low plains drifter 10,685 Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 8 minutes ago, chartpolski said: I spent a lot of time in Angelo’s Scooter Shop at the bottom of Shields road in my mod days ! Cheers. Think I can just about remember a place with all the scooters lined up outside, we used to see them as we passed on the metro 1990 ish 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eastcoast 4,181 Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 An ex British Army friend of mine worked for a few years in Iraq for a private security company. You know the kind of thing, protecting infrastructure and contractors but not a mercenary. Financially very rewarding apparently but not without some personal risk. A mutual friend who could look after himself and shoot straight but with no military training was always on his case to "get him a fix". Of course it never happened. My friend told me that his American employers favoured ex British armed forces with ex officers and NCO's commanding a premium. He personally had a lot of time for South African ex military and police. However, ex French Foreign Legion lads were not well regarded and some would refuse to work with them or have them in their teams. Depends on what people have been trained for I suppose? The closest I have been to action is shot at by mad old farmers years ago. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Borr 6,223 Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 My mate in army was asked by a contractor to repair a pistol grip on a weapon two days later he was dead, afghan. Dangerous profession Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,844 Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 3 hours ago, eastcoast said: An ex British Army friend of mine worked for a few years in Iraq for a private security company. You know the kind of thing, protecting infrastructure and contractors but not a mercenary. Financially very rewarding apparently but not without some personal risk. A mutual friend who could look after himself and shoot straight but with no military training was always on his case to "get him a fix". Of course it never happened. My friend told me that his American employers favoured ex British armed forces with ex officers and NCO's commanding a premium. He personally had a lot of time for South African ex military and police. However, ex French Foreign Legion lads were not well regarded and some would refuse to work with them or have them in their teams. Depends on what people have been trained for I suppose? The closest I have been to action is shot at by mad old farmers years ago. I think the issue with 'ex legion ' is many only did 3-12 months before deserting. In the legion you either become a switched on super soldier who can not only learn to soldier but do it while learning a different language and commanding men of a dozen different nations.......or you are a donkey who gets through his time like man doing hard labour/desert's early. There's a big difference between the two. Many hope the title 'ex legion' will carry weight as a private military contractor. Those that excel in the legion arnt wanting to leave..if they stay on for a second term they are legion through and through and arnt fckin off to Iraq trying to pimp themselves off somewhere else. The dreamers who failed hope for an easier ride and more money as a contractor somewhere 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlfieWhip 4 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 hello just joined the forum as somehow I came across this thread regarding the French Foreign Legion . In my past Ive had quite a bit to do with combat survival courses and other fieldy things mainly with the military but also from an outdoorsy point of view . Unfortunately these days due to ill health and past injuries my main interest is just lurking about listening to other peoples experiences and thoughts on forums such as this . The initial post by JukeL123 about the FFL got my attention as from an early age going back to the early 1970s I have had an ongoing interest with anything relating to the FFL but especially post WW2 history / stories about this most iconic military unit . I have to say for anyone with an interest in military history it is a most fascinating subject but for many British readers there are many miss quoted myths surrounding the FFL ! I have to say now I have never served in the FFL( only the British forces ) but have acquired much information about them over many years and think it is fair to say I have a decent level of knowledge about them . Hopefully I will be able to dispel a few myths and help people who may be interested understand a little more about the FFL. First and foremost I believe I am correct in saying the Legion is not an Elite organisation as such in general terms but it does hold an elitist status as a military organisation that succeeds in getting the job done when it is called on to do so and does the job well ! It does however within its different Regiments have elements of specially trained various type Commando groups what are these days termed ( Tier 2 specialist forces ). However saying this each Foreign Legionnaire has to complete quite a harsh and grueling and physically demanding four month basic training cardre to win the coveted White Kepi and join the ranks of this iconic military unit . I feel that I must quote WILF on this forum and unfortunately beg to disagree with you mate and question you on your comment " In reality your common garden British cap badge is miles in front in terms of standards , ability and achievement " ! First of all I would probably agree that your normal British Infantry trained recruit is possibly taught a more structured field craft and section drills modules during their basic training than the FFL recruit but you must remember that in any given FFL recruit cardre there are many differing nationalities with totally different cultures who in many cases cannot speak a word of French and all commands in the Legion are given in French . As anyone can imagine the Legion instructors must co-ordinate and assimilate all these different nationalities ( many with no previous military training ) into a cohesive basic fighting unit within a four month period . Granted their methods of instruction , discipline and punishments might not go down too well in other countries Armies but its been successful for almost 200 years . I believe a Legionnaires true ability comes through after he has finished basic training and is finally posted to his Regiment where he will have to complete more constant beastings and tutoring in his chosen role either within the Para Regiment , Cavalry , Engineers or Infantry until he is considered an integral part of his unit . I would urge anyone interested to watch many of the youtube videos showing the various Legion regiments in training and then make your own mind up as to how well trained they are and to the physical severity of many of their training courses ! It is my personal opinion that many of the desertions within the ranks of the foreign legion are possibly down to the never ending and relentless harsh training and the possible monotony of it all whereas in the British army this sort of thing eases off slightly after basic ? Regardless the French Foreign Legion has an enviable record of hard soldiering in many of the worlds hotspots including , Gulf war , Bosnia , Iraq , Afghanistan , Lebanon , Djibouti and other African countries . Its interesting to note that the past few years the Legion has integrated with the main French army and is now an integral part but still retaining its own special identity . It even trains with selected British army units . Hope this may be usefull to someone . 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlfieWhip 4 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 On 23/11/2023 at 11:31, jukel123 said: Yes I think some lads just want to escape. I think men who join religious orders and become cut off from society have got it easy. People admire their sacrifice but I think they've taken an easier path in life than working, paying bills, worrying about your kids etc, etc. Seems an easy life to me doing bit of gardening, a bit of praying, early to bed early to rise. Life would be a holiday just giving yourself over completely to a higher force, whether it be the French Foreign Legion or a religious order. In a way its a huge kop out. But hey, people can do what they want. Yeh I knew a guy who I worked with in the Fire Brigade in Tyne and Wear who used to be a monk . Great character , he loved his drink and eventually got his choice , either give up drink or back to civvy street . He chose civvy street and the fire service which is where i got to know him . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jukel123 8,473 Posted January 12 Author Report Share Posted January 12 2 hours ago, AlfieWhip said: hello just joined the forum as somehow I came across this thread regarding the French Foreign Legion . In my past Ive had quite a bit to do with combat survival courses and other fieldy things mainly with the military but also from an outdoorsy point of view . Unfortunately these days due to ill health and past injuries my main interest is just lurking about listening to other peoples experiences and thoughts on forums such as this . The initial post by JukeL123 about the FFL got my attention as from an early age going back to the early 1970s I have had an ongoing interest with anything relating to the FFL but especially post WW2 history / stories about this most iconic military unit . I have to say for anyone with an interest in military history it is a most fascinating subject but for many British readers there are many miss quoted myths surrounding the FFL ! I have to say now I have never served in the FFL( only the British forces ) but have acquired much information about them over many years and think it is fair to say I have a decent level of knowledge about them . Hopefully I will be able to dispel a few myths and help people who may be interested understand a little more about the FFL. First and foremost I believe I am correct in saying the Legion is not an Elite organisation as such in general terms but it does hold an elitist status as a military organisation that succeeds in getting the job done when it is called on to do so and does the job well ! It does however within its different Regiments have elements of specially trained various type Commando groups what are these days termed ( Tier 2 specialist forces ). However saying this each Foreign Legionnaire has to complete quite a harsh and grueling and physically demanding four month basic training cardre to win the coveted White Kepi and join the ranks of this iconic military unit . I feel that I must quote WILF on this forum and unfortunately beg to disagree with you mate and question you on your comment " In reality your common garden British cap badge is miles in front in terms of standards , ability and achievement " ! First of all I would probably agree that your normal British Infantry trained recruit is possibly taught a more structured field craft and section drills modules during their basic training than the FFL recruit but you must remember that in any given FFL recruit cardre there are many differing nationalities with totally different cultures who in many cases cannot speak a word of French and all commands in the Legion are given in French . As anyone can imagine the Legion instructors must co-ordinate and assimilate all these different nationalities ( many with no previous military training ) into a cohesive basic fighting unit within a four month period . Granted their methods of instruction , discipline and punishments might not go down too well in other countries Armies but its been successful for almost 200 years . I believe a Legionnaires true ability comes through after he has finished basic training and is finally posted to his Regiment where he will have to complete more constant beastings and tutoring in his chosen role either within the Para Regiment , Cavalry , Engineers or Infantry until he is considered an integral part of his unit . I would urge anyone interested to watch many of the youtube videos showing the various Legion regiments in training and then make your own mind up as to how well trained they are and to the physical severity of many of their training courses ! It is my personal opinion that many of the desertions within the ranks of the foreign legion are possibly down to the never ending and relentless harsh training and the possible monotony of it all whereas in the British army this sort of thing eases off slightly after basic ? Regardless the French Foreign Legion has an enviable record of hard soldiering in many of the worlds hotspots including , Gulf war , Bosnia , Iraq , Afghanistan , Lebanon , Djibouti and other African countries . Its interesting to note that the past few years the Legion has integrated with the main French army and is now an integral part but still retaining its own special identity . It even trains with selected British army units . Hope this may be usefull to someone . Interesting post. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Borr 6,223 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 A doc I watched recently showed a large number of south American were coming over to try and join FFL , with the promise of a french passport. Not sure if this is it or not..... https://youtu.be/_KIIDCfpP0A?feature=shared Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 47,390 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Bunch of balaclava wearing c**ts ! Lol They got leathered at Dien Ben Phu and have been a mostly small engagement force as they were the only French military branch allowed to operate outside France (don’t know if that is still the case ?) In reality a mercenary colonial force who by dint of its anonymity rule and the mystery surrounding it and its longest basic enlistment period in the world has attained some type of mythical status….completely unwarranted in the bigger picture of armed conflict imho The Foreign Legion never carried out an operation as famous as Pegasus Bridge or the recapture of the Falklands……truth be told, they would probably get done in by the IDF. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harryshounds 1,177 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Always been a thing for Irish men to join. Some went for training to be used in the liberation struggle, some went for money, some went for adventure. I know of two personally that went for adventure. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 47,390 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 50 minutes ago, harryshounds said: Always been a thing for Irish men to join. Some went for training to be used in the liberation struggle, some went for money, some went for adventure. I know of two personally that went for adventure. I’m having visions of some bright ginger culchy, pale as f**k getting burned red raw in Djibouti ! lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 16,122 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 1 hour ago, harryshounds said: Always been a thing for Irish men to join. Some went for training to be used in the liberation struggle, some went for money, some went for adventure. I know of two personally that went for adventure. Viva la Quince brigade Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,196 Posted January 13 Report Share Posted January 13 (edited) Foreign legion is gay! They refused me! Said I was too tall, mierde Edited January 13 by mushroom 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Borr 6,223 Posted January 13 Report Share Posted January 13 19 minutes ago, mushroom said: Foreign legion is gay! They refused me! Said I was to tall, mierde Was it a recruitment poster... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,196 Posted January 13 Report Share Posted January 13 4 minutes ago, Borr said: Was it a recruitment poster... Like I said…. Too tall cnut lol 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.