Ranks in the French Foreign Legion are similar to the ranks in the regular French Army. For years, all recruits are also volunteers in the French Foreign Legion, which hosted foreign fighters through history. They begin their careers as basic legionnaires, with one in four eventually becoming a non-commissioned officer (sous-officier). On joining, a new legionnaire receives a monthly salary (pay) of €1,200 in addition to food and lodgings.
Legionnaire is also given his new rifle, which must never be left on a battlefield according to the Legion’s lore. French Foreign Legion promotion is concurrent with the regular ranks in the French Army.
Ranks in the French Foreign Legion
Ranks in the Legion are closely related to the regular Army ranks used in French Armed Forces. They are divided into three groups:
- Ordinary legionaries (soldier ranks)
- Non-commissioned officers
- Commissioned officers (Officiers)
Ordinary Legionnaires (Soldats du rang)
| French Foreign Legion rank: | Equivalent rank (English): | NATO Code for the position: | Period of service before being eligible for promotion: | Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engagé Volontaire | Recruit | – | Fifteen weeks of 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 | Lance Corporal / 1st Class Legionnaire | OR-2 | After ten months of service |  |
| 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 exemplary leadership skills during basic training. |  |
| Caporal Chef † | Senior Corporal | OR-4 | After six years of service. |  |
No further promotions are given to non-French Legionnaires on attaining the rank of Caporal Chef.
Non-commissioned officers (Sous-officiers)
Non-commissioned officers (Sous-officiers) account for 25% of the current Foreign Legion’s total manpower.
| French Foreign Legion rank: | Equivalent rank (English): | NATO Code for the position: | Period of service before being eligible for promotion: | Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergent | Sergeant | OR-5 | After three years of service as Caporal. |  |
| Sergent Chef | Senior Sergeant | OR-6 | After three years as Sergent and between 7 to 14 years of service. |  |
| Adjudant | Warrant Officer | OR-8 | After three years as Sergent Chef. |  |
| Adjudant Chef | Senior Warrant Officer | OR-9 | After four years as Adjutant and at least 14 years of service. |  |
| Major ‡ | Regimental Sergeant Major | OR-9 | Appointment by either: (i) passing an examination or (ii) promotion after a minimum of 14 years of service (without a review). |  |
French military rank of major has been attached to the sous-officiers since 1 January 2009. Before this, Major was an independent rank between non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers. It is an executive position within a regiment or demi-brigade responsible for senior administration, standards, and discipline inside the French Foreign Legion and French Army.
Commissioned officers (Officiers)
Most commissioned officers are seconded from the French Army, though roughly 10% are former non-commissioned officers promoted from the regular ranks.
| French Foreign Legion rank: | Equivalent rank (English): | NATO Code for the position: | Command responsibility: | Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirant | Cadet | OF(D) | – |  |
| Sous-Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | OF-1 | Junior section leader |  |
| Lieutenant | First lieutenant | OF-1 | A section. |  |
| Capitaine | Captain | OF-2 | A company. |  |
| Commandant | Major | OF-3 | A battalion. |  |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | OF-4 | Junior régiment or demi-brigade leader. |  |
| Colonel | Colonel | OF-5 | A régiment or demi-brigade. |  |
| Général de Brigade | Brigadier general | OF-6 | Entire French Foreign Legion |  |
Chevrons of seniority (Chevrons d’ancienneté)
The French Foreign Legion remains the only branch of the French Army that still uses chevrons to indicate seniority. Each gold chevron, which ordinary legionnaires and noncommissioned officers only use, denotes the French Foreign Legion for five years. They are worn beneath the rank insignia.
Today, the French Foreign Legion is serving France when their interests are worldwide. Despite its history, Legion is not as secret as it used to be. There is a lot of information about life in the Legion, enlistment, selection, and training.