Apply Now: French Army Recruitment for Africans and other Non-Citizens

Military Job Applications:  Military jobs application in the French have seen a spike since the Paris Attack. This makes a considerable amount of sense since security is of concerns. There are Jobs in the area of military are opened at the French Foreign Legion. The French army, one of the most powerful in the world, has welcomed soldiers from other countries for many years. A non-citizen can enlist in the military.

How to Apply the French Army Jobs:

It is worth noting that persons who want to join the French Legion Army have to present at the Recruitment Center and present their application. There is information on the recruitment here.

Th French Legion is a military service branch of the French Army established in 1831.  For foreigners, there is the French Foreign Legion. Persons who are enlisted in the French army branch  of French Legion  are called Legionnaires. These French Legion men are highly trained infantry soldiers and the Legion is unique in that it was, and continues to be, open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces. When it was founded, the French Foreign Legion was not unique; other foreign formations existed at the time in France.

Military Job Applications :

At the moment, the French Legion army is Commanded by French officers, it is open to French citizens. At the moment, there are only  24% of French citizens (as at 2017) in the French Legion. This explains why are a lot of no citizens move to apply.  The important and secure point worth noting in the French Legion Army is that any soldier who becomes injured during a battle for France can immediately apply to be a French citizen. This is assured  under a provision known as “Français par le sang versé” (“French by spilled blood”).  As of 2008, enlisted members into the French Army Legion come from 140 countries. After serving in the French Legion Army for three years, one is allowed to applied for French citizenship.

It is a fact that the Legion has been in existence for a very long time and records have it  that the Legion has since 1831, suffered the loss of nearly 40,000 men on active service in France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Madagascar, West Africa, Mexico, Italy, the Crimea, Spain, Indo-China, Norway, Loyada, Syria, Chad, Zaïre, Lebanon, Central Africa, Gabon, Kuwait, Rwanda, Djibouti, former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Mali, Sahel and others. Non citizens who enlist in the French Army Legion start of as Private and advance to Private First Class after completing their training. The non commissioned officer is the next remarkable rank.

Requirement:

It is expected that applicants report at an information desk (PILE) or at a preselection center (CP) located in Metropolitan France. France will provide everything needed (accommodation, food and clothing) once you present yourself that you want to join the French Legion Army. You do not necessarily have to speak the French Language to be accepted in the French Legion Army. It is very tight selection process and close to 15% of applicants are accepted every week. The Legion has its own selection process and they determine whom to select or reject. The selection process is quiet complex; with 15 high ranking military personnel in charge. They basically take into consideration what motivated you and everything else about your personality. You have to be physically and mentally fit to join the French Legion Army. During the selection process, you are allowed to go home on specific days and contact your family at your free time.

Learn About the French Military.

The French Legion takes in everyone as a single person, no matter your marital status and initial contract is always 5 years. The recruitment process, after showing up and showing interest,  takes 2 – 5 weeks. It is important to know that the French Legion Army starts the recruitment process when you pass your passport to a serving legionnaire in a recruiting center. Rejection or Acceptance is decided by the Army and during the stage of recruitment, the Army takes care of all your needs.

Every week, the Army announces persons who have been accepted or rejected into the French Legion Army.

CAREERS AVAILABLE IN FRENCH ARMY

Military examination, very technical, allows for recruits to build their career in the French Legion Army. At the moment, the following careers are available in the French Legion  Army. When you are selected into the Legion, you have 20 working days of leave in the first year, 25 in the second and 45 in the third. All these are paid leave.

Combat specialties

  • sniper
  • tank driver
  • paratrooper
  • sapper
  • machine gunner
  • anti-tank rocket launcher
  • armoured vehicle driver
  • and other…

Administration

  • secretary
  • accountant
  • data-processing support
  • computer support
  • and other…

Signals

  • radio operator
  • radio mechanic
  • telephone exchange operator
  • and other…

Control

  • light vehicle driver
  • truck driver
  • articulated truck driver
  • bus driver
  • dredge driver
  • and other…

Maintenance

  • mechanic
  • electrician
  • welder
  • painter
  • small arms expert
  • and other…

Miscellaneous

  • paramedic
  • data processing specialist
  • physical education instructor
  • graphic designer
  • musician
  • photographer
  • cook
  • and other…

25% of legionnaires will become the non-commissioned officers (N.C.O.). All NCOs in the Legion started as simple legionnaires (except for a few NCOs from the French Army, assigned to some regiments as well-trained specialists).

10% of Legion officers started their career as simple legionnaires and worked up through the ranks.

French Army Ranks and Salries

There is starting salary of €1,200 (excluding food and accommodation) for recruits and recruits are given their own new pistol. The rifle must never be left unattended to, even in battle.

Foreign Legion rank Equivalent rank NATO Code Period of service Insignia
Engagé Volontaire Recruit 15 weeks basic training. None
Legionnaire 2e Classe Private / 2nd Class Legionnaire OR-1 On completion of training and Marche képi blanc (March of the White Kepi). None
Legionnaire 1e Classe Private / 1st Class Legionnaire OR-2 After 10 months of service. Première classe Légion.PNG
Caporal Corporal OR-3 Possible after 1-year of service, known as the Fonctionnaire Caporal (or Caporal “Fut Fut”) course. Recruits selected for this course need to show good leadership skills during basic training. Caporal Légion.png
Caporal Chef Senior Corporal OR-4 After 6 years of service.

FRENCH ARMY SALARIES:

It is worth noting that the French Legion Army takes care of her people in terms of shelter and food. These are not included in the salaries below:

RANK SERVICE 1°RE 2°REP * 3°REI ** Foreign theater ***
Legionnaire 10 months 1205 € 1460 € 1433 € 3567 €
Caporal 03 years 1226 € 1480 € 1452 € 3626 €
Caporal-chef 10 years 1303 € 1607 € 1600 € 3939 €
Sergent 07 years 1351 € 1648 € 1650 € 3929 €
Sergent-chef 10 years 1779 € 2095 € 1945 € 4186 €
Adjudant 17 years 2007 € 2140 € 2180 € 4748 €
Adjudant-chef 21 years 2078 € 2427 € 2477 € 4818 €

There are several bonuses that the French Legion Army affords recruits:

  • * Parachute bonus
  • ** Overseas allowance (French territories)
  • *** Foreign theater operations – Overseas allowance (abroad)

The Pay examples (the most basic salary), dating back to 2010, are increased by 1-2 % now

According to 2018, you could start collecting a regular retirement pension after 17 years and 6 months of honorable service.