The most recent of the Foreign Legion’s formations (2007), the Foreign Legion Recruiting Group (GRLE) is an integral part of the Legion’s foundation. Its headquarters is stationed at Fort de Nogent in Fontenay-sous-Bois, while the ten Foreign Legion Information Posts (PILE) recruit across the entire metropolitan national territory from France’s largest cities. Since 30 April 2018, the GRLE has been the regiment entrusted with the traditions and Memory of the 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment, having been given custody of its colors.
An assault engineer unit, the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment was created in 1984 under the name 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment (6e REG). It became the 1st REG in 1999, when a second Foreign Legion engineer regiment was established. It carries out missions in mobility support, counter-mobility, and emergency deployment support. It is also capable of direct participation in close combat, notably within the framework of amphibious operations.
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) is the heir to the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP), which was created in 1948. Committed from its inception in Indochina, it served there continuously until 1954. Redesignated as a regiment, it fought in Algeria from 1955 to 1962 and was stationed at Bou Sfer after the ceasefire. It gradually moved to Calvi between 1964 (advance elements) and 1967. Continuously deployed since then, it has taken part in all French Army operations to date, mainly in Africa (Chad, Zaire, Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali), in the former Yugoslavia, in the Middle East (Lebanon, Iraq), and in Asia with Afghanistan
The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) was created in 1921 in Sousse, Tunisia, from elements of the mounted companies of the 2e REI. At that time, the Foreign Legion consisted only of infantry regiments. It was the Russian legionnaires, drawing on their seasoned horsemanship, who enabled the Legion to distinguish itself in a new discipline.
The 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion is a French Army unit created in 1940. It is part of the Foreign Legion. Created in 1940, it was, together with the RTST, one of the two regiments that joined the Free French Forces (FFL) as a formed unit. It took part in most of the French Army’s campaigns during the Second World War.