brgnorway 0 Posted March 17, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ale2999 @ Mar. 17 2003,07:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FSPilot @ Mar. 17 2003,02:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Can I ask why you don't want to join the US armed forces? Â Or the French Foreign Legion? Â Not trying to be nosy or personal or anything, but it might help us give you advice.<span id='postcolor'> I think he doesnt want to join those armies, cuz he want action, but he doesnt want to get killed, and the Us army an FL have a fight every 5 years more or less lol, so that is too risky.he needs to join like the swiss army joking m8<span id='postcolor'> Just in case you didn't know - Foreign Legion fights almost every day. There is a huge difference between US military units and the Foreign Legion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brgnorway 0 Posted March 17, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ Mar. 17 2003,07:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (xmurderx @ Mar. 17 2003,03:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">to be honest I am bored with life. I want action now. Of course it may sound stupid to you all, but its the way I feel. I have lost alot in my life and I need to open myself up to some real life experience.<span id='postcolor'> Try the Peace Corp... Marching endlessly and blowing shit up might seem like a lot of fun, but I think bringing fresh water to village who has never had it by digging a well, or helping teach people how to break the cycle of starvation through planning and agriculture might just be a lot more meaningful. Plus, you'd still get to see a lot of the world.<span id='postcolor'> Good advice Warin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArchangelSKT 0 Posted March 17, 2003 Well all I say if you want to join the French Forreign Legion then do yourself a favor and atleast take some French lessons...personally I can`t think of any other military unit that are so much involved , most Legioners atleast get a trip to Africa . I also know there is a book on amazon( <---- yes know it sounds kind of stupid ) that gives you advises for the FFL and stuff...actually I might buy that one only to read it , not that I want to join the legion ( I`m not healthy enough anyway ) . http://www.amazon.com/exec....s=books Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceFire 0 Posted March 17, 2003 Yeah, I have a copy of the book. It's called "Life in the French Foreign Legion, what it's like and what to expect once you get there". Written by Evan McGorman, ex-Legionnaire. It's a very detailed description, even instructions to anyone interested in joining the Legion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceFire 0 Posted March 17, 2003 This book is most probably the ONLY real resource a person has when considering joining the Legion. I have searched far and wide for info on what joining is like and about, this is the only thing that I ever found. Even in the book, he tells that he decided to write the book due to the lack of information out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhoCares 0 Posted March 17, 2003 We had an american Sergeant in our unit in the Bundeswehr (german armed forces). However, I don't know whether one of his parents was german. At least, he spoke fluently english and german. When you sign in to the Bundeswehr (between 4 and 12years depending on the career) you have a fair chance to see some real action - at least when you call peacekeeping real action. The germans are currently second in international engagements. And as there is a limited amount of professional soldiers and no conscripts are send to the theaters, many of them get the opportunity to server somewhere abroad. It also depends on the unit you server, KSK, airborne, mountain, ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarkLight 0 Posted March 17, 2003 I think Belgium still has a unit for foreign soldiers... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 17, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ Mar. 17 2003,07:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (xmurderx @ Mar. 17 2003,03:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">to be honest I am bored with life. I want action now. Of course it may sound stupid to you all, but its the way I feel. I have lost alot in my life and I need to open myself up to some real life experience.<span id='postcolor'> Try the Peace Corp... Marching endlessly and blowing shit up might seem like a lot of fun, but I think bringing fresh water to village who has never had it by digging a well, or helping teach people how to break the cycle of starvation through planning and agriculture might just be a lot more meaningful. Plus, you'd still get to see a lot of the world.<span id='postcolor'> agreed ... and xmurderx , you said your physical condition wasn't good enough for FFL ?? physical condition is always THE problem before you join the legion ... i'd say that you need a certain range of developed physical abilities but you don't have to be a bodybuilder either , with a little bit of will .... you can do anything and about rotten food and beatings in the legion .... maybe in the 19th century (ok ... maybe 20 years ago ...) but not anymore (or at least , i doubt it) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 17, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ Mar. 17 2003,15:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">This book is most probably the ONLY real resource a person has when considering joining the Legion. I have searched far and wide for info on what joining is like and about, this is the only thing that I ever found. Even in the book, he tells that he decided to write the book due to the lack of information out there.<span id='postcolor'> i don't support too much this book because it partly breaks some parts of the "natural" selection in the legion Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brgnorway 0 Posted March 17, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 17 2003,17:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">and about rotten food and beatings in the legion .... maybe in the 19th century (ok ... maybe 20 years ago ...) but not anymore (or at least , i doubt it)<span id='postcolor'> A friend and colleague of mine came back from the legion half a year ago. He is indeed a trustworthy person and very fit. He also used to be a part of the norwegian "Grensejeger-kompani" (wich patrols the borders of Norway/Russia) - and they are considered to be among the very best and toughest of the norwegian soldiers. When he came back he not only told stories about beatings from officers, but also daily fights between the various ethnic factions of the camp. It was pretty nasty stuff - even though he managed relatively fine (he lost his front teeth though - in both lower and upper jaw) . You are also encouraged to fight with your mates (we are talking serious fights) , but it is expected to settle any differences right after - or you'll receive beatings from the officers. However, he told me that when he was in Africa on a mission the fighting ended and all was hunky dory again. They really trust eachother (litteraly with their lives) . The hygienic standard of the kitchen was not an example of french cuisine . The food was bad - and all of the soldiers suffered from stumock-pain all the time. He also noted that not only himself - but the other soldiers too - increased their body volume very fast! It's no secret they suspected something "weird" was added to the food. This person I'm telling you about is absolutely a trustworthy person with a fair amount of integrity. He is also very fit and very disiplined. He also told me that he would have had problems if he hadn't been boxing for years.- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hellfish6 7 Posted March 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Mar. 16 2003,17:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...........Spain still has thier "Spanish foreign legion". I'm not sure if foreigners are still accepted though. To be honest - I don't even know if that unit still exist anymore  Ask Sadico<span id='postcolor'> They still exist (I think there are two battalion-sized "Legions" that operate as part of the Spanish Marines) but they stopped taking foreigners around 1990, IIRC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceFire 0 Posted March 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 17 2003,17:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ Mar. 17 2003,15:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">This book is most probably the ONLY real resource a person has when considering joining the Legion. I have searched far and wide for info on what joining is like and about, this is the only thing that I ever found. Even in the book, he tells that he decided to write the book due to the lack of information out there.<span id='postcolor'> i don't support too much this book because it partly breaks some parts of the "natural" selection in the legion<span id='postcolor'> You want to foster natural selection in the Marines. In the Legion, you want to SURVIVE. Past that, I don't expect that there is ANYTHING that can TRULELY prepare one for the Legion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hellfish6 7 Posted March 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ Mar. 17 2003,08:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I have a copy of the book. It's called "Life in the French Foreign Legion, what it's like and what to expect once you get there". Written by Evan McGorman, ex-Legionnaire. It's a very detailed description, even instructions to anyone interested in joining the Legion.<span id='postcolor'> I have this book. It's great - definately an eye-opener. He has a web site, http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/. Go there for a preview of the book and email him if you want. Also, I think South Africa takes in some foreigners. I don't know for sure, but I know they used to. Check out Kuwait as well. I will recommend, however, that you don't take this course of action. Like it was mentioned earlier, join the Peace Corps or some other relief agency. You'll probably see more action that way and realize that combat isn't as much fun as you thought it would be. You'll also probably get to see more of the world and fly in more helicopters than you would in any military. Hell, I was in a US Army air assault battalion and I hardly ever got to fly. Volunteerism and charity are often neglected, but they are more rewarding than you can imagine. I know - I'm a member of the American Red Cross, I volunteer at the aquarium in Chicago and work at an animal shelter occasionally as well. Better than all my six years in the Army. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brgnorway 0 Posted March 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Hellfish6 @ Mar. 18 2003,06:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I will recommend, however, that you don't take this course of action. Like it was mentioned earlier, join the Peace Corps or some other relief agency. You'll probably see more action that way and realize that combat isn't as much fun as you thought it would be. You'll also probably get to see more of the world and fly in more helicopters than you would in any military.<span id='postcolor'> I'm with you all the way on this! It's better to save lives than taking lives. It's more heroic, just as exciting, probably better paid (if one joins help organisations) and could possibly provide a better career platform when one want's to settle down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xmurderx 0 Posted March 20, 2003 quite honestly the foreign legion is sounding better and better the more I read up on it. are there other nations that offer a foreign legion type unit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Milkman 1 Posted March 20, 2003 xmurderx : How about being a mercinary? You get to go to poor african countries, with no expierience, and kill people. Of course you are more likely to be killed. Sierra Leone's government pays hard cash to mercinaries to fight off the RUF (United Revolutionary Front). All you need it a gun and connections. But I wouldn't do this, go join the peace corps and make a difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jahve 0 Posted March 20, 2003 I believe you need to be a citizen of that country in wich you are joining armed forces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 20, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Mar. 17 2003,18:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 17 2003,17:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">and about rotten food and beatings in the legion .... maybe in the 19th century (ok ... maybe 20 years ago ...) but not anymore (or at least , i doubt it)<span id='postcolor'> A friend and colleague of mine came back from the legion half a year ago. He is indeed a trustworthy person and very fit. He also used to be a part of the norwegian "Grensejeger-kompani" (wich patrols the borders of Norway/Russia) - and they are considered to be among the very best and toughest of the norwegian soldiers. When he came back he not only told stories about beatings from officers, but also daily fights between the various ethnic factions of the camp. It was pretty nasty stuff - even though he managed relatively fine (he lost his front teeth though - in both lower and upper jaw) . You are also encouraged to fight with your mates (we are talking serious fights) , but it is expected to settle any differences right after - or you'll receive beatings from the officers. However, he told me that when he was in Africa on a mission the fighting ended and all was hunky dory again. They really trust eachother (litteraly with their lives) . The hygienic standard of the kitchen was not an example of french cuisine   . The food was bad - and all of the soldiers suffered from stumock-pain all the time. He also noted that not only himself - but the other soldiers too - increased their body volume very fast! It's no secret they suspected something "weird" was added to the food. This person I'm telling you about is absolutely a trustworthy person with a fair amount of integrity. He is also very fit and very disiplined. He also told me that he would have had problems if he hadn't been boxing for years.-<span id='postcolor'> shhhhh ..... how do you want people to enlist then if they hear about things like that your friend is right ..... but frankly , this is not a part of my life i like looking at that much , yeah there were fightings and bad food , but yes , i and all my mates and all the other legionnaires got over it as i said before , the legion is not something i would advise to every body as somebody said before , the only thing you want is to survive , but for how long has you friend been in the legion ? and did the things settle down for him after the basic training ? most of the beatings and fightings stopped after some time things settled down after a little while , but the basic legion training and the early months were a real hell , now , i'l stop talking about it .. brings back a few memories ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 20, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Sgt. Milkman @ Mar. 20 2003,03:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">All you need it a gun and connections.<span id='postcolor'> that's pretty hard to get in this "civilized" world ..... anyway , if you want to become a soldier of fortune , e-mail me and i'll send you my physical address and some contacts but , if you want to become a mercenary , you better get some military experience Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brgnorway 0 Posted March 20, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 20 2003,18:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><span id='postcolor'> </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">how do you want people to enlist then if they hear about things like that <span id='postcolor'> </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">your friend is right ..... but frankly , this is not a part of my life i like looking at that much , yeah there were fightings and bad food , but yes , i and all my mates and all the other legionnaires got over it as i said before , the legion is not something i would advise to every body <span id='postcolor'> I didn't know you had been a legionaire Ran. Good to see you'r still alive and well </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">as somebody said before , the only thing you want is to survive , but for how long has you friend been in the legion ? and did the things settle down for him after the basic training ? most of the beatings and fightings stopped after some time things settled down after a little while , but the basic legion training and the early months were a real hell , now , i'l stop talking about it .. brings back a few memories ...<span id='postcolor'> After the first tripp to africa he wanted to get out of the legion. He had to spend quite a long time in jail in order to be dismissed. Anyway, he doesn't want to talk very much about what happend in africa other than it included a few moral dilemmas. After he got back he has been rather "strange" and extremely aggressive. I don't think he is perfectly alright at the moment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 20, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Mar. 20 2003,18:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">After the first tripp to africa he wanted to get out of the legion. He had to spend quite a long time in jail in order to be dismissed. Anyway, he doesn't want to talk very much about what happend in africa other than it included a few moral dilemmas. After he got back he has been rather "strange" and extremely aggressive. I don't think he is perfectly alright at the moment.<span id='postcolor'> that's common to most of the former-legionnaires , but it passes with the time ..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balschoiw 0 Posted March 21, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">that's common to most of the former-legionnaires , but it passes with the time ..... <span id='postcolor'> I don´t think it is legion only symptom. I had this aggressions whenever I returned home from missions. It´s a mixture of feeling betrayed by politics, bad food, the cruelties I have seen, the cruelties we needed to do and the feeling that you only poured a drop of clean water into an ocean of poisoned water. Always takes around 2 or 3 months to come over it completely. Not to forget that you are used to a more rude tone if you stay together with males only for a longer time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 21, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ Mar. 21 2003,02:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">that's common to most of the former-legionnaires , but it passes with the time ..... <span id='postcolor'> I don´t think it is legion only symptom. I had this aggressions whenever I returned home from missions. It´s a mixture of feeling betrayed by politics, bad food, the cruelties I have seen, the cruelties we needed to do and the feeling that you only poured a drop of clean water into an ocean of poisoned water. Always takes around 2 or 3 months to come over it completely. Not to forget that you are used to a more rude tone if you stay together with males only for a longer time.<span id='postcolor'> yeah , but i've some "regular" friends who've been to former yugoslavia and some other places , they old me that they had been affected by that , but on a lesser scale , i was litterally suicidary (dunno if it's said that way in english) -edit- it may be "suicidal" instead of "suicidary" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brgnorway 0 Posted March 21, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 21 2003,11:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ Mar. 21 2003,02:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">that's common to most of the former-legionnaires , but it passes with the time ..... <span id='postcolor'> I don´t think it is legion only symptom. I had this aggressions whenever I returned home from missions. It´s a mixture of feeling betrayed by politics, bad food, the cruelties I have seen, the cruelties we needed to do and the feeling that you only poured a drop of clean water into an ocean of poisoned water. Always takes around 2 or 3 months to come over it completely. Not to forget that you are used to a more rude tone if you stay together with males only for a longer time.<span id='postcolor'> yeah , but i've some "regular" friends who've been to former yugoslavia and some other places , they old me that they had been affected by that , but on a lesser scale , i was litterally suicidary (dunno if it's said that way in english) -edit- it may be "suicidal" instead of "suicidary"<span id='postcolor'> Good to hear it was and not is! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 21, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Mar. 21 2003,12:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ Mar. 21 2003,11:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ Mar. 21 2003,02:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">that's common to most of the former-legionnaires , but it passes with the time ..... <span id='postcolor'> I don´t think it is legion only symptom. I had this aggressions whenever I returned home from missions. It´s a mixture of feeling betrayed by politics, bad food, the cruelties I have seen, the cruelties we needed to do and the feeling that you only poured a drop of clean water into an ocean of poisoned water. Always takes around 2 or 3 months to come over it completely. Not to forget that you are used to a more rude tone if you stay together with males only for a longer time.<span id='postcolor'> yeah , but i've some "regular" friends who've been to former yugoslavia and some other places , they old me that they had been affected by that , but on a lesser scale , i was litterally suicidary (dunno if it's said that way in english) -edit- it may be "suicidal" instead of "suicidary"<span id='postcolor'> Good to hear it was and not is!  <span id='postcolor'> hehehe but i havce to thank my familly , my father especially and also the girl with whom i lived Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
