WHAT IS THE FOREIGN LEGION? As an integral part of the French army, the French Foreign Legion is a professional fighting unit using the same equipment and with the same missions as any other infantry, tank, or engineer unit of the French army. They are volunteers of any nationality, race or creed, always ready to serve France.

Men of action and elite soldiers with a young and dynamic spirit, they are capable of doing their duty anywhere anytime.

THE LEGION CONSTITUTES AN INDIVISIBLE WHOLE... From the general to the merest private, all legionnaires have one purpose : to serve France professionally and well. The relationship between those who give the orders and those who receive them comes from a highly developped "esprit de corps" based on a few basic principles :

- discipline and honor,

- a liking for work well done,

- an attachment to the past, reinforced by strong traditions. The traditions of the Foreign Legion are expressed by:

- its special uniform,

- its music and songs,

- its solemn pace for parades,

- its ceremonies particular to the Foreign Legion MISCELLANEOUS After three years of service, a legionnaire can ask for the French nationality and may also be entitled to a French resident permit if he has obtained a certificate of satisfactory military service. The resident permit is valid for ten years and is renewable. At the end of his career the legionnaire is assisted in his return to civilian life.