Joining the French Foreign Legion

lwflee SG

Anyone here ever though about just upping stakes and joining the FFL? I've given some though to it, but in the end i have always chickened out...i dun think i would last long there.

But for argument's sake, if i want to join, what do i tell mindef so that they dun bother me with reservist trg?

[email protected] SG

is it considered an act of treason for singapore citizens? Laughing

lwflee SG

I dunno - i dun think it is logical but then with Singapore, you never know. Sad

Have you thought about joining b4?

[email protected] SG

me? no the Legion specifically, but when i was younger there was a time when i thot i might want to be a mercenary. But then the point is while i enjoy exciting things, i am not one to accept mindless discipline, where u end up having to listen to stupid people all the time anyway. So nope i decided its not for me.

LazerLordz SG

Well, at the end of it..you get French/EU citizenship.IF you can avoid SG for these five years..maybe you will survive.

I think you will have to change your name and identity too.

Joshua1975 SG

Posted b4.
http://sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=83580

tot of join liao and after service come back as FT.

Mr. Green

Joshua1975 SG

Final Days ie end of service or contract.

Some decisions will have to be made toward the end of your contract. Do you want to re-sign and extend your contract or apply for French citizenship? A common occurrence faced by many Legionnaires is being suddenly informed of a backlog of taxes.

Your last week in the Legion is spent in Aubagne completing the final clearance phase of departure. You'll undergo a final medical exam, have your identity re-established if you had your name changed and was not yet changed back, and be given paperwork as proof of your passage through the Legion. A free train ticket to anywhere in France will be issued to you. On the final day there is a small ceremony for those leaving and everyone is addressed by the Commandant of the Legion. The Commandant is a general in charge of the entire Legion.

mdfjami SG

I think joining the US army's a better prospect, seriously. Very Happy

mdfjami SG

I don't think it's treason unless France invades Singapore.

But I think it would count as desertion lah.. if you never go back for reservist Laughing

fkh SG

FFL function almost the same way as US Marines.. They get engaged in overseas battle.

BTW, can you speak French ?

If you can't speak French, they will despise you.

If you want to join oveseas armed force, then why not USMC ? At least you are a part of the most powerful armed force..

lwflee SG

Anyone know about the implications about joining a Foreign army for a singaore male citizen? wahat about NS?

I know the FFL will allow you to change identity so you should be quote safe once you are in.

Anyway, like i said, i've done some reading and watched some videos about what the FFL involves and have since chickened out. Their 'BMT' involves you doing a 50km route march and i've read that all FFls need to complete a route march of more than 120 km!

Also, Coporal punuishment is still prevalent in the FFL and there are high rates of suicide and desertion. Lastly, joining is not as easy as it used to be. I've read that chances of passing the selection are about 1/15. And you have ex-Royal marines commandos gg for the selection. !

The us army.... the IRaq war has made me lose a lot of respect of the us army. Look at Lyndie (?) England. She has learning disabilities and she still got in?!!?

I do not want to serve with c unts and knobs like that. They are likely to get me killed.

Sigh - too bad i do not think i am up to it. I have the greatest admiration for the ppl in the FFL and i think they are the epitome of soldiering.

Gedanken SG

Hey, the FFL's not all that great either. I had a neighbour who was a former Legionnaire (Czech army before that), and man, he sure as hell wasn't a shining example of mankind, I can tell you.

I was looking after kids who were in the welfare system at the time, and rough, tough Legionnaire didn't like them. One day I caught him throwing an apple over the back fence at one of my kids, and enough was enough. I went charging up to him saying, "You wanna pick on someone your own size?", and gave the fence a hard kick to accentuate the point. Well, the fence had been attacked by termites and collapsed when I kicked it.

Mr. Legion found himself toe-to-toe with me, and he turned pale and ran into the house to call the cops. When the cops came, I told them what happened. They went to his place to interview him, and not only dropped the charges against me but charged him for having a stolen "Stop" sign in his house. Mr. Green

FFL? POOI! Can't even stand up to a Singaporean Commando. Rolling Eyes

aerozapper SG

In my opinion, I guess that its probably illegal for a Singaporean male to join a foreign armed force, unless he plans to migrate altogether. There has to be some rule of something in the Enlistment Act etc...

However, I wonder whether that applies to females?
I have a former girlfriend (Singaporean) who studied high school in the USA and she said that the US Navy approached her saying that since she had lived in the US for quite some time, she could apply with USN for scholarship and serve with them.

I also had a former senior back in secondary school days who joined the US Marines. She was Eurasian and spent a chunk of her life in the NCC back then. Apparently, Singapore didn't offer enough so she went to the USMC.

I wonder... since female Singaporeans don't have to serve NS, what are the implications for these ladies if they serve in a foreign armed force?

lwflee SG

That would be EX-FFL. As with any army, you would have the occasional Twat. However, i feel that FFLs in general are able and capable soldiers.

Gedanken SG

Well, having known past and current members of the US SF, SEALs, Marines, SAS (UK and Aus), plus infantry from Aus, UK and Russia, you get a feel of what these guys are made of. I'd put FFL boy a small step over the Russian conscripts.

In any case, I doubt that his status as being a current or former member makes much of a difference - a twat's always a twat.

Gedanken SG

If and when they find out, the government's general approach seems to be to ask, "If we allow you to retain Singaporean citizenship, will you give up your allegiance to the other country?", after which the ball is in your court.

tvdog SG

Don't congratulate yourself, yet, Mr Singaporean Commando.

Many people lie about their military service. Very likely he's never been in the Legion or any other armed forces.

Or maybe he was in the Legion as a clerk.

If you know more about the Legion: the selection process they go through, the company they mix with - many have checkered past - you'll know these guys are tough. And they join up to prove how tough and how bad they are.

So maybe if your neighbour really did "turned pale and ran into the house" is maybe it's because he never was Mr Legion. You shouldn't believe everything people tell you, Mr Singaporean Commando Smile

Gedanken SG

Sure, sure - maybe the photos he showed me when I first met him were Photoshop jobs. Maybe you ought to check six before charging in, Mr TV. Razz

Who's congratulating himself, lad? I'm saying he can't even stand up to me - if you were half bright you would read the implication that I'm not holding Singaporean Commandos as a world standard by any measure. Or is that your inferiority complex rearing its ugly head? Laughing

Bad and tough? The SAS lads and Green Berets I've known over the years are bad and tough. With the possible exception of 2ReP, FFL are generally a mob of hooligans. Then again, if that's where your bar is set, what else is there to say?

Hmm - TV - that acronym could mean one of two things, neither of which are associated with an understanding of what bad or tough really are. Maybe you ought to just stick to that, eh?

LazerLordz SG

I'm not sure.But serving in the Marines entitles you to American citizenship after completing your tour of duty if I'm not wrong...I get the feeling that our laws tend to snake after our citizens even when they are abroad...a little extra-judicial don't you think?

tvdog SG

Well, Mr SG Cdo, really shouldn't knock the FFL cos at least they have a long tradition of soldiering and constantly being in action.

I am not comparing the FFL to the SAS or the Green Beret "lads" you say you know.

Why should I?

I am comparing them to you, Mr SG Cdo.