aren't missing anything in this since you know it first hand with 17 years in.
The main point I took from the paper is how he talked about the difference between integration and assimilation in a sociological sense for those serving in the Legion. Integration being mainly those who serve the five year first contract and are done. For those that go beyond the first contract, they are the ones that assimilate, their identity is more completely someone who is a "Legionnaire". (The point not meaning that anyone that served only the first contract is less than)
In my mind, I see myself trying to join with full intention on serving past the first five year contract because like this paper was saying, that is when full assimilation begins taking place. Why do people want to join the Legion? Many reasons. Because they want a change! To become new.
The main point I took from the paper is how he talked about the difference between integration and assimilation in a sociological sense for those serving in the Legion. Integration being mainly those who serve the five year first contract and are done. For those that go beyond the first contract, they are the ones that assimilate, their identity is more completely someone who is a "Legionnaire". (The point not meaning that anyone that served only the first contract is less than)
In my mind, I see myself trying to join with full intention on serving past the first five year contract because like this paper was saying, that is when full assimilation begins taking place. Why do people want to join the Legion? Many reasons. Because they want a change! To become new.
Aspirants want to join for many reasons ranging from personal, political, escaping a former minor criminal past and simply wanting to reintegrate into society by five years of loyal service.
Then you have the Prince Edward type dreamers who want to prove themselves in a harsh environment. Often they can't accept the rude shock that awaits them.
Then you have the Prince Edward type dreamers who want to prove themselves in a harsh environment. Often they can't accept the rude shock that awaits them.
Le petit caporal
Legionnaire
Legion patrol on my avenue at least a half dozen times per day... Two 4x4s and by foot... Sometimes up to 20. Today, a foot patrol of 8 on the alley central, left and right passed by... First geezer nodded in my direction (do not know him, I was just eating a croissant and drinking a café). Very Pro IMO.
Rapace
Moderator
One can see in the video legionnaires form all over the world : Ukraine, France, Georgia (former Soviet Union, not the American state), Brazil and Nepal. There's another French speaking legionnaire in the video, but I couldn't guess from his accent where he's coming from. At one point, one of the guys asked what were the first French words they learnt, says “balai” (broom) and “serpillière” (mop).
Le petit caporal
Legionnaire
Source: Midi Libre 21.05.20
Aude : 30 élèves gradés de la Légion testés positif (Covid 19)
Btw, Covid has changed sex and is now feminine (Academy Francais)
Aude : 30 élèves gradés de la Légion testés positif (Covid 19)
Btw, Covid has changed sex and is now feminine (Academy Francais)
Here is an interesting article about France and future, current, plans on their military. There was 20 page report to be released about the details and hopefully someon can find it. Just interesting, obviously with SCORPION program, thus is not new or surprising info. One thing that stands out is it was mentioned the plans for technical schools so that soldiers can be better trained in the new technology that will be implemented. I think this creates more opportunity and incentive for joining.
I put a link to the actual article and then copied and pasted the text.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/...o-toughen-up-and-heres-its-plan-to-get-there/
Europe
The French Army wants to toughen up, and here’s its plan to get there
By: Christina Mackenzie 2 hours ago
Two French Army armored personnel carriers patrol a rural area during the Bourgou IV operation in northern Burkina Faso on Nov. 14, 2019. (Michele Cattani/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS — France’s Army needs to toughen up, according to its chief of staff, and he has the strategic plan to do it by 2030.
Gen. Thierry Burkhard, a paratrooper in the Foreign Legion and former commander of its 13th Demi-Brigade and later of the Combined Operations Center, unveiled the 20-page document on Wednesday. The document was prepared by a tight-knit group of senior officers, who worked on it from August to October last year. It was then discussed by senior Army cadres, and by January it was ready. However, the coronavirus pandemic delayed its publication.
Burkhard said implementing the plan is critical because a “recurrence of a major conflict is now a credible hypothesis.”
He added that the cycle of asymmetrical warfare is coming to a close and that a return to symmetrical, state-on-state conflict is likely. But the document also warns that “there are new means of using force, unforeseeable and more insidious, based on intimidation and manipulation, in a new type of warfare, undetectable and disclaimed, to obtain undeniable strategic gains by imposing a fait accompli.”
One of France’s concerns is that China’s expansion in the Pacific will endanger the European country’s territories there, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia. French armed forces in the area must be able to riposte vigorously if necessary, Burkhard said.
To “acquire operational superiority,” the French Army must improve its capabilities in the electromagnetic environment, space, cyberspace and information technology, the report said. It also stressed the importance of “strategic industrial partnerships within Europe,” specifically mentioning the CaMo (Capacité Motorisé, or motorized capacity) program, which will see Belgium receive 382 multirole Griffon armored vehicles as well as 60 reconnaissance and combat Jaguar armored vehicles identical and thus compatible with the French ones.
The report also highlighted the importance of the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System — a joint effort to develop a main battle tank that will replace Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc by 2035.
There are 12 major projects meant to make the 114,000 French soldiers (of whom 77,000 are ground troops) better prepared for the future of war as described in the report. These include setting up a new technical school to give noncommissioned officers the stronger technical education they’ll need to use the materiel being delivered under the $12 billion Scorpion modernization program.
Burkhard also wants to reorganize the management of military vehicles, handing responsibility back to the regiments so they can independently prepare for operations. He also wants training to be more realistic and to involve new technology.
Other projects involve improving joint and allied interoperability as well as making better use of the reserve force, which currently stands at 24,000 men and women. According to Burkhard, these reservists should be given more autonomy and be better spread out over the territory, and their contracts should be better adapted to their very different life styles based on full-time profession, academic status and geographic location. He also said the Army should have a role in educating French youth on the importance of defense and in developing the universal national service, which will become obligatory from 2024 for French individuals born in 2008.
Burkhard also wants to plan a division-level exercise to prepare for air, ground and sea maneuvers.
And lastly, he wants to get the job done without having to cut through a mound of red tape. Things in the Army should be simpler, the report read, “so that at local level things are clear and pragmatic.”
About
this
Author
About Christina Mackenzie
Christina Mackenzie is the France correspondent for Defense News.
I put a link to the actual article and then copied and pasted the text.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/...o-toughen-up-and-heres-its-plan-to-get-there/
Europe
The French Army wants to toughen up, and here’s its plan to get there
By: Christina Mackenzie 2 hours ago
PARIS — France’s Army needs to toughen up, according to its chief of staff, and he has the strategic plan to do it by 2030.
Gen. Thierry Burkhard, a paratrooper in the Foreign Legion and former commander of its 13th Demi-Brigade and later of the Combined Operations Center, unveiled the 20-page document on Wednesday. The document was prepared by a tight-knit group of senior officers, who worked on it from August to October last year. It was then discussed by senior Army cadres, and by January it was ready. However, the coronavirus pandemic delayed its publication.
Burkhard said implementing the plan is critical because a “recurrence of a major conflict is now a credible hypothesis.”
He added that the cycle of asymmetrical warfare is coming to a close and that a return to symmetrical, state-on-state conflict is likely. But the document also warns that “there are new means of using force, unforeseeable and more insidious, based on intimidation and manipulation, in a new type of warfare, undetectable and disclaimed, to obtain undeniable strategic gains by imposing a fait accompli.”
One of France’s concerns is that China’s expansion in the Pacific will endanger the European country’s territories there, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia. French armed forces in the area must be able to riposte vigorously if necessary, Burkhard said.
To “acquire operational superiority,” the French Army must improve its capabilities in the electromagnetic environment, space, cyberspace and information technology, the report said. It also stressed the importance of “strategic industrial partnerships within Europe,” specifically mentioning the CaMo (Capacité Motorisé, or motorized capacity) program, which will see Belgium receive 382 multirole Griffon armored vehicles as well as 60 reconnaissance and combat Jaguar armored vehicles identical and thus compatible with the French ones.
The report also highlighted the importance of the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System — a joint effort to develop a main battle tank that will replace Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc by 2035.
There are 12 major projects meant to make the 114,000 French soldiers (of whom 77,000 are ground troops) better prepared for the future of war as described in the report. These include setting up a new technical school to give noncommissioned officers the stronger technical education they’ll need to use the materiel being delivered under the $12 billion Scorpion modernization program.
Burkhard also wants to reorganize the management of military vehicles, handing responsibility back to the regiments so they can independently prepare for operations. He also wants training to be more realistic and to involve new technology.
Other projects involve improving joint and allied interoperability as well as making better use of the reserve force, which currently stands at 24,000 men and women. According to Burkhard, these reservists should be given more autonomy and be better spread out over the territory, and their contracts should be better adapted to their very different life styles based on full-time profession, academic status and geographic location. He also said the Army should have a role in educating French youth on the importance of defense and in developing the universal national service, which will become obligatory from 2024 for French individuals born in 2008.
Burkhard also wants to plan a division-level exercise to prepare for air, ground and sea maneuvers.
And lastly, he wants to get the job done without having to cut through a mound of red tape. Things in the Army should be simpler, the report read, “so that at local level things are clear and pragmatic.”
About
this
Author
About Christina Mackenzie
Christina Mackenzie is the France correspondent for Defense News.
Last edited:
IRL_legion
New Member
Not sure if recent old.
Thanks for sharing that. I saw that one of the comments said 2REI 2018, si not that old.
voltigeur
Legionnaire
Makes a lot of good sense.Here is an interesting article about France and future, current, plans on their military. There was 20 page report to be released about the details and hopefully someon can find it. Just interesting, obviously with SCORPION program, thus is not new or surprising info. One thing that stands out is it was mentioned the plans for technical schools so that soldiers can be better trained in the new technology that will be implemented. I think this creates more opportunity and incentive for joining.
I put a link to the actual article and then copied and pasted the text.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/...o-toughen-up-and-heres-its-plan-to-get-there/
Europe
The French Army wants to toughen up, and here’s its plan to get there
By: Christina Mackenzie 2 hours ago
Two French Army armored personnel carriers patrol a rural area during the Bourgou IV operation in northern Burkina Faso on Nov. 14, 2019. (Michele Cattani/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS — France’s Army needs to toughen up, according to its chief of staff, and he has the strategic plan to do it by 2030.
Gen. Thierry Burkhard, a paratrooper in the Foreign Legion and former commander of its 13th Demi-Brigade and later of the Combined Operations Center, unveiled the 20-page document on Wednesday. The document was prepared by a tight-knit group of senior officers, who worked on it from August to October last year. It was then discussed by senior Army cadres, and by January it was ready. However, the coronavirus pandemic delayed its publication.
Burkhard said implementing the plan is critical because a “recurrence of a major conflict is now a credible hypothesis.”
He added that the cycle of asymmetrical warfare is coming to a close and that a return to symmetrical, state-on-state conflict is likely. But the document also warns that “there are new means of using force, unforeseeable and more insidious, based on intimidation and manipulation, in a new type of warfare, undetectable and disclaimed, to obtain undeniable strategic gains by imposing a fait accompli.”
One of France’s concerns is that China’s expansion in the Pacific will endanger the European country’s territories there, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia. French armed forces in the area must be able to riposte vigorously if necessary, Burkhard said.
To “acquire operational superiority,” the French Army must improve its capabilities in the electromagnetic environment, space, cyberspace and information technology, the report said. It also stressed the importance of “strategic industrial partnerships within Europe,” specifically mentioning the CaMo (Capacité Motorisé, or motorized capacity) program, which will see Belgium receive 382 multirole Griffon armored vehicles as well as 60 reconnaissance and combat Jaguar armored vehicles identical and thus compatible with the French ones.
The report also highlighted the importance of the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System — a joint effort to develop a main battle tank that will replace Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc by 2035.
There are 12 major projects meant to make the 114,000 French soldiers (of whom 77,000 are ground troops) better prepared for the future of war as described in the report. These include setting up a new technical school to give noncommissioned officers the stronger technical education they’ll need to use the materiel being delivered under the $12 billion Scorpion modernization program.
Burkhard also wants to reorganize the management of military vehicles, handing responsibility back to the regiments so they can independently prepare for operations. He also wants training to be more realistic and to involve new technology.
Other projects involve improving joint and allied interoperability as well as making better use of the reserve force, which currently stands at 24,000 men and women. According to Burkhard, these reservists should be given more autonomy and be better spread out over the territory, and their contracts should be better adapted to their very different life styles based on full-time profession, academic status and geographic location. He also said the Army should have a role in educating French youth on the importance of defense and in developing the universal national service, which will become obligatory from 2024 for French individuals born in 2008.
Burkhard also wants to plan a division-level exercise to prepare for air, ground and sea maneuvers.
And lastly, he wants to get the job done without having to cut through a mound of red tape. Things in the Army should be simpler, the report read, “so that at local level things are clear and pragmatic.”
About
this
Author
About Christina Mackenzie
Christina Mackenzie is the France correspondent for Defense News.
IRL_legion
New Member
Yeah was thinking that. I hadn't time to verify, was just flicking through while I had 5 minutes. Good video nonetheless.
Another podcast with ex Legionnaire Joel Struthers...
mark wake
Legionnaire
You have done some excellent posts Juvenez and kept things going when it was slow on the forum. Thank you for that.
Hey Mark, glad to be able to contribute to the forum...I wake up and go to sleep thinking about joining the Legion and so I spend much time scouring looking for and reading Legion stuff, should do more learning French!
Great video...brings back some fond memories
