"Americans struggle to meet the French Foreign Legion’s " Topic

…high bar.

"CAMP DE CARPIAGNE, France — For almost 200 years, the French Foreign Legion has prided itself on offering a haven for men yearning for adventure and a new start in life.

It was just what "Edward," a 24-year-old Californian, was looking for after he was booted out of the U.S. Marine Corps in 2015 for a disciplinary infraction.

"I can't go into too much detail about what I did, but I was young and very stupid, and that's why I'm no longer in the Marines," Edward said…."
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Amicalement
Armand

In other words – French mercenary unit accepts other countries military rejects, even then it's a bit tough for most of said rejects and various other fantasists. Not exactly news.

In Desert Storm the Legion showed up without any anti-aircraft artillery. Several US units were assigned to support. Once the fun finally started, the US units spent 3 days trying to catch up with them! Say what you will… but these Legion fellows make a fine unit.

Not more mercenaries than any other soldiers, not paid differently at all.
Then all pros are mercs?

Imho one of THE best….

Amicalement
Armand

Jcfrog, they fight for another country and get paid for it, it might not be classed as a mercenary unit but the individuals who serve in it are certainly mercenaries.

After3 years they get French passport. Many come for that. Like somny " Hispanics" go Us forces.
A true merc going for money would then go contractor.

Lots do go on to work in PMC's, either way they're still fighting for a foreign country for money. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but let's not dress it up as some romantic ideal.

Jcfrog: "After3 years they get French passport"

Wow, times have certainly changed quite a bit since the days of the old Roman Legion! I think the auxiliaries had to serve something like 20-25 years before getting their Roman citizenship, right?

Dan

Even then it slackened😜😋 to 16 years or so.
For the FL it used to be more years. mitterand and co liking the incoming new chaps as mostly voting for them, trying getting more in every way.

The FFL does have a very good record regardless.

However, the Pentagon states of all those of draft age in the US only @ 30% would qualify for service. So wouldn't surprise me that they might have a problem in the FFL.

Even if they were ejected from a US military unit. They may have been thrown out for a reason(s).

Supposedly FFL has 7 candidates for one taken.

About the same for most western forces.

Not at all. In many E u countries they take nearly all they can, not enough volunteers and not the type they wished for. But they have to fill the blanks.

I'll rephrase that to most decent western forces.

An Australian infantry private gets paid better than any other infantry private in any Western army. More than a few British soldiers become mercenaries and join our forces for the pay. It's competitive to get in as as Australian, even if your qualify at the high standards there can be a year wait to get in. Then again we only have a total full time land army of less than 40,000 personnel.

They have to become Australian citizens before they complete the training (or before starting, can't remember but I looked into transferring a couple of years ago), so they aren't mercenaries. They certainly don't do it for the pay, it's for the lifestyle, like millions of other Brits have done for the last 200 years.

US Army private: AUD$25,517.76 p.a.

UK Army private: AUD$32,930.17 p.a.

Australian Army private: AUD$55,762 p.a.

The Lateral Transfer scheme isn't looking for Private soldiers. Each year the skills the ADF look for change, but it's generally the more technical or skilled trades and specialists. These are people who already have gone up in the ranks and will probably be financially worse off for a while if accepted. I've got 4 mates who've done it recently, 2 are now instructors in training establishments, one is a JTAC-I and another in the Artillery. None have done it for the money, they don't even get home to duty, or for the ops experience. It's all to give their families what they see as a good future.
But as they, and all the others, are Australian citizens, the pay scales don't come into it as they aren't mercenaries.

I'll rephrase that to most decent western forces.