You really need to bring your story and all this wisdom to us in a book, diary of a legionaire, please give it some serious thought bro. Utter respect.
I love the sounds at night sleeping in the woods. If you stay long enough, they’ll talk to you. They’ll warn you when something’s coming something’s not right, when the weather changes, or when there is peace.
I am glad France has the morality to go after these people. I love the outdoors and hate these polluters. I am not comparing to that jungle, but my son and I were in Canada camping and at night it was so loud, because every insect was trying to get into your tent to eat you. It sounded like an electric hum. Thanks for your story.
I loved when we went to jungle school in Panama. You’re not lying. Ant , spiders, monkeys, snakes. I learned that you are in their world, disrespecting them will be your biggest problem. Great video.
When I was in the 82nd ABN DIV I attended JOTC in Panama. Later, while serving in the 10th MTN DIV I went back twice. One of the courses was for Scouts/Recon PLTs. Got deployed to the Honduras for six months. The jungle ain’t no joke. I actually liked it!
Same. Went to Panama in the early 90s for one month training in the “Trees” the CO joked as we loaded the van in Miami. First experience and it was scary wonderful. I hate leaf cutter ants btw. I am now retired in Brazil. The illegal mining and deforestation is enraging. Money changes hands and politicians look away. Suggestion. Add some still photos while you speak to break up the video. Easy to do and adds to the content. Good stuff. Thanks for your experience.
I’m an American living in the Philippines. I know you mean about the hydration issue. Can’t work in the yard without being drenched with sweat in no time. Difficult to keep those fluids in. Enjoying your story
This is so cool. Your personality is really matched perfectly to being the warrior. Few of us regular folks are so perfectly matched with what our professions are (were, I'm 60 yrs old). I have mild cerebal palsy and had a rare childhood bone-cancer like thing at 14, but at 19 I tried to join the Army as a duty and learn a skill, but Baltimore MEPS said 'No'. LOL. It all worked out, I had a career, but nothing with the passion and match that you have being a professional soldier!
Thank you , my step dad was in The French foreign legion. He was German and said he joined after WW2. He claimed he fought in South African in 1951-1953. Algeria I believe, he said he was part of a paratrooper group.
Of all the people I have listened to, you are the most motivating. There are those of us that had a similar experience with the US military and our own failures. To see you thriving gives hope and shows me there are ways to improve and fix the mess you might find yourself in. Thank you.
Hey man just accidentally discovered your channel. Fantastic stuff. In one of your other videos you spoke about how being at your bottom is the biggest blessing - that is true wisdom. Your vulnerability is your strength on full display, and as you let your light shine, you’re unconsciously giving other people permission to do the same. From one sailor to another, Bravo Zulu. As another human, we will all “have a rendezvous with death,” but our character and virtue hopefully makes this world a little better than we found it. God bless you, and keep inspiring.
Your ability to take experience into words with humility and kindness is something I've absolutely never experienced before in my life, sir... thank you for everything.
I spent a few years in Panama City, Panama flying in and out of there .Me and the boys decided one day to go fishing on Lake Gatun . What blew me away was the sounds. Monkeys screaming all day , crocs cruising around, birds everywhere crowing and singing . Thickest jungle I've ever seen ! On the way back after a few cold beverages we decided to stop to take a leak along the side of the jungle .It was around Sunset , and still some light . I thought to myself as I was pissin that there could be a Jaguar 1 meter in front of me and I wouldn't see it!!! WILD COUNTRY ! Much respect ! Keep up the good work! Cheers
Fantastic video. From your entire story of how you ended up in the FFL, you seem to be doing great. What a journey and what an incredible young man you are. Congrats
@@tcavofficial that's what people don't get always learn, growing,mind,body,soul, spirit. Can't fill full cup, even stuff we learned,a day, month, year's later, we can understand better & better.
My Dad did two pumps in Vietnam with the 101st, he has always told me about the sounds of the jungle at night. He said if thinks about it he can still hear them like it was yesterday
Man u leave me speachless with these videos, i cant thank you enough for your service and willingness to share with us ur experience... THANK YOU and God bless brother!
Enjoyable vid, reminded me of my own experience jungle training with the brit army, much like you i found the environment challenging but once you are in the routine, the claustrophobia of the dense foliage opens to another world alive with life. Some of us thrive in that environment but quiet a few of my mates suffered no end from the mossy bites, humidity and the slow controlled pace of soldiering in the jungle, they could not deal with being quiet and concentrated for long patrols. Some of us are cut out for jungle warfare, and some aren't. Keep up the good work my friend, your vids are well put together and enjoyable.
I really enjoy listening to your experiences. I always feel motivated to get shit done after watching your videos. Keep it coming! Stay safe! Much respect!
Love your talks man. I can’t believe how amazing technology is. Here I am “or was” at 5am in the morning getting ready for work and looking at myself in the mirror reflecting on the previous day. I’m listening to a dude who I would have never of crossed paths with in the real world. Listening to his solid life advice and getting a chance to see things from his point of view. A dude that’s in the fucking jungle hundreds of miles away. Good stuff man and thanks for recording the jungle sounds. Look forward to more videos.
This is part of what makes me want to join the Legion: forcible confrontation with the brutal struggle that is nature and reality. Even the US Marines, in their pathetic need to be diverse and inclusive, are lowering their standards and training harshness to allow substandard people to reach the bar. How can you raise a warrior in such conditions? Where you're expected to be soft, accommodating, and politically correct? FORGET ABOUT IT!
Don’t bash the Corps too hard bro. Unfortunately we had a couple of commandants in the past who acted like politicians and not killers. I won’t say their names. General Berger and the new acting commandant General Smith are making a valiant effort to undo the damage the caused.
@@billionsandbillions Doesn't matter, the Corps doesn't set its own standards, Washington does. So long your recruiting and culture are determined by corrupt outsiders who're willing to compromise strength and pragmatism for faddish ideals, you'll always be compromised. The Legion may swear loyalty to France but, it possesses the autonomy to determine its own composition pursuant to its traditions and strength. To my knowledge, the only thing that's really changed is their discontinuation of issuing Legionnaires ruck sacks with wire shoulder straps instead of the ones they came with as a form of discipline...and only then because the wires tended to cut too deep and sever nerves and circulatory structures. They didn't do it because a wailing mother started trending on social media or because a corporate groupie-sorry, _congressperson,_ ordered them to...they did it because the damage and infection incurred to their men outweighed the value of the lesson issued. Be honest with yourself, the Marine Corps no longer possesses such resolve. If a congressional committee told you all to wear rainbow camouflage and shoot your enemies with strongly worded reprimands for their problematic behavior, you'd all be compelled to do it and your superiors would tell you how "gung-ho" it made you appear and that you'd be honored to be the most progressive fighting force in the world...and with your loyalty to the Corps, you'd eat that sh|t up like it was Crayola covered in jalapeno cheese spread. The only orders the Legion has to take are where to go, when to slaughter, and who to kill. They have total liberty in all other regards. Hell, they're so autonomous they engaged in open rebellion against France and conspired to overthrow de Gaulle himself when he determined it time to abandon French Algeria and render the sacrifices of all their comrades in vain...and even though they did not succeed, France kept them around because they're that damn good. I'd ask, _"What do you think your government would do if you tried something like that?"_ but it'd be pointless, because you and your colleagues don't swear allegiance to the Corps, you swear it to a document and the congress and presidency who've been wiping their asses with that document for over a century. *[EDIT]* Made some minor grammatical corrections
Can’t tell you how much I appreciate your channel. You are a great story teller bet you never saw that being a part of your skillset. Always, look forward to when you drop a video. Mil gracias 🙏
I have never done what you have accomplished. I have mad respect for you. You hit rock bottom then got back on your feet. Will you stay in the Legion? You are a man on a mission
Great content. Really into these stories / experiences. From SO to Legionnaire is wild. Hoping his channel takes off... I feel like this dude is going to be on Joe Rogan selling books before you know it.
Great story man! I forgot France had a colony in South America. Didn't realize what it did until now! Can't imaging trying to keep the drug cartels and opportunists off your doorstep. Cheers!
when i was army i went to jungle warfare school down in panama . being from florida i thought i knew the "woods" jungle but man i always told my kids the jungle was loud at night they never understood that. 50 years later i still have to sleep with a fan on for noise. i cant stand the sound of a million critters at night..good stuff
Real world experience. I guess the only thing that really matters in this world. Are you prevented from taking any video of yourself on a mission? You certainly have my attention. I discovered a real gold (pun intended) mine with your RU-vid channel. Thank you. Stay safe.
I think when your contract is up you might want to consider helping veterans with suicidal ideation. The US military isn't facing catastrophic death from our enemies, but instead the enemies at home primarily the oversubscribed medications as you've experienced. Outstanding videos, happy to see how you've overcome. God Bless you brother and Semper Fidelis.
Appreciate the insight and educating me on the FFL being in South America. I served in The Armed Forces of the U.S. Army Active 83-86 U.S. Marines 86-89. You on the other hand have taken it to another level. I will continue watching your content. Sincerely, CVS- Bronx, NY
Did you have to worry about snakes, spiders, etc crawling all over your hammock at night? Monkeys trying to steal your gear? Love the content an your perspective! As a human an US naval vet, glad that you were able to bounce back in life to change your trajectory for the better! Youre an inspiration! Hooyah⚓️
Everything you’ve saying about the Jungles in South America is correct! I was never in the Amazon but I was in the Jungles and Mountains of Venezuela! It is no joke down there!
The recording at the end is mental.!!! The jungle is definitely alive and from the sounds of it, it has bad intentions. Great journey thanks for sharing
Respect for the reality of your world, wisdom and grit! Keep making these videos, so unique and without the fiction - true resolve, we are cheering for you my veteran brother, salute!
TCAV, write a book man. A lot of Navy SEALs authored some good reads, but yours, as a Legionaire would be f'kn insane bro! The French Foreign Legion, g'ddammit Bro!
During my time as a grunt in 1RNZIR (New Zealand)stationed in Singapore/Malaysia, we spent alot of time in the jungle. I loved it. I was in my element.
You got me nostalgic about spending 22 days in the Sepic River Valley in Papua New Guinea, where you can see the mosquitoes flying toward you in clouds, 30 foot crocodiles in the river, the 2nd and 10th most poisonous snakes in the world, and the second largest bird on the planet that can gut you with a talon as quick as a Velociraptor in Jurassic Park.
Thank you for your interesting content and positive message... do you really go into pools of mercury?... you know it's highly toxic. How are you able to do that?
My grandpa was a Legionnaire when French was heavily involved in Indochina, he went to Africa during WW2 then returned to Vietnam in 1954. Then the communist took over North Vietnam, grandpa took the whole family south; all of my uncles served in the South Vietnamese military until the fall of Saigon in 1975. Now the third generation are living in the US, most of the men served or are serving in all branches of the US military. My son is serving in the 101st Airborne Div.
Somewhat useful info : besides thoses jungle tasks, FFL in French Guyane secures KOUROU, which is the French/European rocket launcher base. Very important task, and FFL had another work they did pretty well : opening roads throu the jungle to rely the guyanese village between them and between the main city Cayenne. Epic and huge work, done with very rustic equipment, which lasted almost 30 years.
Enjoyed your sharing again, TCAV. I was able to go to JOTC at Ft. Sherman. Your deployment sounded very challenging. You are not wrong - land nav in the jungle is no joke. Lost my pace count trying to get around difficult terrain, and poof we are a bit Lima Lima Mike lol. Be good, man. A pleasure hearing from you.
I find it even more impressive to think that you learned all the stuff in training with the FFL while also having to learn the language (unless you knew it beforehand). I find that one aspect most amazing. Talk about high pressure - don't they come down on you hard if you aren't picking up the French language fast enough?
Former Marine here. 1965-69. Went thru Jungle Warfare in Panama in 1966 before shipping out to Vietnam. When you speak about getting lost in the jungle in a few meters is so true. If your tail end Charlie on patrol , your biggest worry is when you look back for a couple of seconds and then turn around, you can actually be lost. It is freaking scary. Went to Scout Scout school before Vietnam and served with elements of the 1st. Marine Division and Recon while in Vietnam. The mountains surrounding the Ashau Valley is truly the “Heart of Darkness”. Good luck on your journey In the FFL and website.
I like the real time video, “Out in the field.” It made it more realistic about the stuff you try to describe in your videos. You’re exactly where that movie “Papillon” was made, about that French prison you just described. The original was with Paul Neumann & Dustin Hoffman. Correction: “Steve McQueen.” Don’t know why I wrote P. Newman. Probably ‘cause I had a bottle of the salad dressing on my kitchen table at the time I was writing. (Jax Teller/Sons of Anarchy) “Charlie Hunnam” & Remi Malik also did a remake; (not as good as the original., w/ Dustin Hoffman). “Jusayin”
Meant to say “Steve McQueen” don’t know why I had Paul Newman on the brain. Probably ‘cause I had a (P.Newman) Salad Dressing in front of my face, on the kitchen table. 😆
Unreal listening to you is like being there very interesting ,,,must be unreal the noises at night must be fascinating ..I can’t imagine being there ,would be Ming blowing I give you my best wishes 🙏💪👍❤️🦘🇦🇺
When i was hiking in Thailand i walked under a king cobra 10ft up, my nam vet grandad still jumps when he sees even stuffed snakes... Jungle is brutal to serve in i imagine
I've been enjoying your stories bro. Man that is fascinating. This one is so different from what my Army experience was, it was cool to hear about it. Keep it up man and thanks.
thank you brother for sharing your amazing story BOUT YOUR LIFE. May you have God and Jesus inside your heart, on good terms and bad terms life of balance by doing what's right Amen.
I like this video the best of them so far. You've established your back story, now let's hear some of the experiences. I spent 8 years in the Marines and spent a couple years on ships going to the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa. I can relate to a lot of what you talk about.
as per the comment below about a book......then a movie......it would be so that you couldn't take your eyes off it because the incredibleness of the story and the redemption of a super smart capable wise dude
