For any of you guys who're bored and looking for a second career, check this out: http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/

 

Buddha

It's a candy, and near my home, but I'm too old !!

It's a candy, and near my home, but I'm too old !!

 

Je me doutais bien que t'etais français, hehe

 

As for the Legion, if you think the Marine Corps is tough, well, the Legion will give it a new meaning.

Ask some SAS dudes

That is all. Oh, lest you don't know before you sign up folks : 5 years means 5 years, active duty or doing time in the stockade. NO EARLY OUTS

Again, no early outs, no dishonorable discharges...

Yes, it's like the Roman Legion (well, back then it was a 20 year hitch), and yes you can't join under your real name. But you can re-assume it after a year, after a standardization of your identity and military status. After 3 years, eligible for French citizenship, if you don't have it already : think about it, that means a EU passport...

I'm too old for it now, but if I'd seen this after 'Nam at the end of my first enlistment in the USN, I might have gone for it. No doubt alot of the Legion's image is more legend than fact, but at that age, I probably wouldn't have cared.

 

Buddha

As for the Legion, if you think the Marine Corps is tough, well, the Legion will give it a new meaning. Ask some SAS dudes

 

Hey Now, with all due respect to the Legion, let's not go down that road.

As for the Legion, if you think the Marine Corps is tough, well, the Legion will give it a new meaning. Ask some SAS dudes

 

Hey Now, with all due respect to the Legion, let's not go down that road.

 

 

Hehe, I knew you'd take exception to that

As would a member of SAS, or any of the elite forces around the world, of course.

Each and everyone of them most probably thinking his outfit is the best, being de rigueur and par for the course I'd say

As for myself, I wouldn't know

 

But the whole Légion recruiting's site does have that super bad arse super soldier aura to it, underneath all the "rejuvenated" look of the Legion : with having to sign in under an assumed name, the explanations as to why historically this was the case, and why the tradition is still maintained, even though it's not Murderer on the lam central anymore, or so they say

Still insisting that you can join whatever your life's situation is outside the Legion, really sounds same old same old to me.

And they call it revisiting their image, hehehehe

So I had to make the classic chauvinist Frenchman comment, otherwise the world ends (or so would "we" French would like to think;))

Or something like that.

As TEPonta pointed out, a lot of myth in that mythical aura, no doubt

Then again, all elite corps have it too, to various extents.

When you start measuring things, blablablablablabla 8p

As for the Legion, if you think the Marine Corps is tough, well, the Legion will give it a new meaning. Ask some SAS dudes

 

Hey Now, with all due respect to the Legion, let's not go down that road.

 

 

Hehe, I knew you'd take exception to that

 

All in good fun, of course.

Well, well, as some might of you might have heard or read me mention, I've been considering serving in the armed forces of my home country, Canada.

The decision has been made, after doing some research and talking to a couple recruiters.

Not right away, as I have a few things to sort out, as well as get back into shape (not in bad shape, but not in the athletic form of my early tweens)

Hopefully, late this or early next year, I'll be in, and even maybe on short track for a commission.

 

If I was to be refused or cut during BT by the Canadian Armed Forces, which would be a huge letdown, I would then go to the Legion, since I can't enroll in the regular French Army (I'm also a French citizen, but no enrollment beyond 26 in the regular French Armed Forces, afaik ), as I've made up my mind, finally, about starting a military career.

 

Why at 38 ?

Well, it's always been somewhere in me that will to serve and fight for right, but my father's hate/love relationship with the military (he was after all a deserter..), and the strong anti-militaristic ambiance of my formative years led me away.

And then I had trouble....

To sum it up, let's say I had substance abuse problems that led me astray.

When I finally started to get my life back together, I flirted with the idea again, but I guess I chickened out

So now is the time...

 

I have no illusions I won't get my dream job, which is getting my wings and then getting phase IV training : fighter a/c, due to not having a natural 20/20 vision ( iirc, even corrective laser surgery would not make me eligible for any flying gig, even though I have close to 100 hours of flight time on single/dual props and gliders, albeit none of it totally solo since I do not have a license)

 

If I can get enrolled for training as sonar operator, that's another favorite of mine, the avowed goal being to serve on a sub, as it's not a very popular posting. I even researched enlisting with the US Navy a bit more than 10 years ago to serve on subs, but not possible, even with letters of recommendation from a decorated american Korea and Vietnam vet.

 

Otherwise, it's either recon or intelligence officer/enlisted man, armored or infantry

 

I have a feeling I might end up in military intelligence due to my tech skills

I'd like to serve on the field, see the bear and all that, but I'll settle for what is wanted of me.

Really interesting how recruiting is done in Canada now, very scientific but also open ended : what you want also plays a part into your initial career path, as you do apply for a specific job(s).

And changing tracks mid-career is possible, depending on circumstances (going from a more than adequately peopled posting to a one of their "hot jobs" comes as an easy example of possible career switches)

 

Anyhow, that to say that albeit I might dream of getting my wings or working on a sub ( as I told Herman before, I don't have a problem with confined spaces.... Troubled past et al. ), I'm also very enthusiastic about ending up as a ground hugger

 

I'm not enlisting for the initial 3 year gig to get money for school, good credit and status with the banks, etc.

In fact not at all : money doesn't even enter the equation, the signing bonuses and other perks being just nice side effects, hehe.

No, this is the first, and only time so far in my working stiff life, that I'm making a 'career' move, that I decide to have one in fact : even as a game dev, it wasn't a career, but just my job, even if one I have/had much passion for.

I'm going for the long haul, hopefully 'til they kick me out because I'm too old in 20+ years(you can enroll at 55 in Canada : they want a possible 5 years from you before mandatory retirement at 60)

Physically, even with the abuse in my past, I'm in better shape that sedentary men 10 or 15 years younger than me.

Simply, I want to serve my home country (and if not, my second country through the Legion), and in a way, pay back my debt to society in a real, concrete and meaningful way.

 

Sorry, I had to post this, as much to discuss it with other people who understand and can encourage such an endeavour as to make it more "real" to myself : I'm not getting much support and even less understanding in my immediate family and social circles...

First, a desire to serve, to make some kind of difference, however how small in the global scheme of things....

A desire to payback for all I've taken from this society, which is the definition of true national service, be it military or not.

Where else could have I had this kind of background and turmoiled life and still be able to find a place in society ?

If I had lived in France, as might have happened (we nearly left Canada in the late 70s for overseas ICAO postings of my dad, with strong possibility of moving to France in the end), I would not be in a position to make any kind of choice, I would be ostracized for my past mistakes, etc.

Not that things are perfect in that regard here either : people do have prejudices.

 

Anyhow, here is to looking to Private/Trooper, Cadet Officer or Legionnaire Quijano posting around these parts

 

P.S. : forced marches don't scare me, walking being my primary mode of transport, and at a fast pace to boot

But running.... I was a sprinter kind of runner, never an endurance one, so I guess I have to take up running as part of my preparatory training for physical exams. That said, it'll be much easier to get back into a training regimen with the result being access to my chosen career.

Maybe I'll be less sick again by the time you retire from the service and have HC ready for some righteous coding assistance . Must admit I'm a bit jealous, the US military didn't want me for health reasons, I'm glad you have a second chance at it.

If it is something that you truely want to do, and at your age can make it happen...physical condition, family, monetarily, etc. Go For It. For if it is something that you want to accomplish and then get to a point where you can no longer do so due to some arbitrary reason, like age, you'll look back at might have been.

 

Good luck with whatever decision that you make.

Since I'll never get to experience the Legion for myself, if you do wind up going with them, be sure to post all the relevant facts (as opposed to the myths) when you get a chance.

 

Buddha

If it is something that you truely want to do, and at your age can make it happen...physical condition, family, monetarily, etc. Go For It. For if it is something that you want to accomplish and then get to a point where you can no longer do so due to some arbitrary reason, like age, you'll look back at might have been.

 

Good luck with whatever decision that you make.

 

Exactly : the desire to do it has been there on and off most if not all my life, and after examining my motives and reasserting it's not a delusion, wishful thinking, etc. I realized I had to follow suite, so that if it doesn't happen, I won't keep thinking of what may have been. I have enough of that to deal with (as we all do) from past mistakes, hehe.

And if down the line, I come to the realization it's not for me, that I'm not suited for military life, well then, I'll have served and won't be wondering anymore either.

Btw, I'm single, no children of my own, but a small niece thanks to my sister, and yes, my protective love for that little girl does enter the equation.

So yes, in a way circumstances are making it possible now, instead of 10 years ago...

You grasped the essence of it, I wonder why

 

Thanks all for the support (and jealousy, that made my day T. 8p )

I wish you all the best.

 

Silent