Joining the Legion is not a recommended pursuit for anyone. Nevertheless, men seek to volunteer for its ranks in droves.

What Is The French Foreign Legion?

The French Foreign Legion is a military formation of approximately 8500 men serving as a branch of the regular Armed Forces of France. It differs from other military units by accepting foreigners from any country in the world into its ranks.

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Before You Go

There are several things to consider before making the leap from simply thinking of joining the Legion, to actually travelling to France and enlisting at a recruiting centre:

• Appraise your physical condition. Activities in the Legion tax your physical endurance and abilities to the maximum. The most important physical requirement is running. You are advised to be able to run at least 10 kilometres with ease. Medical problems of any nature will almost surely disqualify you. Even seemingly minor issues such as poor eyesight can prevent you from being accepted. Recommended minimum physical prerequisites are:

- 30 pushups.
- 50 situps.
- Climb a 20 foot rope without using your feet.
- Run 8 kilometres with a 12 kilogram rucksack in less than one hour.
- 8 chinups with your palms away from you as you grip the bar.

• The age range for joining is 18 to 40.
• You can't join if you're married.
• Women aren't allowed to join. UPDATE: On October 12, 2000 the Legion was ordered to accept women into its ranks. Follow this link to CNN for more on this news item. FURTHER UPDATE: According to a statement by Legion spokesman Lt. Col. Yann Peron, the announcement that women would be allowed to join was due to a "miscommunication." Changes that will allow women to serve in almost every function in the French Army would not apply to the Legion, although female officers may be able to transfer from military schools. An article concerning this development appeared in the November 5, 2000 edition of the New York Times.
• You don't need to be able to speak French when you enlist but it is a good idea to learn as much as you can beforehand. It will be necessary to speak it in order to do your job.
• You will need a valid passport and possibly a visa to enter France. You must enter France at your own expense. You are not reimbursed if they don't accept you.
• Think about preparing a last will and testament.
• You can't have a bank account in France. The Legion maintains an account for you and you can arrange to transfer money anywhere in the world.
• A criminal history may be overlooked if the offenses are minor but there are no guarantees.

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What To Take

Don't take anything you don't want to lose. Everything you bring will be stored in a duffel bag when you reach Aubagne. You will never see your belongings again if you're accepted. You are permitted to keep:

• A French-English dictionary.
• Shaving gear, toilet articles, a towel.
• Cigarettes.
• Your watch.
• Your wallet and approximately 200 francs.
• An address book or personal contact list.

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Where To Join

There are 16 recruiting centres throughout France where you can enlist:

• 94120 Fontenay-sous-Bois (Paris), Fort de Nogent, Tel. 01 48 77 49 68
• 21000 Dijon, Caserne Junot, 66 avenue du drapeau, Tel. 03 80 73 54 86
• 59000 Lille, La Citadelle, Tel. 03 28 36 08 72
• 67000 Strasbourg, Quartier Lecourbe, rue d'Ostende, Tel. 03 88 61 53 33
• 44000 Nantes, Quartier Degrees-du-Lou, rue Gambetta, Tel. 02 40 74 39 32
• 51000 Reims, Quartier Colbert, 32 bis, avenue de la Paix, Tel. 03 26 88 42 50
• 76038 Rouen cedex, rue du Colonel Trupel, Tel. 02 35 70 68 78
• 13007 Marseille, La Malmousque, Chemin du Genie, Tel. 04 91 31 85 10
• 86000 Poitiers, Quartier Aboville, Tel. 05 49 41 31 16
• 57000 Metz, Quartier de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, Tel. 03 87 66 57 12
• 64100 Bayonne, 18 Quai de Lesseps, Tel. 05 59 50 14 84
• 69007 Lyon, Quartier Générale Frère, Tel. 04 78 58 40 21
• 06300 Nice, Caserne Filley, rue Sincaire, Tel. 04 93 80 59 06
• 66020 Perpignan, Caserne Mangin, 8 rue François-Rabelais, Tel. 04 68 35 05 38
• 31000 Toulouse, Caserne Perignon, avenue Camille-Pujol, Tel. 05 61 54 21 95
• 33000 Bordeaux, 260 rue Pelleport, Tel. 05 56 92 99 64
• 13400 Aubagne, Quartier Vienot, Tel. 04 42 18 82 57

Although Aubagne is listed here it does not conduct the initial processing of recruits. The nearest centre where you can enlist is the Malmousque in Marseille.

You can join the Legion at any time. Its recruiting offices are open 365 days a year.

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