Hundreds of people are knocking on the door to serve in the Legion and roughly 10-15 make the cut per recruiting class.
But newly-minted Foreign Legionnaires receive the distinctive white Kepi of the legion upon finishing the first four weeks of Basic Training and moving on to the next phase of their training.
When they do, they recite the Legion’s seven-article Code of Honor.
Article 1.
Legionnaire, you are serving France with Honour and Fidelity.
Article 2.
Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race, or his religion might be. You show him the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family.
Article 3.
Respect for traditions, devotion to your leaders, discipline, and comradeship are your strengths, courage, and loyalty your virtues.
Article 4.
Proud of your status as legionnaire, you display this in your always impeccable uniform, your always dignified but modest behaviour, and your clean living quarters.
Article 5.
An elite soldier, you train rigorously, you maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, and you take constant care of your physical form.
Article 6.
The mission is sacred, you carry it out until the end and, if necessary in the field, at the risk of your life.
Article 7.
In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.
Learn more about the French Foreign Legion in the video at the top.