Okay, let’s talk about this French Foreign Legion thing in 2024. It popped back onto my radar earlier this year. Wasn’t really planning on it, just kinda stumbled across some talk online, maybe a video or something. Got me thinking, you know? What’s it really like these days?
So, I started digging. Just casual at first. Went online, looked up the official stuff. Requirements haven’t changed a whole lot, seems like. Still gotta be fit, gotta pass those tests. They lay it all out pretty clear, gotta give them that.
Getting into the Weeds
Then I went deeper. Started reading forums, blogs, watching videos from guys who’d actually been there or tried. You get a different picture then. Not just the shiny recruitment posters. Lots of talk about the mental side, the sheer toughness of basic training, the reality of deployment. It’s not a video game, that’s for damn sure.
I found myself looking up the physical tests specifically:
- The Luc Léger: That shuttle run thing. Sounds simple, run back and forth to beeps. But man, watching videos, those later levels look brutal.
- Pull-ups: Always a classic military test. Need a decent number, proper form.
- Rope climb: Using just your arms. That takes serious upper body strength.
- Obstacle course: The usual running, jumping, climbing walls deal.
Just reading about it made me feel out of shape, honestly. I even tried doing some pull-ups myself, just to see. Let’s just say… it was a humbling experience. Made me realize the kind of dedication you’d need just to get through the selection gate in Aubagne.
Reality Check Time
So, I spent a few weeks mulling it over. Watched more videos, read more stories. You see guys talking about leaving everything behind, the low pay at the start, the absolute commitment. Five years minimum. That’s a big chunk of life.
It wasn’t just the physical stuff anymore. It was thinking about cutting ties, the language barrier (my French is basically zero), the whole culture shock. Could I actually do it? Was it the right move for me, right now, in 2024?
I started weighing the pros and cons. Adventure, discipline, second chance? Sure. Danger, isolation, loss of freedom? Also true. It’s a serious business, joining something like the Legion.
Where I Landed
In the end, I decided against actively pursuing it this year. The research itself was an interesting process, a good kick in the pants to maybe get a bit fitter generally. But actually packing a bag and heading to France? That’s a whole other level. It takes a certain kind of person, or maybe someone in a certain situation, and right now, that’s not me.
So, yeah. That was my little exploration into the French Foreign Legion for 2024. A lot of reading, a bit of thinking, and a healthy dose of reality checking. Interesting stuff, but I’ll be sticking to civvy street for now.
