[Yosy]

Um livro que não está editado cá mas que deve ser bastante interessante. Eu sempre tive uma certa curiosidade acerca da Legião Estrangeira desde que em puto li num lado qualquer que o seu lema é o famoso "Marcha ou Morre"  e que todos os que quisessem, poderiam "fugir para a Legião" (acho que até mulheres chegaram a ir). Este livro está, sem dúvida, a milhas de distância do romantismo de "Beau Geste" (já agora, alguém já leu este último - eu estou a pensar em comprá-lo).

Interessante é também o nome do autor  

Since 1831, the French Foreign Legion has been a renowned symbol of discipline and solidarity. Made up completely of foreign volunteers, the Legion gives men a new lease on life, and a chance to test their limits both physically and mentally. And in 1999, the Legion was just what American Jaime Salazar was looking for.

From the harrowing physical rigors of basic training to his posting in the 2e REG outside of the tiny village of Saint Christol, from his fierce competitiveness and pride to his ultimate disillusionment with the Legion and dramatic desertion, this is the story of Salazar's quest for honor and sacrifice. Legion of the Lost is a compelling, first-hand account of the contemporary French Foreign Legion, sure to dispel myths while, at the same time, add to the legend of the finest trained army of mercenaries the world has ever seen.

Jaime Salazar

Pictured here in tenue de combat and the renowned Foreign Legion headdress, the képi blanc (white cap). Dressed in combat fatigues, legionnaires normally wear the green beret. Velcro nametags (upper right breast) are removed when in public. Strapped across the chest is the 5.56mm FA-MAS assault rifle. Known as le clarion (trumpet), the bullpup configuration weighs 3.36 kg and can use NATO cartridges. Its size and weight make it ideal for bush conflicts.

The Long March

No other army emphasizes the old-fashioned tradition of the long march more than the Foreign Legion, true to its tradition of traversing the Sahara by foot. The Foreign Legion has always been a cash-strapped army in which motorized transport has been scarce. Under any weather conditions and with any heavy load, dropping out is not an option. From the days of Moroccan pacification, when exhausted legionnaires were left by the wayside to perish in the hands of local tribesmen, the common Legion maxim became “March or Die.”

Soldiers for France

Though a legionnaire, by extension, fights for France, legionnaires take an oath only to serve the Foreign Legion. Violence is commonplace in the Legion, especially during basic training (note the blackened right eye). What makes the Foreign Legion’s tenue de parade (dress uniform) unique is the blue cummerbund, red/green epaulettes, and the képi blanc. Sahara based legionnaires were issued khaki covers to be worn over their black caps. With enough time and sun, the covers became bleached white, the sign of an old experienced hand. After WWI, the “white” képi became official. The Foreign Legion has always been the last unit to arrogantly parade down Paris' Champs Elysées every year on Bastille Day.

Feet

The qualifying march for basic training completion is the beastly 7-day raid march through the Pyrenees. After 4 months of conditioning, legionnaires are habituated to march from sunrise to sundown for days on end. Nearing the final day, feet become a major concern. A common Legion adage is that one never becomes a legionnaire without first filling his boots with his own blood.

Back of the Truck

Back of the truck bonding with legionnaires who may not have wanted to have their picture taken. Dogs howl when the Legion is on the march. Any village farmer, butcher, or shopkeeper is likely to be shocked to see a band of solders passing, cursing in Polish, Russian, Spanish, English, and thick broken French.

Camarades

Salazar with two other Polish comrades in summer tenue de sortie (walking-out uniform). After months of basic training, legionnaires are allowed one afternoon of leave in the village of Castelnaudary, where they are generally free to do as they wish, drinking to excess included. Local authorities are notified, and the Police Militaire monitor the rail station and taxi terminals for potential deserters.

Sport

Salazar in typical tenue de sport. The Legion puts a great emphasis on physical fitness, and sport is religion. Runs are rarely shorter than 15 kilometers. Though most legionnaires are scrawny by American military standards, they are capable of amazing feats of stamina. The Foreign Legion is also one of the few armies with professional athletes within its ranks. It even boasts of it’s own cross country team with several Olympic runners.

Pic Peric

The Foreign Legion is renowned for overcoming any obstacle and foe, in this case, mounting Pic Peric in the Pyrenees on a single day’s march. The look on the face says it all. In the nearby village of Mount Louis is the commando school, where live fish are caught and eaten like chocolate bars.

Eiffel Tower

Since its inception as a throwaway army for fighting in France’s overseas colonies, the Foreign Legion has had a love-hate relationship with its adoptive homeland. After the failed Algerian putsch in 1962, when the Legion itself was planning to para-drop over Paris to invade, De Gaulle considered disbanding it altogether. But after downsizing it to 8,000 men, stripping it of all heavy weaponry, the Legion was spared, packed up and re-headquartered to metropolitan France.

Valloire

From its days fighting the Nazis in Norway, the Foreign Legion has proved itself a formidable force capable of fighting not only in the desert of North Africa, but in the jungles of Guyanne, and the Alps of Europe. The 2e REG is the Foreign Legion’s mountain regiment. On a yearly basis, legionnaires take both a summer and winter mountaineering course in the mountain village of Valloire.

Time Off

Contrary to popular myth, legionnaires do get time off, usually in the form of a 36-hour weekend, when they are free to travel within the confines of France as they wish. Only after several years of service, and with the permission of the regiment’s colonel, are legionnaires allowed to own a vehicle, open a bank account, or revert to one’s previous name and identity. Legionnaires are allowed to live off of base and marry after their first five-year contract. Contact with the outside world is precious.

[Duarte]

Um excelente site sobre a LE, para quem estiver interessado.

http://voltigeur1.net/

Também tenho uma pequena colecção de videos sobre a LE, para além de alguns livros. "Beau Geste" é um excelente livro. Vais gostar. O filme também vale a pena ver.

[Cabeça de Martelo]

http://cervens.net/legionbbs/showthread ... #post21023

[Yosy]

^^^^^

que grande site!!

[Ryan]

Eu estive a ver informações acerca da Legião estrangeira e estou a pensar sériamente em concorrer , pareçe ser bastante puxado mas visto que aqui em Portugal eu já concorri a todos os ramos das forças armadas e fui dado como inapto sem justa causa , mas u meu sonho é fazer carreira militar e para isso faço o que for preciso e para além disto até ofereçem melhores remunerações.

[Miguel]

Estas mal na tua pele :lol:

Olha que um exercito é um conjunto de forças, em que todas as especialidades fazem a sua força.

Nunca vi forças especiais vencer uma guerra

[Tilt]

Ryan devias perguntar a ti proprio o porque de nao te aceitarem,se nao foi por motivos de saude entao foram psicotecnicos e se foi isso esta na hora de pores a cabeça no lugar e aceitares que nao tens perfil para ser militar e isso nao e vergonha nenhuma.
Miguel ja viste o filme 300?

[Miguel]

Miguel ja viste o filme 300? Laughing

Que eu me lembra, no final nao foram as forças especiais da altura que venceram

[jmg]

Se não superou os critérios das nossas FFAA talvez não supere os da Legião. Não se deve pensar que qualquer um consegue entrar, a selecção também deve ser rigorosa.

[Luso]

Eu li esse livro de Salazar e não gostei.
O tipo práticamente não faz nada além dos treinos e das marchas, queixa-se muito e no fim deserta.
Arrepende-se, volta à Legião e os tipos dizem-lhe que já não precisam dele. Para mim o livro foi uma perda de tempo. Mas, em vez de experiência de combate, o tipo teve outras "experiências" que preferiu relatar (mulherio).

Prefiro o do Simon Murray.
De longe.

[Lightning]

É capaz de já ter sido posto no forum, documentário sobre a Legião Estrangeira e um americano que lá esteve.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4T8g-zg_KAo

O nome é "Warriors of the French Foreign Legion" assim quem já viu não precisa de pensar que é algo novo .

[Duarte]

Eu li esse livro de Salazar e não gostei.
O tipo práticamente não faz nada além dos treinos e das marchas, queixa-se muito e no fim deserta.
Arrepende-se, volta à Legião e os tipos dizem-lhe que já não precisam dele. Para mim o livro foi uma perda de tempo. Mas, em vez de experiência de combate, o tipo teve outras "experiências" que preferiu relatar (mulherio).

Prefiro o do Simon Murray.
De longe.

De acordo. Para um homem com nome tão distinto, este Jaime deixa muito a desejar. Desertor...
 

O livro de Simon Murray é excelente. Também já li e recomendo "The Naked Soldier" de Tony Sloane, "Inside The Foreign Legion" de John Parker e "Mouthful of Rocks" de Christian Jennings. Tenho ainda "Diary of a Legionnaire" de Gareth Carins, mas ainda não tive tempo de ler.