History

The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) is one of the two infantry regiments of the French Foreign Legion within the 6th Light Armored Brigade. Second among the Foreign Regiments, it was created in 1841. Stationed in Nîmes since 1983, it brings together more than 1,300 service members, including operational reservists, and around thirty civilians.

Mission

Since its creation, the regiment has been engaged in all the major operations of the French Army, whether in Lebanon, Chad, the Gulf, Cambodia, the Balkans, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, as well as in Afghanistan and the Sahel. In 2017, the regiment deployed units to the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, and Mayotte. In 2020, soldiers of the 2e REI hunted down jihadists from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).

The 2e REI is also heavily engaged on national territory as part of Operation Sentinelle.

Composition

The 2e REI is organized into seven companies, in addition to a reserve company: A Command and Logistics Company (CCL). This company provides the support needed for the regiment’s proper functioning. Whether in garrison, on exercise, or on operations, it delivers logistical autonomy as well as the means for legionnaires to live, move, and fight.

Four combat companies. Each company is divided into four combat platoons, one of which has a double allocation of weaponry. This platoon can be employed either as an infantry platoon or as a support platoon with an 81 mm LLR mortar group and a MILAN team.