It was preparation Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, a four-month sovereignty tour where we do the same thing in Calvi but on a much smaller island. My name was on the list to go surprisingly, but I still had a hundred stupid tasks to do every morning. Fascimiento’s compte rendus had double because I hadn’t …
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G20 and the Devil’s Eye
We climbed Monte Cinto, the tallest mountain chain in Corsica at 2,706m, after the 3rd day of marching around other sizable mountains within the region. As soon as we climbed one mountain with our packs, descended by rope, ran down unstable cliffsides covered in loose volcanic rocks we simply marched on at the same rapid …
Vergio and Monte Cinto
We perceived all our equipment for the stage Brevet Alpiniste Militaire, including the green mountain trousers, sunglasses, climbing shoes, boots with crampons together with a bunch of other equipment of our own; sun cream, goretex jacket, warm items, sleeping bag, water bottles and everything else to survive the high mountain. Being well-equipped was one of …
Mass desertions
I returned back to regiment with a heavy heart. After a taste of freedom for 4-weeks it was difficult to adjust back to the military routine, especially in the 2eme compagnie where the Caporaux, often with the approval of the Sergeants would humiliate the legionnaires day and night. Of course, we weren’t all selected to …
Vacation
First day of freedom. While on Permission Longue Duration or vacation and in spite of not being obliged to work, or run around like a headless chicken, every time I closed my eyes I heard the Caporaux in my head reminding me ‘that I shouldn’t come back’ or shouting some kind of abuse. I spoke …
Camerone
We were preparing the festivities of Camerone to mark the anniversary of the great battle fought by legionnaires in Mexico in 1863. We prepared the kermesse (a sort of outdoor stand and tent to sell food, drink and provide activities to the general public) together with undertake the parade in front of large audiences. We …
2nd Company – Bonne Chance
After FTS, we moved into one building at the 2eme compagnie. We were obliged to buy everything we needed for the needs of and norms of the compagnie including the red t-shirts and vests together with the mountain gear including a new backpack and musette required from the compagnie. I spent around 2000 Euros on …
Taken Prisoner – FTS
We still weren’t accepted into the 2eme compagnie of combat until we completed 3 more weeks of technical training with a different Sergeant from the 2eme compagnie, Sergeant Paina as well as Caporal Vykov and Caporal Lomokov. It was a Russian dominated encadrement and it felt like we were training for the Russian special forces, …
Brevet Paracutiste Militaire
We weren’t assigned into our companies of combat until we gained the Brevet Parachutist. Another 2 weeks of intense learning, practice and training to be airborne. Every group that undertakes the brevet goes under a Promotion number; we were Promotion 1427 and put together in the same living quarters and given orange sweaters and t-shirts …
2REP. First Stop, Corsica
We were all dispatched back to Aubagne after Castelnaudary, where it all started in the Legion for us about 5 months ago. All 40 of us with a few extras from other sections that got delayed for Ventilation process, (Ventilation seems like we were about to get some hot air blown onto us but actually …
Diaries of a Legionnaire 