Customer Reviews

Life in the French Foreign Legion : How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a youngster, or even as an adult, did you ever fantasize about leaving it all behind by running away with a cloth sack tied to the end of a stick to join the French Foreign Legion, be posted to an isolated fortress outpost in the Saharan desert, and fight Arab hordes alongside Beau Geste (Gary Cooper)? In LIFE IN THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION, author Evan McGorman will perhaps disabuse you of that notion. Perhaps not.

As a Canadian teenager, McGorman became entranced with the legendary image of the Legion. After serving 4 years in an artillery unit of the Royal Canadian Army, Evan enlisted in the Légion Étrangère in 1989 on a 5-year contract. Based on his experiences, this book is his good-faith attempt to strip away the romance surrounding the contemporary Legion and give a true picture of service within its ranks to anybody contemplating joining.

McGorman begins his narrative where it logically should, i.e. with the addresses of the Legion's recruiting centers in France; he himself joined in Paris. He covers just about everything you need to know: enlistment requirements, what to bring - French/English dictionary, shaving gear, toiletries, towel, cigarettes, watch, wallet, personal address book (all of which might fit in that sack at the end of the stick) - the enlistment contract, changing your name, aptitude tests, orientation, basic training, learning French (rapidly), singing and marching, the legion's Code of Honor, the signature Képi Blanc cap, ranks, saluting, addressing superiors, the annoying corvée (menial chores), guard service, corporal punishment, phoning and writing home, doing laundry, weapons, physical training, meals, and regimental structure. Once graduated from basic training, Evan is assigned to the Legion's single parachute regiment. Subsequently, his narrative includes everything you'd need to know about regimental life: parachute training, company structure, commando training, daily schedule, vacation leave, pay, theft, desertion, tips on deserting, the practical benefits of being a Legionnaire (e.g. being a Babe Magnet), specialist training, holidays, and the perception of the Legion as a band of hardbitten, unsavory mercenaries.

During his stint, McGorman did tours of duty in Africa - Chad and Djibouti - as well as one with the UN peacekeeping force in Sarajevo. Much of the book is dedicated to his experiences in those places.

Finally, Evan ends his narrative where it logically should, i.e. with the mustering out experience: an unexpected tax bill from the French government, inducements to re-enlist, tidying up administrative details, the final paycheck, corvée to the very end, the Certificate of Military Service, and the good-bye address from the Commandant of the Legion.

The subtitle of LIFE IN THE FRECH FOREIGN LEGION is HOW TO JOIN AND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GET THERE. What McGorman provides is exactly that, a comprehensive overview done in an informal, lucid, and informative style much like you'd get in a conversation over several beers. While the author lays claim to no regrets about his years with the Legion, he's soberingly honest about why he wouldn't necessarily recommend it: the incessant corvée, the boredom, the constant hold the organization has on your time - the same complaints any soldier or sailor will have about any military outfit anywhere. But, he also says it was the experience of a lifetime.

If you've never been fascinated by the concept, mystery, and history of the French Foreign Legion and are content with the daily grind of the same old rut, then this book is not for you - 0 stars. But, if Beau Geste beckons from the other side of the citadel wall, then it's worth every one of five stars simply as a primer for the experience. Personally, I guess I'll just put the sack and stick back in the closet and take out the trash (corvée) as ordered by my Commanding Officer Wife.

The thought of joining the Legion has been at the back of my mind since I was in high school. I have read every book and magazine article about it I could get my hands on. Evan McGorman's account is by far the most interesting and candid that I have found. It is mainly an account of his five years service in the Legion's parachute regiment, but he has thrown in much useful information for someone who is genuinely considering enlisting. Items such as where to join, what happens to you during the selection process, and the physical requirements demanded of a Legionnaire will all be of interest to the prospective recruit.

The main thing I got out of this immensely readable book, however, was how much like any other Western army the modern Legion is. Work details, spartan living conditions and not a lot of training seem to be the lot of a Legionnaire today. This book dispelled much of the romance I had for the Legion and managed to do what countless other works had failed: end my fantasies of absconding for a life in the Legion.

I always believed that the best sources about the French Foreign Legion and everything that happens into it are only the men who served there for five years or more. Canadian Evan McGorman was one of the selected few who not only served in the Legion but was accepted to the elite 2 REP parachute regiment. His book is a splendid and very realistic introduction to the harsh realities of the Legion and he takes care to destroy many myths that surround the life there. He is adamantly against the idea of spending five years in this French elite unit of mercenaries but he also cherises the memories of the great moments he lived in its ranks. One can not find a better source for information regarding any trivial detail of preparation for Legion service as well as a wealth of advices in order to avoid the worst situations once been there. A sober reminder that French Foreign Legion is not an adventure to be taken lightly and also that the French Army is a rather tough outfit, despite the US perceptions to the contrary.

This is the best book I have read on the Legion, it was non stop intresting from beginning to end. This has everything you could possible want to know about the Legion, even information on deserting if you ever feel the need. This is a well written book that proved to be of some really good help, and something I do not regret buying. I recommend this book to people who have a passion for the military and for potential enlistees like me. Although I don't recommend that you join the Legion, anyone who wants to take a big risk, this is one adventure you shouldn't pass up.

Mr McGorman has a fluent style which kept me reading from cover to cover in one night. His descriptions of the life and challenges of a Legionnaere are detailled . He starts of with the first long and boring days in the Legion and continues through training and his tours till his last days there with great tips of 'do not's' and 'do's'. He takes care of a few mysteries surrounding this elite force and sets a few heads straight. Nevertheless this book can be counted as advertisement for the Legion , and after reading it I was left wanting more. ( my whife disallowed me to join, though...!) I recommend this book highly to everyone thinking about joining the Legion, just beeing curious about this famous part of the french army or interested in one of the last adventures for men only!

There isn't too much information out there for someone who is interested in joining the French Foreign Legion. This, however, is the perfect book for anyone interested in knowing what a man has to go through to become a member of the French Foreign Legion. The author goes through every detail from the time before he enlisted to his deployment to his dischage five years later. It doesn't go through the history of the Legion, but that's fine. That's not the purpose of the book. I recommend this book especially to those considering joining the Legion. I considered joining prior to reading this, and the book definitly helped me decide not to. Again, this is the perfect book if you wonder what life is like as a legionnaire in the mysterious French Foreign Legion. I highly recommend it.

For anyone potentially interested in joining the FFL, or anyone who simply wonders what it would be like, this is probably the best book currently available. The author was a legionnaire and a member of the elite 2nd REP in the late 80s and early 90s. This book is partly an account of his experiences, but as the subtitle states, it is mostly about how to join the FFL and what to expect once you're in. This book describes what life is like in Legion in an institutional/organizational sense. What the rules are, how the 'system' works, and how the Legion actually functions on a day to day basis. Many aspects of life in the Legion are discussed including basic training, life in the barracks at Calvi, and deployment to Africa and Yugoslavia. There are many personal anecdotes in this book as well, but if you are looking for a more personal/emotional recounting of experiences in the Legion, Tony Sloane's `The Naked Soldier' is much better. The image that Mr. McGorman paints of life in the Legion is one of drudgery and boredom. Lots of mindless (and mind numbing) rules, any romantic notions of life in the Legion in the Beau Geste tradition are quickly dispelled. This book makes it pretty clear that the image and the reality are very different. An interesting read in any case, whether you are considering joining, or just want to know more about the Legion.

A book on a relatively mysterious military unit. I have read a few books on the Legion and this one is by far the best. Very well written and plain-spoken. I felt like the author and I were having coffee while conversing about his time in the French Foreign Legion. He is a good writer and I hope he continues writing. Once I picked up his book there was no letting go. It was that good and that revealing. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to congratulate Mr McGorman for writing such an amazing book about the Foreign Legion. Since I am thinking about joining the Legion somewhere down the line , I tried to gather as much information as possible. So far I have never read a book which was so moving and truthful coming from an ex legionnare before. I emailed him and thanked him for telling the Legion for what it really is. He was kind enough to reply and answer few of my questions. I would recommend this book to anyone who is even slightly considering to join the Legion.

After McGorman's book about the French Legion, I can honestly say now that I will NEVER join the Legion. I cannot stand that thought of spending so many hours in a day doing mindless 'corvee' or being at the mercy of some heartless caporal. I sometimes fantasized about joining, but not anymore!!
I am currently serving in the U.S Army and am stationed in Korea. Field life in Korea is difficult enough, with its terribly hot weather and its aggresive mosquitos. But I cannot imagine the pain of a raid march, where you march on through mountains for 90+ miles. Forget that!! If anyone even has the most remote sense of what marching with a 60lb ruck for miles on end is like, it is the most bone crunching experience ever. There is nothing glamorous about it.
After I finish my stint, I will leave the Army (it is still an honor and privelege to serve). But as for the Legion? Ha!