French foreign legion and the Royal that go?

[milwatch126]

Why do so many RM blokes go over to the FFL ?
what's the deal ?
Is the FFL more demanding or is it the dogs balls of the European forces?
As I'm a little mixed up here!
Is there anybody thinking of going over and joining soon,on here?
Would like to hear some Royals views!!!!!

[Yorkie Malone]

Sallam Alley Kum, Kaf Harlack Annta. Kullu Wagig Sane. Alhamdilly La.

There are not a lot move over but I know a mate of mine did and basicly it was the same as any sort of Brit type of service. Or so he said.

The only thing is you sign up for I think 5 years and then as in the Brit you can carry on signing on till pension.

The pay is about on par with Brit and so are conditions. I would say you got paid in FF but it's now Euros (sorry for swearing).

I'll see if I can get him to say something on here... but not seen him for a while.

Fee Imman Illah.

SyY

[Si Capon]

When I was an instructor at CTC, I had 3 recruits who came FROM the FFL.

From what they said it`s ARSE!!!!!

Posted to all the really shitty places

Peel spuds for 5 years

They hated it.

I saw a documentary about them once, all their memorable dates are defeats.

They have an endurance/assault course thing to do in basic training. Sure enough it looked hard, but they were not taught to keep their weapons out of the clag. Guys were jumping into muddy bogs etc with no thought to keeping the rifle clean. At the end of it, you`d have been lucky to point the thing in the right direction, let alone be able to fire it.

IMHO about as useful as a catflap in an Elephant house.

[Mutley]

I knew of a guy who went on the run and joined the FFL, about 18 months later he gave himself up - did his "military corrective training" (lovely expressis verbis) and rejoined 40. only trouble was the FFL weren't amused and sent some guys after him!

What came next made Colchester seem like Club 18-30

[Mutley]

Then there was the time when I was having little success in making a couple of dumb frogs manning a UN checkpoint understand my schoolboy French when a booming scouse accent issued forth from the sangar opposite.

Former RM, then FFL - hating the scran, the officers, the seniors and the Legion. I seem to recall he said he was almost through year 3 of his service and hadnt been home since joining - the most time off he had to date was a long weekend.

[El Prez]

Played against them in Corsica once with 41, winter '71, they wrapped at night, lit a fire, drank beer, denied they were now prisoners. We didn't want their Renault trucks anyway. Tremendous piss-heads who returned our esteemed and steaming Jimmy Pat in full Legionnaire regalia after the inter unit footy game. Seem to remember most were from Bristol and Scouse land. As an aside we couldn't figure out how it was so freakin cold at 3000 feet until closer inspection of our new maps revealed heights to be in French Yards, so Korma land isn't the first time Royal has ventured above 10,000 feet.

[harry hackedoff]

Hi there, milwatch, still getting wet? The wetter, the better

Most units in F.F.L. are shite, with a capitol "S" The section corporal (Chef de Section) holds that post because he is the hardest man in the sect. and not for any other reason. Same with the troop stripey, he can fight the three corporals!

However, the Deuxieme Regiment Etrange Parachutiste are quite switched on. Mainly ex Royal and Para N.C.O.s and about 60% of the unit used to be British. They are the Legion`s 2 Para, referred to as " 2 R.E.P."

Any "Dragon Hammer" hands, give us your dits.

" Je suis, Volunteer Engage, Hackedoff, Chef"

[owdun]

Read "The Devils Guard",It gives a different slant.
Owdun

[harry hackedoff]

They do have some valuable aids to training.

Number One is the "Coup de Croix" ( means cut across)

Works like our own E.D.I. (explain, demonstrate, immitate)technique.

Chef explains in French, regardless of the native tongues of the section or if they speak French.

Chef asks recruits to repeat his explanation.
Anyone who can`t gets butt-stroked across the face. Simple!
Bet their recruits aren`t called "Nods" No probs staying awake there, then

I`m of to St. Tropez (yes, really) for two weeks and whilst there I intend visiting their museum outside Marseille. The most sacred exhibit is the wooden hand of one Capitaine D`Anjou from the Legion`s time in Mexico.
Will report back on my return.

Au Revoir, `arry `ackedoff

Je regrette ne rien.

[ratso]

Now be careful of temptation Harry we need you more than the Legion...
A wooden Hand rather puts the RM Museums collection of medals to shame don't it....

[Rogue Chef]

Ahoy there!
When I joined up, Legionaire, Simon Murray's account of his time in the legion, was compulsory reading. This appeared to result in a spate of defections from RM to FFL during the early eighties, with varying degrees of success. I have had some contact with FFL since. Most notably an army lad I worked with had gone AWOL from BA joined FFL served 5 years or so, then went AWOL from FFL. He did his time and soldiered on. He later met an ex FFL mate in Belfast. This lad came from a staunch Republican estate but maintained that despite my colleague being a member of the occupying crown forces, they would remain brothers for ever. My colleague was not quite so generous!
Yours aye
Steve

[harry hackedoff]

Hi, Rats,
as Si said, most of their memorable dates are defeats. Dying with your boots on was one of their S.Q.s. Old "Blood And Guts" Gen George Patton, said,
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win wars by making the other dumb bastard die for His country"

My old Dad fought along side them at Anzio, he didn`t think much of them, either.

All the romantic losers, like Beau Geste, join the shite units. Anyone with any prior military training will end up in the better ones. 2 REP get much more dosh than equivalent RMs , better conditions and a French passport after five years. Plus the French govt views them as absolutely expendible, so they do see a lot more of the worlds "Beauty Spots"

Salut, maintenant

bonsoir pissoir

`arry, mwa, mwa(kisses on both cheeks)

P.S. Don`t get your hope up, Rats. It`s not those cheeks

[ratso]

You know just how to spoil a dream just at the right point ....... Beau Harry..

I think the carry on team did it best (no not kissed my cheeks Harry) the film.
Funny how good we are in taking the michael out of the frogies.

[Mutley]

Is it any wonder:


As I said afore:

Does anyone know the song:
With me little pink driving license and me little purple passport...........

and now they want us all to carry nice little Euro ID cards so they can shut their lovely "Butlins by the Chunnel".

They still wont take our sheep (Harry must be something to do with that)

They wont take our beef (no I will resist the temptation)

We want NATO to help protect all of us Europeans, but we cant fully join, its a cultural thing and we couldn't let a foreigner command our troops.

and finally -

EXOCET and ENGINEERS (enough said)

Lovely country - shame about the denizen majeure

[El Prez]

Lovely country - shame about the denizen majeure

You got it right there. Did you see Jeremy Clarkson talking to the skipper of the French Yacht which holds the sailing speed record? Conversation as follows.
Kermit: 'Wot is ze matter? You no lurrrrv ma country?'
JC: No honestly, I adore your country, ......... it's the people I can't stand.

Perplexed Kermit shrugs, can't win 'em all.