Escape to the Legion

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The Recruits Talk

In the scalding heat of the desert it soon becomes apparent that many of the men fall short of the physical and psychological requirements needed to survive as legionnaires. Bear Grylls’ job is to get them all through intact. But their Legion trainers have other ideas. It’s a rude awakening for the new arrivals as they endure physical breakdown, mental exhaustion and torturous sleep deprivation.

Not all of the recruits have been prepared to recount their experiences of the Legion– but check out those who were.

Bear Grylls

Age: 30

Occupation: Writer and mountaineer

What made you join the Legion?
Channel 4 asked me to come up with an idea for a new series. I chose a series about the Foreign Legion because I have always been fascinated by its mystique, ever since reading Beau Geste as a child.

What was good about the experience?
The real bonds of friendship that developed between some of the recruits. I genuinely hadn’t expected to make proper friends, but ended up meeting some lovely, gorgeous people.

What was bad about the experience?
It was physically and mentally exhausting. I hadn’t expected it to be so tough, having spent several years in the SAS. Nobody shouted at you in the SAS – this was far worse.

What did you learn from the experience?
It reinforced a lot of lessons I had learnt in the army and while out on various expeditions. I learnt how much we need other people and how OK it is to be intimate with others and display vulnerability in front of others.

Any regrets?
No.

What would you do differently?
I wouldn’t do it again. It was a very high risk for me, for a number of reasons and I feel that I put myself on the line, both physically and mentally. Sometimes, though, you have to go out on a limb.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
I hated it. I hate the whole approach of breaking people down to build them back up. It might make sense in the Legion, where they’re a bunch of reprobates, but the approach I experienced in the British Army was totally different.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Don’t do it – however miserable your life might seem.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Massively – I’m genuinely proud of the achievement and feel that the right people made it through to the end of the challenge.

Bobby Abedeen

Age: 29

Occupation: IT consultant, specialising in telecoms

What made you join the Legion?
I had a bad car crash some time before deciding to join. I wrote off a Merc and nearly died. It made me reappraise my life and the world of work I inhabit. Coupled with that, I had always wanted to do military stuff as a youngster and the programme fitted in with my new world view as an adventurer.

What was good about the experience?
It was a great test of one’s ego. It made me realise that I’m confident and comfortable in my own shell. Here in the West so many people yearn for celebrity. In the Middle East, I think people are more comfortable with their place in the social order – to succeed in this challenge you had to let your ego take a back seat.

What was bad about the experience?
When people started leaving it got very lonely. It was a shock, and felt very ominous, when one or two people left so soon.

What did you learn from the experience?
I learnt a lot about myself. The desert is empty, melancholy and desolate and you have to look inwards. This was a maturing experience and made me realise that I’m a strong human being.

Any regrets?
No.

What would you do differently?
Nothing.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
I think we built our own team. Bear helped us to do so – he’s a clever guy and gauged the situation very well.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Consider what you’re doing very seriously. It might make you, but equally it might break you and it could be very damaging.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Yes, and it’s endured. I now know more powerfully what I’d always sensed – that I’m a strong individual.

Dean Gardner

Age: 26

Occupation: Freelance wedding dress designer and part-time drag artiste

What made you join the Legion?
I saw the ad and thought this sounds interesting! It was a 360-degree difference from what I’m used to and my life in London.

What was good about the experience?
The camaraderie of the group. I was one of the youngest but it really brought out my mothering instincts. I got on with almost everyone and the desert was a magical place to spend some time.

What was bad about the experience?
People chickening out early. I tried my hardest to get them to stay and was disappointed in them.

What did you learn from the experience?
I learnt to be a lot more confident in myself. I also realised how lucky I am, and that I’ve not got too many hang-ups, compared with others.

Why did you leave?
The hernia, otherwise I think I’d have definitely made it to the end.

Any regrets?
Yes – I wish I’d been more over the top. I think I was too reserved.

What would you do differently?
Nothing – other than maybe clowning around a bit more.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
I thought it worked well. The punishment system made the team stronger. Also the buddy system meant that you were partnered with someone, who became like a best friend.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Don’t do it! There are more important things to do in life – like charity work.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Definitely – 100%. Nothing fazes me any more.

Kurt Finch

Age: 37

Occupation: Runs an outdoor laser combat business

What made you join the Legion?
I’d spent my last 10 years in business, working my way up the corporate ladder and doing an MBA. I needed to get out and the idea of joining the Legion was a romantic one. I told my wife I had to do it and fortunately she supported me.

What was good about the experience?
It reconnected me with my love of adventure. It also got me out of the rut of having to have a job and work for someone else. Since taking part I’ve set up my own business and I’m loving it.

What was bad about the experience?
I’d have liked the training to be more tactically focused. I also felt that some of the recruits were playing up to the cameras.

What did you learn from the experience?
It made me realise what I really want to do with my life – work in the outdoors, and for myself.

Any regrets?
A lot. I wish I’d been truer to myself. I held back from criticising some of the recruits – in a real life army situation I would have made sure the slackers were treated more harshly.

What would you do differently?
I’d do my own thing more – once or twice I listened to others and held back for tactical reasons.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
Some of the training wasn’t well thought through. There were some stupid mistakes like marching us in brand new boots that hadn’t been broken in. It caused unnecessary blistering and pain.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Don’t do it! I have an extensive military background but couldn’t have coped for five years in the legion.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Yes – it’s had a major effect on my life. I look back on this experience as a real turning point in my life.

Lee Gibbs

Age: 20

Occupation: Fabricator of uPVC windows

What made you join the Legion?
My girlfriend put in the initial application and I thought it would be a laugh. I was wrong.

What was good about the experience?
Meeting new people and seeing what they were like. Everybody was totally different and I felt incredibly normal, like I was the only normal one.

What was bad about the experience?
The lack of food and water. I felt that we weren’t given enough.

What did you learn from the experience?
How to deal with a lot of arrogant people, especially the sergeant. I don’t think anyone is above anyone else and that’s how he treated us.

Why did you leave?
I took a very bad dislike to the sergeant. I can take orders, but get really angry if I feel I’m being mistreated. I thought I was going to fall out with the sergeant and square up to him – it felt better to leave.

Any regrets?
None – the experience did me a lot of good.

What would you do differently?
I’d do whatever the sergeant told me to do – I’d swallow my pride and just get on with it.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
It was good. They need to break people down in order to build them up. But some of the stuff felt unnecessary, like making us march with a massive rock in our backpack.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
If you’re a normal person and not forced to join, don’t do it! If you’ve got a loopy side, then go for it.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Dunno – don’t feel I achieved much.

Loic Le Gaillard

Age: 30

Occupation: Runs a series of businesses ranging from the sale of cosmetic products and toiletries to dealing in fine art

What made you join the Legion?
It started as a joke. My assistant saw an advert on the internet and sent in an application without telling me. When Channel 4 showed an interest in me I took it more seriously and thought it would be good to spend some time away from my business, especially as I love the desert.

What was good about the experience?
As a French guy, it was amazing to see the mix of British characters taking part in the programme. They were incredibly diverse. It was also fascinating to see some true military types at work.

What was bad about the experience?
It was more of a mental challenge than a physical one. At the end of the first week, I lost it for a while and it took me a while to realise that the aim of training is to try to make you lose it.

What did you learn from the experience?
Nothing. It was a one-off experience, unconnected to the rest of my life.

Any regrets?
No.

What would you do differently?
I wouldn’t do it again! The military environment seriously restricts what you can do and say.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
I’ve had lots of debates about this with my friends. I think it’s an interesting technique to use with unmanageable people. I don’t regard myself as unmanageable!

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Maybe I’d recommend it to somebody who’d gone seriously off the rails. Otherwise I’m violently against it.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
No – and no!

Terry Morton

Age: 30

Occupation: Works in computer sales at PC World

What made you join the Legion?
To be honest, I filled out the forms one Friday night after seeing an advert on TV. I was a bit under the influence! As soon as Channel 4 approached me I knew that I’d get on – I just had to be myself.

What was good about the experience?
I got more out of the selection process than the training itself. There was a great mix of personalities and I enjoyed the camaraderie.

What was bad about the experience?
Not being with my girlfriend! We’ve been together for five years and never spent any time apart.

What did you learn from the experience?
That when I apply myself to something and show determination I will succeed. I also learnt that people often aren’t what they seem at first.

Why did you leave?
I was missing my girlfriend. As soon as I left Scotland, I realised that I didn’t really want to go, although I clung on until we started filming. Then I knew I had to leave.

Any regrets?
No.

What would you do differently?
Not a single thing.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
I come from an enquiring background and don’t think that the Legion's approach is suitable at officer level. The sergeant said he was more intelligent than us but I thought he acted like an automaton.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
Do what you want to do and be true to yourself.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Yes – in not succumbing to the pressure of the group.

Will Collis

Age: 20

Occupation: Website developer and graphic designer

What made you join the Legion?
I was drunk when I filled in the application. When Channel 4 contacted me I was flattered and thought it might help me with some self-discipline. I was expelled from boarding school and both my brother and father have a military background.

What was good about the experience?
At the time it was hard to see much good in it. Looking back it made me into a new person – I learnt how to handle difficult situations, behave diplomatically and work under stress. Going through hardship, while not nice, was very searching.

What was bad about the experience?
The barking and the dustings. Also the physical exertion.

What did you learn from the experience?
I can do it if I put my mind to it. This was an important learning experience for me.

Any regrets?
None at all. I wouldn’t do it again but I’m immensely grateful for the experience.

What would you do differently?
Don’t know that I’d do anything differently. The drama of the ups and downs was good.

What do you think of the Legion's approach to team-building?
My honest comment is that I don’t think their approach built the team. It was the human spirit that did it. Perhaps they deserve more credit but I felt that they were just having a laugh ‘beating’ us up.

Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the Legion?
It takes a certain type of person. If you’re like me, don’t do it. If you consider yourself a civilian don’t do it. I think you need either to be running away from something or towards something to do it.

Did you get a sense of achievement from taking part and has it lasted?
Yes, and this was both surprising and unexpected.