Why do non-French people join the French Foreign Legion, instead of their own country's military?

Why do non-French people join the French Foreign Legion, instead of their own country's military?

Tom Martin

Heck, let’s explore this beyond the question. If you don’t want to read this, well, move along.

Well, I thought aside from the Officers, isn’t the French Foreign Legion intended to be composed of foreigners, hence the name?

From their website:

What DOES matter to join the Legion

• to be a man between 17.5 and 39.5 years – read more here:
  Age limits for joining the French Foreign Legion
• to have a valid ID (Identity document)
• ID Card or a Passport for recruits from the European Union (EU)
• PASSPORT for recruits from all over the world
• to have a birth certificate verified copy (translation into English or French languages preferred)
  – confirmation of the certificate’s copy not older than 6 months while enlisting
  – you are allowed to enlist in the Legion without the certificate as well, nonetheless, the document will facilitate your engagement
• to be NOT wanted by Interpol (NO murders, NO drug trafficking…)
• to be physically fit to serve at all times and in all places around the world, for at least 5 years
• to have BMI between 20 and 30 – read more:
  Height and weight requirements for joining the French Foreign Legion
• to be able to write and read in your native language

What does NOT matter to join the Legion

• your citizenship (if you are a Brazilian, Indian, Russian, Japanese citizen etc…) doesn’t matter
• your race origin doesn’t matter
• your religion doesn’t matter
• your knowledge / ignorance of the French language doesn’t matter
• your educational background doesn’t matter
• your qualifications doesn’t matter
• your social status doesn’t matter
• your professional status doesn’t matter
• your marriage / marital status or family status doesn’t matter
• your previous military or non-military background doesn’t matter

Well, obviously if you’re a criminal wanted by Interpol they don’t want you.

So back to the question:

Why do non-French people join the French Foreign Legion, instead of their own country's military?

What sort of limited mind would suggest this is an ‘either-or’ situation?

Veterans

Many who joined the FFL were former servicemen, and an incredible number of them were combat veterans, including Vietnam Vets from the US, British Vets from different conflicts, Soviet military of all sorts after the collapse, and infamously, Waffen SS. In some cases, they didn’t want to go back, in others they got use to the comradery of fighting men in conflict, as more than one Vietnam Vet found, going back to the mill, driving a cab, or sitting in a college classroom was hard to do after being in combat.

Young recruits

When I was young and dumb and full of cum, at 18, I’d little interest in joining the military, HOWEVER, I was interested in challenging myself and in my case, it was the Marines. There are others who would do the same. I can imagine young Euros who are less than impressed with their own country’s military because of a different understanding of the role of the military instead going to the FFL.

Once we’d gone through Marine Recruit Training and some tough schools like Infantry, there were Marines who found themselves and loved the challenges. Back then, the appeal of joining say contract military in a certain country in Southern Africa or joining the FFL might have been interesting.

Interestingly, some Germans, Belgians and other Europeans join the FFL because it is a pure martial organization and I remember in the 1980’s as the changes and political correctness swept NATO organizations, some males preferred to serve in more traditional military formations with the usual values.

Not popular, but a reality, there are some who aren’t all bravado. They like war. They like action. They like getting into the shit. Among them are some who were simply made for it. They’d have no other purpose in a society.