The french foreign legion a bunch of thugs? or a disciplined army?

Question

I'd say that after reading Tony Sloane's "Naked Soldier" I neither admire or think anything positive of the French Foreign Legion. Their soldiers seem insane, dishonorable towards the African civilian population and obsessed with their image.

Slaone's book is a whos who of sociopaths wreaking havoc French colonial rape on the poor inhabitants of a french african country. I find nothing noble about Sloane's description of him beating up a woman on a dance floor, nor how he grinned as a comrade describes anal rape of an african woman and laughing as she ran off into the night bleeding from her a**s.

What's so great about a legionnaire stealing a button off of a french civilian, stabbing him in the leg. Bar fights and wanton vandalism.

This is not a professional army, this is an army of psychopaths and weirdos.

Their modern day role is to prop up French colonialism which no French man and woman is proud of.

If you want to spend your days in some French African colony, bullying the town's inhabitants then the French Foreign Legion is for you.

About time this Criminal regiment is disbanded or modernized and brought into the professional 21st century of World armies.

Answer 1

The French Foreign Legion is very professional and takes their code of honor very seriously. They are professional and honorable - Is everything a person reads true? I think not.

Answer 2

where do i sign up?!

Answer 3

I wouldn't base my life's view of a sometimes troubled but always courageous Legion on any story by Tony Sloane. This, from an impressionistic, troubled 18 year old who lasted only five years in the traces. While his book may chronicle anecdotal happenings (real, imaginary or just good copy), no one can deny that his historical research and accuracy is spotty to say the least!

The Legion of Colonial France is not the same today as it was then. Colonial France today simply does not exist. For example, previously, they did have a warranted reputation for attracting criminals and mercs. Recently, however, admission to the Legion is much more selective with background checks being done on all applicants. Cons may not join the service.

From your castigation of the Legion I must gather that you have never worn any country's uniform honorably and ever carried a weapon in a combat zone. For, had you done so, had you taken the time to read more of the Legion than Sloane's diatribe, you would have seen that the French Foreign Legion is a group of diverse men blended together to accomplish an order relayed from the Politicians to the Military.

One telling motto of the Legion is "Marche ou Crève."

If you don't speak French, it means "March or Die."

Lastly, your dismissal of a previous poster's message by replying, "Wrong, I was a soldier. Next." is arrogant, unsubstantiated and plain rude. The person was only sharing with you an opinion. If you don't want to read replies, then, I suggest you play your games elsewhere and not on Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 4

Ahh and therein lies the difference between someone that reads books about soldiers and someone that IS a Soldier.  I've worked with, and seen the FFL in action and I can assure you that they are indeed a force to be both respected and feared in every aspect possible.  Their discipline is something that a person that hasn't served in the special ops side of life can't possibly fathom.  There are dis-honorable moments and persons in every organization, this is something you'd know if you had any experience whatsoever in any form of warfare.  

    The FFL is a fighting group you can't possibly understand as a layman.  In the past few years they have ceased hiring those wanton criminals and dregs of society as was the case in the past.  You must pass both a drug screen and simple background check to be in the FFL, although you may be of ANY nationality.  Instead of speaking your opinion concerning one mans view and opinion in a book, try doing some research of your own.  Learn who they are now, and not what they used to be ages ago.  Bottom line, know your subject before you ramble on about it incoherently.