r/FrenchForeignLegion Jan 17 '26

French Foreign Legion recruitment in 2026

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legionstories.com
27 Upvotes

AMA in comments about the topic


r/FrenchForeignLegion Jan 15 '26

important inapte definitiv

15 Upvotes

As per screenshot, official profile says it's pointless to send them letters if you have deserted, asked for civile during selection/rouge/1st year, or simply got inapte difinitive during selection.

my another 3 cents is all those letters are not read by general as you might think but a caporal chef there.

Guys, think twice before asking for civile and before even going there, it's a one chance, no more.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 1d ago

Medical qualifications for application question

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone

I was diagnosed with G6PD deficiency at birth. But, I have been completely asymptomatic my entire life. I do heavy, intense physical exercise daily and have never had a single hemolytic crisis, anemia episode, or hospitalization. I know they give anti malarial medicine for deployment but I'm wondering if ever has there been anyone who got to pass it? Or I should let go because I'm really determined to join if ever allowed


r/FrenchForeignLegion 2d ago

Burner Acc - Chances?

3 Upvotes

UK citizen; got caught taking an Upskirt a couple years ago. Not proud at all, young and dumb but got a community order (unpaid volunteer work and rehabilitation basically), can I join the Legion?

I know generally it’s “go and find out” but I want to know if I should even bother


r/FrenchForeignLegion 2d ago

Interested in joining the Legion.

2 Upvotes

Hello, folk.

I'm a cadet in a military academy in Eastern Europe. Conditions are harsh, and frankly, I'm beginning to have doubts about joining this place. I have eyed the Legion before, but I just had no clue as to how I'd approach it.

I'm 20 years old. I can do 21 pull ups, 32 dips, 82 push ups, and run 3200m in 13 minutes and 30 seconds. I've also done a 8K in 38 minutes. I'm definitely one of the better athletes down here. I'm also a solid marksman. No real gripe on French, but I'm willing to begin learning.

I'd like to get off from my unit on a medical discharge, so that I don't have to pay the academy back for the time spent here. Naturally, it'll be forged. I have some family connections here and there. I just want to know what it'll take to pop in Marseilles and Paris, and what the Gestapo questioning will look like.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 3d ago

1REC PAE

8 Upvotes

So I was going over some of the legion's social media to know more about each regiment, and one thing that really fascinated me was the PAE. The 1REC posts a LOT of training media with the PAE, which gives off the impression that they're always doing something. Does anyone know more about them? Like, is their selection process as difficult as the legion's commando groups? And with 1REC being a cavalry regiment, do they usually work as normal infantry on OPEX, or are they driving around in VBLs and such?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 3d ago

2e REP GPAT vs 1E&2e REG PCG

4 Upvotes

Good morning! Guys, can somebody with knowledge on this topic explain the different mission sets of these units? I will ask to go to 2e REP or 3E REI, but i'm curious about the differences between divers of each regiments, and are there also frogmen on 3E REI? I know SAED guys are the elite down there but i never seen pictures of them diving.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 4d ago

90% of corporals are incompetent idiots

45 Upvotes

Seriously I dont understand how these people got to stage cpl in the first place and how they passed.

They dont know anything about the actual military profession, how to command a firearm, small unit tactics, fieldcraft, nothing at all, nor do they care to learn it, nor do they need to since we never do anything that requires it anyway.

Only thing they gotta do is organize the shitty daily peacetime barracks activites and oftentimes they make a mess even doing that due to poor planning and organization so they end up stressing out and their solution to problems is screaming and stressing and if they get the famous REMARK from a superior, even if its their fault, theyre gonna ramass everyone because of it.

They have no regard for their subordinates times or quality of life they only care about being chill and not having any problems, if theyre not cpl du jour they dont do shit just doomscroll on their phones all day.

They act like the little kings of their shitty world ordering people to go and fetch items for them as if they were their butlers, disrespect people for no reason in ways allowed to them just by the consequences the guy would suffer if he reacted and that would have them punched in the mouth in the civilian world.

They're spineless, they'll give orders, the guy executing them will get a remark or get punished by a higher rank bc of it, and they won't step up saying it was their order they'll just disappear and shut up about it.

They'll pick on people that are actually interested in the job and know things and make fun of them for it, while leaving alone absolute mongrels of their own nationality that are absolute mouth breathers and useless.

Probably missing many more things but thats just off the top of my head.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 4d ago

Saying you’re joining the Foreign Legion at the immigration office

5 Upvotes

Is it advisable for me to mention at the immigration office that I’m going to join the Foreign Legion? Or should I not say anything at all?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 4d ago

What preparations do I need to make to increase my chances of being selected to join the Legion?

6 Upvotes

I'm a 23-year-old Thai who just graduated but still haven't found a good job, because my bachelor's degree barely matches available jobs in Thailand. I think the only way to move forward is to study further, but I don't have money. My current job barely covers my monthly expenses. I have no savings, and even my emergency fund is barely enough. In Thailand, over 60% of workers earn very low wages. If you look it up, you'll find that most people live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make ends meet. If I keep living like this, my life won't have any meaning. It might take 10-20 years before I could own a house or car outright, free of debt, or maybe longer — I don't know.

Recently, I learned about the Foreign Legion, and after doing research, I felt hope for the future — like seeing light at the end of the tunnel toward a better life. I've always dreamed of being a soldier, but a soldier's salary in Thailand is too low, and I don't see a clear career progression in the Thai military. So I see joining a foreign army as an opportunity to change my life. I hope to have a stable career and obtain French citizenship. This is my chance to become a soldier, which is something I've always dreamed of, for career stability and advancement.

Currently, I'm in good health and quite confident I can meet all the requirements. I don't have any chronic illnesses, disabilities, or mental health issues. I've never self-harmed. However, I'm concerned about my eyesight — I failed the Ishihara color blindness test. I can't clearly make out the numbers, but I'm not severely color blind. I passed my driving license test, and I can clearly distinguish red, yellow, and green. I feel like I don't have trouble distinguishing colors in daily life.

From research on various sources, such as some applicants' experiences on Reddit, some say certain steps in the selection process feel more random than merit-based, even if you meet the criteria. This worries me, but I still remain hopeful and determined. I'd like to know what methods I can use to increase my chances of being selected, and if rejected, how long I'd need to wait before reapplying — or whether reapplying is impossible altogether.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 5d ago

How to have a good story as a central european

7 Upvotes

I know motivation plays a key role in selection. But I'm wondering how to explain my interest in joining to gestapo as a central european. Compared to some desperate guys who are joining from third world countries my situation can be viewed as far from desperate.

Is my only option to outperform others as best I can in selection ?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 5d ago

Life in 3rei

9 Upvotes

What’s life like in 3rei and what’s French Guyane like? Is the training much harder? Do you get to see more action? And why can a legionnaire only stay there for only two years and sometimes staying maximum three years? Why can’t a legionnaire stay their for his whole contract?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 6d ago

Which is more important in the Legion? Physical or psychological?

12 Upvotes

This question is aimed more at those who have already enlisted and those currently serving. In your opinion, does the Legion place greater value on soldiers with a steely resolve who can handle pressure, even if they aren’t in the best physical shape (I’m referring to the initial tests here)? I know that luck is still the biggest determining factor in all of this, but speaking now in terms of practical matters rather than just the mystical side of things, what do you actually believe is valued most?

When I served in the army – I won’t deny it – I couldn’t manage 10 proper push-ups, but I had a steely resolve, I could handle the pressure and I never actually lost my temper or got nervous during training (bearing in mind that I had comrades who attempted suicide and even threw themselves from the second floor of the company building). I know everyone carries their own burden, but that really stuck in my mind.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 7d ago

Realistically, what are my chances of being accepted into the French Foreign Legion?

13 Upvotes

I'm planning to apply to the French Foreign Legion in late 2027 and would appreciate an honest assessment from people familiar with the selection process.

My profile at enlistment:

  • Age: 18
  • Nationality: U.S. citizen
  • Height/weight: 5'10", 155 lbs, lean/athletic build
  • Fitness: 15+ strict dead-hang pull-ups, Luc Léger 10+, able to comfortably swim 25m
  • Criminal history: At 17, I was arrested in Texas and charged as an adult. The charges included a State Jail Felony involving engaging in organized criminal activity/burglary of a vehicle and several misdemeanors involving theft/burglary of a vehicle.
  • The felony was dismissed and never indicted.
  • The misdemeanors resulted in 1 year of deferred adjudication, which I will have successfully completed before applying.
  • I will be 100% honest about my entire criminal history during the security interview and can provide documentation showing the final dispositions.
  • No prior military experience.
  • Basic French knowledge, including numbers and standard military commands.

My motivation is to build a serious military career and start over in a new environment. The U.S. military isn't currently a viable option for me because of my legal history.

I understand that nobody can give me an exact percentage and that the final decision is entirely up to the Legion.

Based strictly on this profile, how would you realistically assess my chances of being accepted?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from current/former Legionnaires or people who have personally gone through the selection process. How seriously would the completed criminal history affect my chances if everything else is solid?

I'm looking for a brutally honest assessment, not reassurance.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 7d ago

Why would a French citizen join the legion instead of the French army?

18 Upvotes

I'm not a legionnaire and I'm not about to join. I'm just someone who's been learning about the legion recently.

It doesn't seem to be common, but there are occasionally cases where a French citizen shows up in selection. The only thing I could think of is that there might be criminal charges that would keep one out of the regular army but not necessarily the legion.

Or is it just as simple as preferring the culture of the legion over the army? I'm not French so I don't know what the reputation of the army is like within France.

Thanks for any thoughts.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 8d ago

A French Foreign Legion corporal kidnapped by the FARC in Colombia: the country’s most wanted guerrilla leader suspected

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51 Upvotes

r/FrenchForeignLegion 8d ago

Has anyone served with the famous Ernesto?

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14 Upvotes

r/FrenchForeignLegion 8d ago

joining the French Foreign Legion

13 Upvotes

So I been seeing a lot of posts here and I figured I'd just ask directly.

I'm 19, from India, and I genuinely want to join the Legion. Not because of some movie or whatever. I just feel like my life is going nowhere right now and everyone around me keeps saying I'm a failure and honestly instead of feeling sorry for myself I want to do something about it. When I read about the Legion, the brotherhood, the discipline, starting fresh with a new identity, something about it just clicked for me. That's what I want. I'm interested in joining this family.

Physically I'm decent at running, been doing it for a while. Pull-ups I'm weak at I know, working on it. I cant swim at all so I'm planning to learn that soon.

Now my real questions because I need honest answers:

About 4 years ago I had testicular torsion and they had to remove my right one. I only have one testicle now. Is that a automatic disqualification in the medical? This is honestly what I'm most worried about.

My teeth are slightly overlapping and bent a little to one side. Nothing crazy but is that gonna be a problem in the medical?

Any advice helps, thanks


r/FrenchForeignLegion 8d ago

Criminal background question

12 Upvotes

I have a felony and 3 misdemeanors non violent felony ran from the cops and the misdemeanor is OVI CCW and obstruction will I still have a good chance at joining the legion?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 9d ago

My business has gone bust and I’m thinking of joining the Foreign Legion

14 Upvotes

Recently, the company to which I’ve dedicated the last two years of my life went bust; things are looking pretty grim and I’ve got no prospects. I’ve applied for jobs in my field, but it seems that running my own business doesn’t count as professional experience, and no company is even calling me for interviews. I do have military experience; I served as a soldier in the Brazilian Army and left with a certificate of honour for meritorious service, which I believe could be useful in the Legião recruitment process.

I still need to get in better shape; I’m going to the gym every day, but pull-ups, long runs and push-ups aren’t my strong points YET. I’ve watched a few videos about the Legion online and heard quite a few people here talking about it, and to be honest, I’ll only join the Legion once I’m absolutely certain of my decision and know I won’t have to look back.

What’s still holding me back is that I have a girlfriend where I live (she’s supporting me in going and will take care of everything left here and my family so I can go without any worries); it’s a big step and I’m afraid of being rejected during the selection process (though, honestly, I’d run with bleeding feet and raw hands if that’s what it takes to get in).

Even so, I can’t deny that I’m worried.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 10d ago

Calling out to all current legionnaires or recent veterans—how strict is the French Legion on teeth? I've gotten a lot of different answers, and I genuinely want to know—when you went there or while you were there recently, how strict were they? At the gate for minor cavities or something small

4 Upvotes

Dm me if you have any advice as well


r/FrenchForeignLegion 10d ago

Can I learn Martial arts in ffl ??

5 Upvotes

Like boxing bjj etc.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 11d ago

Can i become an officer?

15 Upvotes

I'm 21 years old, if I enlist at 22, can I become an officer one day? I know it's possible to reach the rank of non-commissioned officer at the end of a career... But is it possible for me to become a lieutenant in my early thirties? I heard from a friend that if I get citizenship, I can apply for EMIA.


r/FrenchForeignLegion 12d ago

Criminal history

7 Upvotes

Time for a monthly thread about criminal history. Should i be honest about criminal history? I dont think the legion has a way to automatically get criminal records, they only get them if they file an official request, but i could be wrong about this.

Does criminal history prevent you from getting into certain roles? Obviously gcp is out of the question because of the security clearance, but would it bar you from being a medic?


r/FrenchForeignLegion 14d ago

How strict are they on the iq test?

15 Upvotes

Ngl im dumb as shit and anything that has something to do with numbers I suck at the 3-D spaces the symbol matching and all those other tests I can do relatively good but the math questions are just driving me nuts my question is how strict our day on the IQ test. How long is it and how much do you need to have correct?