| Tango01 | 18 Nov 2013 10:41 p.m. PST |
…and the USMC Exercise in France. "It has been noted by some observers that the Foreign Legion and the USMC have more in common than many allied forces. This was demonstrated recently in an exercise in France where the Ospreys of the SP-MAGTF (from Spain) landed in France and exercised with the Foreign Legion near one of their bases in the South of France. 1 The assault was a success, mainly due to the striking similarities between the two military organizations. Marine Capt. Jackson Smith, the executive officer of Alpha Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, SP-MAGTF Crisis Response, was asked whether he would be comfortable in a future combat situation with a foreign force. His answer came quickly:…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| Oddball | 19 Nov 2013 5:19 a.m. PST |
I have always thought the French Foreign Legion was one of the best rapid deployment forces in the world. The best thing they have going for them is that their operations are not reported on the front page usually. If something needs to be done, they do it, quietly. A great deal of this most likely has to do with many of their operations are in Africa where there is not a large number of Western news reporters. |
 Legion 4  | 19 Nov 2013 7:49 a.m. PST |
FFL works for me, should be used by the UN when aggressive actions are required … |
| 79thPA | 19 Nov 2013 8:12 a.m. PST |
They should also be allowed to stage a coup against the UN. |
| jdpintex | 19 Nov 2013 8:15 a.m. PST |
I agree that the FFL is one of the best reaction forces in the world, but does France really have the transport to rapidly deploy the FFL? And I mean more than pushing them out of planes as lightly armed airborne troops? How quickly can France reinforce them with supplies and equipment? |
| Legion 4 | 19 Nov 2013 8:25 a.m. PST |
The FFL has used USAF assets before to deploy … And the US is part of the UN too … regardless of what some of the other members think or feel …  |
| darthfozzywig | 19 Nov 2013 9:50 a.m. PST |
The best thing they have going for them is that their operations are not reported on the front page usually. It does pay to keep a low(er) profile, sometimes. |
| Daniel S | 19 Nov 2013 10:22 a.m. PST |
The French Air Force has ha fleet of 14 C-130 and 38 C-160 transports with the first of a total of 50 Airbus Atlas entering service this year. The the largest part of the FFL is integrated in other French formations. For example the 2nd REG is the combat engineer unit of the 27e BIM while the 1st REG, 1st REC and 2nd REI are all part of the 6e BLB.
So rather than sending in the FFL it's a case of deploying a part or the whole of the brigade in question. Other units are located well outside France like the DLEM, 3rd REI and 13e DBLE. Of course these could be redployed but it would take time and leave their area of operations without troops. Operation Serval in Mali gives a good view of how the French carry out rapid deployments at the moment. There is also Operation Licorne in the Ivory Coast. Operation Manta and it's successors Opération Épervier in Tchad is how things were done in the 80's |
| Tgunner | 19 Nov 2013 5:32 p.m. PST |
Pretty cool. Thanks for the link Armand! |
| Tango01 | 19 Nov 2013 11:17 p.m. PST |
Happy you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile).
Many thanks for the data mon ami Daniel S!. Amicalement
Armand |
goes beyond the straight line.