Would Joining The Legion Go Against Our Stance On French Impearialism.

[Yehuda Stern]

If the revolution comes down to a shooting war between the workers and the professional military of the state then we're fucked any way.

...which is exactly why we need military training.

Nah, Vietnam, Afghanistans and Iraq prove that no army can match a furious population.

Again, only if that population has groups that have been through military training. Do you think the Viet Cong and resistances are were / are fighting with arms, or maybe they're just really furious?

[Devrim]

If the revolution comes down to a shooting war between the workers and the professional military of the state then we're fucked any way.

Bob is very right. When we think about which will be of more military importance to the working class during a revolution, maybe we should ask the question which is more important, one worker who knows how to use a gun, or one worker whose arguments can make a regiment of conscripts change sides.

The French Foreign Legion has pretty much the most brutal training regimen in the world; it's said that your marches are only finished when your socks are drenched in your own blood.

There was something quite shocking that happened here in Turkey recently. There were four guys killed and originally the story was they had been killed by terrorists in the mountains, but it later came out than one had been exhausted by beening placed on so many guard duties, fell asleep and was caught by an officer, who gave him a granade to hold with its pin pulled out to keep him awake. It didn't, and he and three nearby guys were killed.

I have booked a ticket to Marseille for sunday, do you think i should join or not.

From what you have said here and on the other thread, this, in my opinion, sounds like a really bad idea for you. Please think very carefully.

Devrim

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

The French Foreign Legion has pretty much the most brutal training regimen in the world; it's said that your marches are only finished when your socks are drenched in your own blood.

Really, it's that strenous?

I honestly don't know, though I've been to Parris Island where half the US Marines are trained and it's pretty rough. During the 12 week basic training usually a couple suicides per unit, and at least 18 or so attempted suicides. The whole premise of the 12 weeks is to make the recruits know they're going to die a Marine, and be proud of that.

(they're also a bunch a fucking morons, with a few exceptions)

But as for smaller units the only elite force I know anything about is the Seals, and that's an extremely rigorous program. The vast majority of guys going through their school (BUDS) leave because their bodies can't take the stress and end up breaking down. It's a long, hellish experience, but possibly the most elite unit there is.

[manic expression]

maybe we should ask the question which is more important, one worker who knows how to use a gun, or one worker whose arguments can make a regiment of conscripts change sides.

Well said. This deserves to be repeated.

On joining the military, I don't think it's a completely terrible idea in certain cases, but why not train in marksmanship, keep in top shape, find a veteran (ideally in the movement) to show you small unit maneuvers, study tactics and strategy, familiarize yourself with different weapons (beyond small arms, if possible)...while helping build the revolution? If you join the military, that's a few years that you'll be shooting at Afghanis instead of contributing to a communist party, and you can learn a lot of that stuff anyway on your own and with the help of comrades.

That's just my opinion, though.