Fort de Nogent is a recruiting centre for the Legion located in eastern Paris. The easiest way to reach it is to take a taxi from the Château de Vincennes Metro (subway) stop. You will have to surrender your passport when you arrive at a recruiting centre. Typically, you'll spend three or four days here before being sent to Aubagne. They will likely keep you busy scrubbing pots in the mess hall while you wait. You'll undergo a preliminary screening which mainly involves a medical examination. Any problems found could prevent you from being sent onwards to Aubagne. If you pass this stage you'll be asked to sign a five year contract. Even though you sign the contract at one of the recruiting centres, you still have to pass the screening at Aubagne before you are officially accepted.

The Contract

Below is a copy of the contract you will sign. It is a simple, two-page document. The first page lists personal data with the terms and conditions explained on page two. A translation of page two follows the contract.

Page 2:

The recruit has been informed that:

1. His service begins as of the date of his signature on this contract.

2. This contract includes a six month probationary period eventually renewable by military authority.

The probationary period takes effect as of the date of signature on this contract.

THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT BECOME FINAL UNTIL THE TERMINATION OF THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

3. During the initial probationary period this contract can be terminated:

31. At the request of the recruit, agreed upon by military authority, for personal reasons or for notable difficulties in adaptation, expressed until the end of the fourth month of service. In this case the final decision of the commandment should be signified before the end of the initial probationary period.

32. At any time, by military authority by reason of:

- medical unsuitability for a pre-existent cause at enlistment
- unsuitability for employment or for serving in the ranks of the Foreign Legion
- the inability to adapt to military life.

4. During the renewed probationary period this contract can be terminated by military authority for employment unsuitability or for the inability to adapt to military life.

5. At any time this contract can be annulled as of the conditions fixed in article 32...

- at the agreed upon request of the recruit for urgent personal reasons that have befallen him and been duly acknowledged since the signing of his contract
- for reasons of physical unsuitability
- by military authority for professional insufficiency or as a disciplinary measure

"After which the candidate has promised to serve with honour and fidelity [-smudged-] as of this day and has pledged in the course of this first contract to not prevail upon service or qualifications previously held by French right."

The contractee has equally promised to serve in the ranks of the Foreign Legion everywhere that the government deems it necessary to send him and, after having been informed of this present act, has signed with us.

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