2.REP (2eme Régiment Etrangère de Parachutists) - CALVI - Corsica.

2.REP is maybe the most well known unit in the Legion. It is the Legion' airborne unit. It is also a elite unit in the Legion. The best recruits can apply there, though most of the recruits try to apply there. 2.REP is mostly the first unit to be sent into a combat zone. Here is also the Legions most pure specialists - CRAP  Commandos de Recherche et d'Action dans la Profondeur). This is the "special forces" unit in 2.REP and only non-commissioned officers (some really
good corporals too)can apply there.

Units in 2.REP:
1.CIE - Specialists at night combat, anti-tank and urban combat.
2.CIE - Specialists at mountain warfare.
3.CIE - Specialists at amphibious warfare.
4.CIE - Specialists at demolition/sabotage and sniping.
CCS   - Staff and working company.
CEA   - Support and scouts company. CRAP belongs here.

This is the most prestigious and most professional of all the Regiments. The only Regt in the Legion to have an Airborne capability. It is here that you will also find "Les Groupe de Commandos Paracutistes (Formerly Les C.R.A.P's - Commandos de Recherche et D'Action dans la Profondeur) - This is the creme de la creme  of the Legion - A sort of recce troop specialising in a wide range of special forces ops. They have a reputation for being the best in the Legion. The REP is made up  to a large extent of Brits and Germans. With this built in cultural discipline there is firm ground for quality soldiering to be built upon.

For their professionalism and their parachuting capability they are paid one of the highest salaries in the Legion - around about F650 per  month for a Legionnaire deuxieme classe. (Everything is however very expensive on Corsica). There are frequent fracas with the locals and plenty of good looking German and Italian talent  on the beaches in the summertime.

This is also the Regiment most renowned for bullshit. In the 2eme REP there are three "Apels" per day. First thing in the morning, after lunch and at 9.00pm in the evening. The island is however a very beautiful one and if you're into physical training then  maybe this is the Regiment for you. Along with the relatively high pay, the  prestige and the emphasis on sport - this is a popular choice for Legionnaires leaving Castelnaudary. The uniform sports the Deurieme REP cap badge (The winged   dagger) and the Fourragere (Lanyard) is red. This all adds to the attraction of the 2eme REP. The contract will last probably 2 yrs before being posted, but many options to stay longer. This particular Regt is frequently away on detachments; normally for four months at a time. Places such as Djibouti, Central Africa. French Guyana S.America. Promotion is slow and courses are harder since the competition is tougher.

If you are out to be the  best then the 2eme REP has a lot to offer. On  arriving at Camp Rafalli  in Corsica - the initial four months or so are spent on further training and doing the "Jumps course" - until you have completed this you cannot be effected to a fighting company and are consequently not regarded as a trained rank.  Indeed you will probably feel exactly the same as if you were still under instruction. Further fieldcraft training and combat experience will be gained during your first  year. Only after then can you consider yourself to have taken your place properly in the 2 REP. Once in "The REP" there is much emphasis on physical training and there are plenty of  clubs on camp, Kick boxing, Cycling, Clay pigeon shooting etc etc. It is tradition in this regiment to be confined to the island for the first year of the first posting there. It is also tradition for the whole regiment to march across the island from one side to the other once a year - a distance of about 200kms (Very hilly, barren and rugged country).

More about 2eme Régiment Etrangère de Parachutists
Music - marching
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