Interview with a Legionnaire

In this post we are going to conduct an interview with a legionnaire, this interview has been made possible thanks to the staff of our Discord channel.

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Many times, I have gone to a march dead tired and I have been repeating in my head the spirit of the March: "Never will a legionnaire say that he is tired, until he falls exhausted, he will be the fastest and most resilient body." 

How do you feel about being a legionnaire?

Being a legionnaire is a pride, putting on the chapiri and knowing that you belong to that small percentage of people who have the privilege of wearing it is a feeling that fills you a lot, you experience many incredible things and in the end, everything one lives in the legion ends up being anecdotes that one will be able to tell when they are a grandparent.

What do you have to do to earn the chapiri?

A ufal (Unit of training and adaptation of the legion) or uil is done, depending on whether you are on the peninsula or in the autonomous cities, which is a period of adaptation to legionary life, there they tighten the screws more than in the cefot, which by the way, does not tighten anything, a lot of quick steps, field instruction, they teach you our customs and traditions, our Legionary Creed, combat drills are practiced a lot and there is a lot of handling of weapons that one later finds in the companies.

What does it feel like to win the chapiri?

Well, you feel that something you have wanted for years has finally arrived, you feel that you have entered the legionary family, you feel that you are part of the ranks of one of the best units in the world, you feel that you have the sacred oath to leave no man behind in the field until all perish.

Do you recommend it as a first unit to someone who has just joined?

Yes, if what you want is to be operational, live the legion, and train well as a soldier.

Do you think it's a unit to stay for a while or is it too much physical exhaustion?

In my opinion, it is a unit to toughen up, learn, and soak up the legionary spirit; however, the same goes for the rest of the operational units: a lot of physical strain, continuous maneuvers, marches... If you intend to live well or work little, this is not your place; studying is difficult (not impossible).

What is day-to-day life like?

Sport (almost always running), shower, quick breakfast and we change fields for daily instruction. Combat in urbanized areas, tccc, conventional combat, we learn to use all the weapons that an infantryman has at his disposal such as the mg42, mg4, ag36...

What are the maneuvers like?

There are several types of vehicle maneuvers where we are in a vehicle almost all the time, disembarking and doing what needs to be done: assaulting a position, assaulting a village...

There are kicking maneuvers, there are no combat vehicles and we go on foot to all places, they are toughening maneuvers, a lot of night movement, brave dad, infiltrations.... And obviously conventional combat and in populated areas.

Then there are more didactic maneuvers, to learn about IEDs with sapper units for example.

Do you think it is a unit where one can study?

For power, you can study in all places, although it is true that it is more difficult than in a less operational unit, but if you organize yourself, in the end, you study. I know a lieutenant who was a legionnaire, a legionnaire who is a sergeant, and I know several who are currently civil guards, it all depends on putting in the effort, but you have to be very committed to studying to achieve it.

What does the boyfriend of death mean to you?

From the heart, for me it is a song that we sing for our fallen, it bothers me as much as it does the rest of the legionary gentlemen of Spain when civilians, pistols, civil guards sing it mockingly, because it is a song that many legionaries have sung with tears in our eyes, it is the highest expression of respect for our fallen who are waiting for us above.

What does the legionary creed mean to you?

The lifestyle of The Legion, that is what everything done in The Legion is based on. Absolutely everything. Many times, I have gone on a march dead tired and I have been repeating in my head the spirit of the March: "A legionary will never say that he is tired, until he falls exhausted, he will be the fastest and most resilient body." And so in all things of my work, each spirit of the creed has a place in our daily journey. And also in civilian life, the creed paves the way for the knight.

How often do you go on a mission in the legion?

It sells quite a bit, the thing is that different companies and flags come out. Almost every year they are coming out. Keep in mind that we have 4 thirds, a sapper flag, a headquarters flag, an artillery group, a cavalry group, a logistics group... Every year someone gets something.

Is it a unit where shooting, combat tactics, etc. are practiced regularly?

Yes, yes, the manuals are updated, and we try to mechanize all the procedures we have so that in a real situation they come out instinctively, a lot is thrown, a lot of military instruction is done. Normally four days a week of military instruction and one of maintenance, it is usually like that.

What are the controllers like?

There is everything, the troops here have a lot of power, age is a degree in the end... Their experience is what reinforces the training of the legionnaires, regarding non-commissioned officers, the truth is that those I have personally met are very competent and very professional. The officers are the ones who lead the sections, companies, and flags, often to improve their training they conduct command-only maneuvers, attend many courses and training days to be up to the task of instructing the legionnaires.

How can one access the BOEL?

You have to go to the special operations course, to enter you have to pass some tests and then endure the course, finally by order of seniority you choose the BOEL and that's it. Said like this it sounds easy, but it is not a path that just anyone can take.

Do the controllers allow you to use non-standard equipment?

It depends. There are flags that do and others that don't. It depends on the on-duty Lieutenant Colonel. In terms of the front line, they usually don't have issues, but regarding plate carriers, helmets... It depends on the flag and company. There are companies that allow it, and others that don't. If you ask your boss for permission and he authorizes it, you can add accessories to the weapon.

What is the most operational flag?

There is none as such, but it is true that the most operational ones are the infantry ones; we are always on maneuvers or doing training.

What do you do throughout the year? Approximate calendar of what is done each year in the legion

Well, it depends on the objective of that year, it's not the same a normal instruction year as a preparatory year (in a preparatory year, real situations are simulated and prepared for a mission).

A normal year always starts the same and ends the same, high intensity season (maneuvers, marches, continuous, prolonged..) and for the summer, a low intensity period begins where the company's facilities are improved, the weaponry is maintained, or any task that is assigned is carried out.

How is September 20th and October 12th celebrated?

September 20th is our anniversary, it is experienced with the greatest intensity you can imagine, we open the doors of our barracks for family members to come and enjoy the day with us, it is a very significant date, the event is prepared with great precision and experienced with great passion. October 12th is experienced as any Spaniard should, with pride and satisfaction of being who we are.

What does a person need to be a good legionnaire?

The first thing is to want to be one, that is the most important, and then, the typical requirements for any legionnaire unit, a good physique, good moral training, a great vocation for service, and a camaraderie that is just as strong inside the base as outside. A lot of attitude and a strong desire to be the best legionnaire of the homeland. That guarantees you to be a good legionnaire.

Do you want to give any advice to end the interview?

Whoever wants to be a Legionnaire should fight for it, let no one tell you that you are not capable, or that you won't make it, if I have made it, anyone can, you just have to want to be it and work for it, you can be whatever you want if you truly work for it. Whoever sows something reaps it, so the future legionnaires should sow the seed of the chapiri from today so that in the future they can reap its fruit.

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