Kepi Blanc - French Foreign Legion

This site : Missions : On the Net : powered by bravenet.com Last update: 15 June 2010 © Zdenek Busek Photos are courtesy of Zdenek and other members of the 2REP.
	Dedicated to our son who left us in June 2002 to pursue his dream of kepi blanc. We all miss you Zdendo, but we wish you all the best and good luck in your future life. Never give up on what you really want to do.
	In every man and woman's life there comes a time of ultimate challenge - a time when every resources we have is tested. A time when our faith, our values, our patience, our compassion, our ability to persist, are all pushed to our limits and beyond. Some people use such tests as opportunities to become better people - others allow these experiences to destroy them. Anthony Robbins, Unlimited Power.
	One Legionnaire's Experience: "... That same day I was taken to the main Legion Entrangere (LE) Headquarters at Augbane. All my possessions were taken from me. They left me with only the bare essentials - shaving cream, my Mach 3 razor, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, my Nike runners and dad's Tissot watch. Oh, they also let me keep the French phrasebook that A. bought me. All the rest was locked away deep down in the Augbane "magasin" clearly labeled with my real name, but who knows when it'll see the light of day again. ..." more...
	Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur for Adjudant-chef Alex Rowe Amid the pomp of the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris next month, Alex Rowe, Newcastle-born and Gloucestershire-raised, will be invested as a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur for his service in the French Foreign Legion. more TimesOnline ... A GCP member killed in Afghanistan Sergeant Konrad Rygiel member of the GCP unit of the 2nd REP was killed Monday, June 7, 2010 afternoon by shrapnel from a rocket fired by an RPG-7 in the province of Kapisa in Afghanistan. Rest in peace as St Michel watches over you. Our thoughts for you go to your family in this day of sadness. ref: ext_link A message from the 2REP camp Raffalli in Calvi: "This is a word of warning to all the journalists of the world out there... when you come to film or photograph a military funeral ceremony, please have the decency to come dressed in something other than jeans and flip-flops... OK?" A few candles bear silent vigil to the memory of Sgt RYGIEL in front of the door to his room... You were a great legionnaire, an exceptional soldier... and above all, a good friend... A 2nd REP legionnaire killed in Afghanistan A legionnaire from the 2nd REP was killed on 8th of April 2010 in Afghanistan. His unit was engaged in support of the Afghan National Army, as part of building a post (COP) in the region Tagab in Kapissa when they were attacked by insurgents. The wounded legionnaire was evacuated to Kabul military hospital, but it did not survive his injuries. The death brings to 41 the number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan, including 21 in clashes. The 1st Class Legionnaire is Robert Hutnik, 23, single, originally from Slovakia. He enlisted in the Foreign Legion in May 2007 and after the basic training he joined the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. Afghanistan, where he served as a driver of VAB, was his second mission, after a stay in Gabon. He was assigned to 3rd Company, specializing in amphibious combat. My deepest condolences go to to the family of the killed legionnaire. Rest In Peace, you will never be forgotten. One legionnaire's experience - eight years after A few pictures from Calvi - new para legionnaires just finished their promo 1034. From official French Foreign Legion recruitment office Many times I get questions about medical and age requirements for enlisting in the French Foreign Legion. I added an official letter from French Foreign Legion recruitment office to the FAQ page. The most frequently asked question is regarding eye sight and glasses: Basically it is up to the medical officer in the FFL to assess each case individually and decide the eligibility of the applicant on the basis of their current needs. It means that you may not be eligible for 2 REP but still you can get into other regiments, if the Legion needs you there. Simply put - you never know until you go ... New Armored Vehicle from Australia Today (29 September 2009) Australia unveiled their new armored vehicle with a better mobility and a better protection against road side bombs - here are two pictures captured from the news: Afghanistan - war with no end in sight The report will be about France's role in Afghanistan. They have around 3000 troops and have been there since 2001. The myth is that the French are just a peace keeping force - but there was a lot of NATO praise for them when they left the relative safety of the capital and sent 700 extra troops to Kapisa last year. More BBC ... "I don't get the impression we're peacekeeping here" Col Nicolas Le Nen 27th Regiment de Chasseurs France is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations and has almost 3,000 troops in Afghanistan. The largest contingent is in the eastern province of Kapisa, where our Paris correspondent, Emma Jane Kirby, has spent two weeks embedded with the troops for Newsnight. More BBC ... "It will be very long, it will be very long to win the war." (Pte Beranger - Afghanistan) Anzacs plaques around the world - have you spotted one? I have always been amazed by people who do things with passion regardless what their reward is or what other people think of them. Such is Dr. Ross Bastiaan, a Melbourne dentist who has invested a great deal of his time and money designing and installing plaques commemorating Australians served at war. From South Africa to Gallipoli, Flander Fields to the Kokoda Trail, more than 160 plaques tell the stories of Australians at war. The plaques are in London, Canberra, Balikpapan in Borneo, Tobruk and Singapore, just about everywhere the Australians have fought. more... I would like to include a chapter dedicated to Australians at war into this web site and would like to ask you for a help - if you come across one of the plaques created by Dr. Ross Bastiaan - could you please email a picture of it to mykepi (and please include the subject 'kepi") - the picture if published will include name of the author. Thank you.
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