FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION TRULY MULTINATIONAL

 

The French Foreign Legion (FFL) is a symbol of multinational unity, which attracts recruits from Mongolia to the West Indies, Europe to Africa.

 

“I discovered FL’s recruitment from YouTube. There are three Mongolians in the FL now. I love the cheese in France, but I miss those from my home in Ulaanbaatar,” said Kush Enhuush, a Mongolian soldier in FFL, who participated in the 14-day India-France military exercise “Shakti” which concluded at Umroi, in India's northeastern state, Meghalaya on May 26.

 

Similarly, Blake from St. Vincent Islands, West Indies misses cricket, the sun-kissed beaches back home. Blake, a corporal in the FFL, says he tries to visit home, but the 10 hour flight plus the tight vacation schedule doesn't always allow it.

 

“I have been in the FFL for the past six years and I sometimes miss my home,” Blake said.

 

Barry from Guinea, Africa has risen to the rank of second platoon commander after starting as a recruit, the lowest rank in the FL. “My home is a six hour flight from France. There are also recruits from Kenya and Chad,” Barry said with a heavy French accent.

 

Sundar Singh from Haryana, a 24-year-old went to France in search of work and ended up being in the FL. “I thought why not try in the army and I joined. We are paid well. It's about Rs. 1.5 lakh per month and goes up to Rs. 2 lakh when we serve in a foreign country,” Singh informed.

 

Twelve Nepalese soldiers are part of the current exercise. S. Thapa from the FFL’s infantry regiment mentioned that most Nepalese recruits are aged 24-25 years and bond well with other nationalities in the FL mess.

 

The FFL, established by King Louis Philippe on March 10, 1831, allows foreign nationals to serve in the French Army, primarily to protect French colonies. At its peak, France had over 80 colonies, second only to Britain’s 120. Today, France has 12 overseas territories, necessitating foreign recruits to serve globally.

 

It’s not that the FFL served only for the interest of France’s colonies, but they also took active part in different wars, including World War I and II, although in limited operations.

 

The FFL now constitutes about 7 to 8 percent the France army’s total strength and is the only unit in the French Army open to people of any nationality. About 90 percent of FFL’s commissioned officers are French and only 10 percent Legionnaires normally rise up to the rank of an officer.

 

For many FFL’s recruit from developing nations, one of the prizes is French citizenship after a five year contract in FFL. “My citizenship papers are being processed,” Barry smiled. (Eom)