Have you ever dreamed of leaving it all behind and running away to join the French Foreign Legion? For decades, thousands of men have done precisely that and embarked on a journey few ever take. Most however, enlist in the Legion not knowing what to expect. Even in today's modern world the Foreign Legion remains an enigma. Finding information useful to a potential recruit is a challenge that thwarts all but the most intrepid efforts. Most who ultimately join do so on a wing and a prayer, little understanding the potential consequences of their decision. Desertions from the Legion are a constant problem that continue to this day.

In 1989, I enlisted in the Foreign Legion after taking a deep breath and making a leap of faith. Like others interested in joining, I earnestly sought as much information as I could beforehand, but came up well short of acquiring anything useful. The few magazine articles I found were only fleeting overviews. Books on the subject dealt mainly with the Legion's history. After a six year search I could only guess what was in store for someone who joined, and what the final outcome would be.

Because of this void in beneficial foresight, I decided to write a book that would assist anyone thinking of joining the Legion. Based on my own experiences, "Life in the French Foreign Legion: How To Join and What To Expect When You Get There" is a step-by-step chronological work that will guide you through the various phases of preparing for, joining, and living life in the Legion.

A compendium of the topics in the book is on the left. While there is enough information here to assist anyone interested in joining the Legion, it is strongly recommended that you take the time to read through the book. Each topic is covered in more detail and the additional insight derived from the book will only benefit those seeking to enlist.

E.M.

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