In this bonus segment, Joel tells us some personal stories about visiting war memorials that had particular significance for him. In one instanced he traveled to Vietnam and visited Điện Biên Phủ where the French were wiped out by Viet Minh forces in 1954. Joel buried his unit insignia there. www.patreon.com/posts/joel-struthers-37331676
on aimerait les sous-titres en français ! We'd love French subtitles! We can understand a bit of English, but listening to everything is too difficult ... ha ha ! Thank you very much anyway for this broadcast !
Allowing my Father to talk me out of joining the Legion and enter the U S Military in a decision I do and always will regret until the day that I die. I don’t regret my service in the US Army and USCG, don’t get me wrong but, I had the desire to be a Legionnaire and this from a very young age but I allowed my Dad to convince me that the Military of my country was the better path and I still to this day feel that it was the biggest misstep of my life. So from my perspective if you want to join the Legion let no one dissuade you as life moves so quickly that before you know it you are too old. Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time, and you know the rest.
Roger that ! I served in both the USAF and USN, but if I were young enough again, I'd also serve in the French Foreign Legion.....oh well, in the next life !
The US Army saw far more combat, the purpose of being a warrior, than the FFL. Armed forces always look better from the outside while the reality is a lot of boredom. The US offers a far better career. If you want war you go where the wars are. Compare missions over your era of service.
@@Comm0ut Such an ignorant & moronic comment. The legion has been involved in just about every conflict. The average legionnaire has witnessed more combat than the average American soldier, by far. Mainly because the legion doesn’t really offer admin jobs starting out & they deploy to places no one else wants to go. Do your research before spewing BS.
Your Dad was probably right. I was in USCG>US Army. Great experiences overall. No wars. 80s. Led to ic. And half my life overseas. My French still isn’t great, and getting smacked around by a ‘monster’ German or a Romanian in a Toulouse boot camp sounds pretty unappealing. This guy is a badass and also has a screw loose (in a good way). Like many Canadians. Great episode. Bought the book.
Great job guys, really enjoyed Joel’s story and will order his book. My brother joined the legion in 1979 and served in the 2 REP and I have always regretted not going with him. Instead I went into the British Army for 22 years but after listening to Joel and other ex legionaries you also think what if......... but as Simon Murray writes in his book, do it and then when you are an old man you will have no regrets.
1980 Was when I read Simon Murray's Book "Legionnaire" I was a Junior Leader in the RA at the time and thought to myself "F@ck I've just joined the wrong army!"
That Simon Murray book about the Legion that he recommends is a good one, for damn sure. Check it out. There were Legionnaires in the UN mission in Somalia when I was there in '93-94. I was with 10th Mtn and they lived across the airport from us, in the last few months. I got to hang out with them one night. We traded some patches and gear with them and generally shot the shit and talked about soldiering. They were good dudes, and hard men...They were the only fuckers who had access to alcohol in the whole damn country, being Frenchmen and all....cold-ass Heinekins!....Merci, mon frere!
Joel’s such a humble dude, he has great interviews with Jocko as well as Kristof Lewis. This is another great one down, keep up the great work, much respect and appreciation.
I joined in 2005, the cch asked 'problem with teeth?' no 'well come in and sign' nowadays I don't think you have to change your name, the legion and human rights commission had a long running battle, it being a point that forcing someone to change their name/origin/parents was a crime against the human being. the legion's argument was 'volunteers only, terms and conditions may apply'. Left after 7 years after breaking my back jumping, wouldn't take a different path if offered.
Does 2REP train jumping from extremely low altitude and that is the reason for many 2REP injuries? I just read that somewhere. But you wouldn't join any other regiment of the FFL but the REP or did you mean something else? Sorry about your back and thanks for your service.
I know Jack Murphy was interested in the Legion when he was younger as was I. Although I was interested back in 1980. This information would have been a treasure to have had back in the day. There were only a few books available then and the picture they painted was beyond negative and almost a manual for neglect and abuse. What a great interview, Thank You all for this wonderful 2 3/4 hours of information. God Bless!
Magoo Actual Indeed, I remember reading “The Frogmen” by Colby. I might have the title and spelling of the author’s last name mixed up. I wanted so much to be a Frogman but my Aunt talked me out of it after she read the book. Saving astronauts out of the capsule and into a rubber raft was not her idea of my future. I knew she was wrong!!! lol
Very interesting interview, will have to buy his book Love these interviews, no B.S. just straight shooters, on their life experience, on their military service, awesome!
Had me glued to the laptop throughout, Joel comes across as a top lad, very likeable and gave a great in-depth view of the FFL... ordering the book now. Thank you guys top interview 👍
One good thing about the legion is that after you finish basic training and are awarded your kepi blanc you can make the choice to fulfill your 5 year contract or leave. Not bad, other militaries don't give you that option. But then again , other militaries don't have as many people volunteering to join such a small force either. One piece of advice.....if you are serious about joining, do it now while you are young. The years go by fast !
Joel is awesome, a really humble badass. I loved his interview on Jocko Podcast (listened to that twice) and once i've heard of this one i came to listen. I just discovered "the team house" channel, keep the great work guys.
This is the 4th time I've listened to this. I cannot recommend his book tho. I'm loving it so much. Giving it to my grandfather when I leave for Europe to try out for the legion.
Pal Sarkozy the father of former french president Nikola Sarkozy was a legionaire from Hungary and became a famous painter he has also a great book. Sadly he passed away this year.
Loved the interview. The REP is about being ready for real combat within 48 hours, period. You know it before you choose it. There are only 5 to 6 other elite regiments at that level in France. They are part of The COS (Special Ops Command). The REP isn't part of the COS, but is deployed abroad very often.
@@patriotatuga5757 the REP has conducted 3 combat jumps in Mali in the last 7 years, and has been deployed on Op Sangaris and Op Licorne during that time too.
Wow another great interview I found your Vlog a few days ago and I can’t stop watching them! I have been enamored with the Foreign Legion since I was a kid. I always wanted to join after I got out the Army but didn’t speak French and was clueless on how to go about it. Very cool to hear his story!
It’s so bizarre how you just knock on the door to join the legion. It almost reminds me of something out of Game of Thrones. That place where Arya Stark goes to train lol
Met some of those boys in Africa late 60s/early 70s.putting out fires. Some had US military experience. Overall , fast responding groups not bogged down with regs from governmental desk riding jockeys! Efficient and reliable.
I had to laugh so much watching this brilliant recount of Legion life ..l Maduieria ..l oh yes , he did my instruction early 93 and indeed the guy is / was on a complete different planet .., Too long in Guyane we were told ... 1 m 55 ish , lean , crazy and covered in what we thought were shotgun wound scars , only later did I learn they were Leischmaniose scars from 3 REI .... I still remember his saying “ Pereto Feueto SELVA , or something like this ... and his usual Bande des Asevigets des Iles ... Total madman who i only ever saw smile at me was when I met him on my return from 3 REI ... His Heaven along with his brothers Lopez & Anda ... One thing is for sure , When you leave the Legion you are NOT at all the same person you were ..... 20 years later I still recall everything and have NO regrets
At Castel you're EV Engage Volontaire, after the you've earned the Képi you're Légionnaire 2 classe, after about 10 months you might get Légionnaire première classe. I did my time in the legion 1988-1993, at Castel we did more time at the farm then one month, also we did not do the Képi march until 3-4 month and was not allowed to wear it basically until the last weeks at Castel. We had one German guy Munster that became fut fut, a fut fut is not seen as a "real Caporal and will have a hard time when he gets to a Regiment. We never had a fut fut during our basic training but we had one sadistic Caporal from 2 REP and I'll bet that Struthers knows him, all I say he later took his life along with his family and that should be enough for him to know who I talk about. For us in 88 only the top 5 in our CEV ( compagnie engage volontaire ) was allowed to ask for our regiment to go to, I did chose 1 REC due to the fact of that sadistic at the time Caporal ( British ) and I do not regret it since we had a lot of deployments/ tours during my time. 1 REC was also a very traditional regiment and at my time you were not allowed to wear civilian clothes unless you were Sergent ( Maréchal des logis ) or Caporal chef ( Brigadier chef ) with 15 yrs service. When Joel described to go out for 12 hour leave I just started to laugh because it brought up some old memories. Gendarmerie is like a provincial Police and falls under the Army, that's why they're attached to the military. Actually some legionnaires after their time in the legion got the French citizenship and joined the Gerndarmerie. Any legionnaire could basically join the regular army after their 5 yrs if they were citizens but on the other hand I've never heard anyone that did, the Gendarmerie however was different because it is the police. I got a friend from 2 REP that was a police officer after his time in 2REP and later became a lawyer, he still lives in France married and with 2 kids, he came originally from Ireland. You can apply for French citizenship after 3 yrs but you need to by then have taken back your real name and as far as I know have done or be exceptional. Otherwise you need to fulfill your contract of 5 yrs and have a CBC/ certificate of good conduct, still it's not guaranteed. The only thing that guarantee your citizenship is if you get wounded in battle for France ( That was adopted in 1993 when legionnaires from 2 REP got wounded in Sarajevo ) Interesting pod and always nice to hear from fellow legionnaires. LPN
tess1337 he was British and in -88 he did his Sergent course. As I recall after talking to another friend from 2 REP I think he did this in England and it was something like 6-7 yrs ago if not longer.
Gendarmerie is indeed a national police corp within military status but independant from other armies. Her main goal is police enforcement in countryside and small towns. This military corp has others tasks like coast guard, airports security, ports security, air crash investigations, armament security, military police, scientist police, mountain rescue...
I had the opportunity working with some legionnaires in Cambodia. Very professional unit, great guys and another unit us kiwis have worked with, cheers
Great long form. As a young Marine a in 1991 a buddy of mine met a Legionnair on a train from Toulon to Marseille. We had an interesting conversation and learned that he was to be part of a "recruiting center" in Marseille.
You had the 1st, 2nd and 3rd BEPs in Indochina until 'Fu; 1st and 2nd REPs in Algeria the 3rd been disbanded to fill the ranks of 1st and 2nd; and only the 2nd REP remained to this day, after the failed pouch to keep Algiers French when they disbanded the 1st and actually shot some of their junior officers... but the 2nd was sent to Calvi in Corsica at Raffaelli, instead of the metropolitan France.
That is Bizzare. I was an Australian who wanted to soldier and applied for the Legion...SADF and CF at the same time and ended up in CF through the militia backdoor through 10/90 instead
We do it in the US army as well. One of the most annoying things about the military besides people fuckin with you that are really just abusing their ranks
The Legions 13th demi brigade was repatriated to France and a French manned combined arms regiment replaced them in Djibouti, parts of the 13th DBLE are in the UAE and run a desert warfare center there. The 2REP is in Calvi, Corsica.
Hi thanks very interesting I would advise this book written in the 70's about the french legion in Indochina "par le sang verse" from Paul Bonnecarrere not sure if it has been translated, but it is a very good way of getting to know the legion in Indochina.
Ha, found this on RU-vid. Great seeing you camarade, articulate is not always associated with para legion. Definitely love the comment on the Simon Murray influence. Apt, your insight on mercenary vs soldier. LPN
One last thought. The reason that special unit inside 2 Rep is called GCP. Is because it had its name changed from Commando Regiment Amphibious Parachutists. C.R.A.P
I was confused by Joel's comment on having to shoot FRF-2 right-handed, despite being left-handed. He said he shot okay and that it was during a qual course of some kind. My question is did he have to qual with sniper rifle to be a sniper or just because it was one of the weapons available to his team, a la familiarization. He'd already said his shooting was just okay and made me think his right hand, left eye dominant issue had hampered him a bit, generally, as a marksman, let alone as a sniper.
I know this comment was 5 months ago, however he said he is left handed, with right eye dominate which made it slightly harder to shoot and he wasn't the best of a shot to begin with, as for using a sniper rifle not sure.
Very fascinating perspective. We rarely learn about the French Foreign Legion from an insider's perspective. Also, enjoyed learning about the helicopter contractor path that Joel undertook.
Then there is the question of maintaining the honor of the Legion. When after having your uniform checked by the guard house Corporal, before going into town. You are reminded of this rule. If you go into town and cause a fight, then the police will arrest you. Then the MP's will take over and bring you back to camp and you will end up in the cells. However if you go into town and the locals start trouble you, calling the Legion bad names, well then you must defend the honor of the Legion. You will be arrested by the police. The MP's will take over and bring you back to camp and you will not be put into a cell. You will be set free. I think in all the times I went to town, every local i saw was shit afraid to talk to me and would rather cross the street than to walk past me. Oh and one last comment about the 1st REI. Joel must have forgotten to mention the Holly shrine there. That has the glass box with a wooden hand in it. As you stand in this shrine looking up at the plaques of all the battels fought by the Legion. Something might come across your mind. In all these battels, the Legion was outnumbered 5 to 1, 10 to 1, 1000 to 1, and they all died bravely to last man and your first thought might be wow tough guys eh. But then as you look further you don't find a single battle that they won. Now if your goal is to be slaughtered Custer style, you may be about to join the right Army.
Battle of Narvik, battle of bir hakeim, battle of Strasbourg, second battle of Ardennes forest etc etc... All FFL victory from WW2. Be sure FFL won a lot of battle. From 1840 to today.
And the FFL isn't the same as the French Army, historically. In the old days of far-flung empire, it was better to send foreign -born sons to die in Algeria and Indochina than sons of France. So, the FFL would've typically been thrust into more low-level, alley fights that needed to be fought but didn't warrant sending French divisions.
A “Caporal Chef” is a Subject Matter Expert in a particular field. You can’t go any higher in ranks, but your pay increases with your years in expertise.
@@yisakii8397 GCP=Groupement Commando Parachutiste. 2REP= 2nd Régiment étranger parachutiste. COS= US SOCOM. GCP jobs is to support the COS= US SOCOM. Ex: if the special forces need some sort of support, they will call the GCP.
@@willianferreira8967 I thought the 2rep was the commando unit and the GCP were a tier 1 counter terrorism unit.? Like the difference between Marine recon and Marine raiders. One is capable but does imbedded big ops while the other focuses on HVT's, hostage rescue and intelligence.
@@odinschild2239 No, GCP is not part of the COS. they only does commandos job, direct actions and intel for the 11th airborne brigade. Only some units from COS does ct, hvt and hr. And to be part of those tier1 units, you need some experience and to do your training all over again xd (ex: Commandos Marine). Imagine being a fucking seal and need to do BUDS all over again and going seal T 1,2,3,4,5 and need to do a another buds to become st6... but of course, u don't need to do all the groups of CM, just need some xp in 1 or 2 groups and try ur chance to become a combat diver and be part of the Commando Hubert (Hbert=st6). But to be real, GCP or GCM do not have the same mission as the COS at all.
The Joel chap is well sorted and humble, one could run into him @ a shopping mall & not even tell that he's had this colorful life across Africa & Europe just trying to get a taste of what real Soldiering is like. Jack, try and get a 1er RPIMA or a Commando Hubert chap on next and ask them about their perception and relationship with the GCP other Elite Legionnaire units in the COS.
Matt Rakes older brother Alan Rake was in 1ere CIE as well in the 80s, I did a sadaa course with him, met Matt years later diving offshore in Saudi Arabia.
It was Alify take not Allen he was a green jacket in British army Matt and I joined together and served in 1Cie together and he was my best man at my wedding I know the whole fàilt very well
Funny story...my Grandfather (landed in a glider , Dday 82nd Abn.) usta make me field strip my cigs, when i lived on his land. He was a bitter dude tho, because he was terribly wounded in the first few weeks of combat in France, lived with a big bullet in his hip bone, and I believe he was angry for not being able to fight the rest of the way to Germany. Man he hated Germans too, he was a tough Irishman. RIP Jack Gibbons
3:20 into this video and I find this narrative's first exaggeration. There Canadian Airborne Regiment was NOT stationed in Germany at the referred time period 92/93 as what is alluded to here, so I don't know how he could see them jumping while living over in Baden as they were stationed out of CFB Petawawa, ON, Canada. If anything, what may have been seen was Para qualified personnel doing some sort of civilian jumping perhaps, nothing serious. I'd be interested to find out where he did his Commando Course. Nice hear that he went to the same Centre National Entrainment du Commando in Collioure - Mont Louis that I attended. And YES the citadel vice chateau had one awesome obstacle course that ran all throughout the moat area of the citadel's outer fortifications. My course was a shit-kicking which lasted about a month, just as he said.
Joel, I realize you have mitigated copious amounts of risk in your career. I feel that my impression of Magnum P.I. during drivers education many years back was the cornerstone of your success today.
Well...you know how that goes. That's another of saying he just wasn't big and fast enough or that he just wasn't skilled enough in the techniques necessary to make it professionally.
I have created a checklist for those who have decided to join the French foreign legion. You have worked damn hard to get this far. Now the question is, have you overlooked anything ? The idea is that you pick up the list and tick off what you need. The video is 15 minutes long because it is more than just a list. There has to be some explanations and references to other videos. I have done the same list in both French and Nepalese at the end of the video. @
We Brits have our kind of equivalent of the French FL - the Ghurkas - one of the most elite infantry units of the British armed forces alongside the RM and Paras.
Depend where you are from. If your country don't have healthcare security, as France pay for everything FFL don't want people coming only for medical security. They are fear that these people will go out of the legion after receive healthcare. If you have healthcare where you are from, they know you are not here for that. At this point, that's not even a question
2ème classe (Private), 1ère classe, Caporal, Caporal chef, Caporal chef première classe(dunno if it still exist),then NCOs= Sergent, Sergent chef, Adjudant, Adjudant Chef, Major. Officers=Aspirant, Sous-lieutenant, Lieutenant , Capitaine. Officiers Supérieurs= Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel. Officiers Généraux= Général de Division, Général de Corps d'Armée, Général d'Armée, Top noch commander in chief. The Président doesn't roll his shoulders wearing a commander in chief jacket, but he is the ultimate boss.
You forgot général de brigade (2 stars) encore the division one. Also under Président civilian authority, There are the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Armies.
I am currently getting ready to join the Legion. My main goal is to join the GCP. Is there any tips on how to better my chances to get ready for selection and pass? Even tips on joining the Legion in general. Thanks for your time and your service
@@berserker6818 if regular FFL reg are joke while they are the regular reg the most deployed on theatre around the globe, comparing to all other military reg across the world... Think a minute.
I realize I'm coming to this discussion a little late but if anyone reading this knows the answer I'd appreciate it. Does the FFL have a boat/sea/naval type special regiment?
@9:10 - No, the United Nations was very much up and running by 1954. League of Nations was nothing but bad memory and a dismal failure by this time. WWII effectively ended the LON. So Joel's granddad was actually working under the auspices of the UN.
The guy gives the impression that France sends its legionaries to do the dirty work for him. This is completely inaccurate and untrue. The legion never intervenes alone and the paratroopers of the marine infantry, the marine infantry, the special forces, the marine commandos, the airmen and artillerymen are always present on the operations. n Mali, for example, the legion today represents 16% of the combatants. France does not lack good combatants and it teaches its know-how to its legionaries.
Wasn't the FFL more than 16% of French military presence in Africa over last, say, 40 yrs? And in '91, 1REC accompanied U.S. Gen'l Schwarzkopf's forces into Iraq. I'm not sure another French army unit was involved in that advance.
They tried to buy it actually in the 90's. It's a parallele Army of the official french army;has a state army budget and a "side budget".I imagine too expensive cause priceless (for France and the others they can be used to work for) ,so not in it's interest . It's a 2 century "Blackwater"kind state company.
@@yvancadiou2991' It's a 2 century "Blackwater"kind state company.' You have completely missed the point. The legion is not a mercenary troop. Money has nothing to do with the legion, that's why they are excellent soldiers. Mercenaries are good technicians and mediocre soldiers. No one dies for their pay at Blackwater.
Dang I’m really thinking of attempting to join the Legion. I’m prior service army Infantry and am finishing up college, can’t wait! Wonder if there are also many prior service guys in the Legion
As far as I know, the choice of the "Dien-Bien-Phu strategy" was not made by the military, but by politicians... the military had to obey. This led to the rumour that the politicians were looking for an "opportunity" to provoke decolonisation by putting the army at a dead end. The same thing happened in Algeria, but De Gaulle took advantage of the failed Putsch to discredit the Army and decolonise.
