3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

• On 11 November 1915 – the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) was created from the veterans of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Marching Regiments of the 1st Foreign Regiment, R.M.1erR.E, (Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment) and from the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2eR.M.2eR.E (2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment). • On 15 November 1920 – the (R.M.L.E) was designated the 3rd Foreign Regiment, (3eR.E). • On 20 June 1922 – the 3rd Foreign Regiment became the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3eR.E.I). • On 5 December 1942 – a Foreign Legion and Colonial Infantry Demi-Brigade (D.B.I.C.L.E) was created from the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e R.E.I). On 15 December 1942, the Colonial Infantry Demi-Brigade became the 3rd Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment, ''3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie de marche'' (3e R.E.I.M). • On 1 July 1943 – the 3e R.E.I.M became again the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) • On 1 July 1945 – at the end of the World War II, the R.M.L.E was redesignated as the 3e R.E.I. • On 1 April 1948 – a foreign parachute company was formed and designated as the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Para Co. 3e R.E.I. == Campaigns since 1915 ==

World War I (1914–1918) The most decorated regiment in the Foreign Legion, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e R.E.I) is heir to the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) created in 1915. The R.M.L.E distinguished itself during the siege of de Belly-en-Santerre, on 4 July 1916; then found glory on 14 September 1918 during the piercing of the Hindenburg Line, under orders of regimental commander Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Frédéric Rollet, the father of the Legion. Vietnam and Algeria Following World War II, the R.M.L.E returned to Morocco and was renamed the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment. Nevertheless, idle time was short term and the regiment was moved to Indochina as of December 1945. Subsequently, the regiment took positions around colonial routes 3 and 4. from April 31, 1948, to May 31, 1949. In December 1954, the regiment disembarked at Bône in Algeria. In a fast tempo, the regiment marked the territory, took charge and pierced the route towards the east which is supposed to link Cayenne to the Brazilian frontier while investing time operations around the Guiana Space Centre, planetary mission accomplishments for which the regiment received the vermeil medal from the National Centre for Space Studies, C.N.E.S. The Jungle Training Center, (C.E.F.E) saw daylight in 1986 at Régina, near the Approuague, which became the French reference in material of survival and jungle tropical forest combats. 35,000 jungle-brevets were issued by the C.E.F.E since creation in 1986. The organization of the regiment witnessed several modifications during that time. In 1986, the equipment and materials company was dissolved and replaced by a reconnaissance company. In 1998, the 3rd combat company was replaced by a rotating combat company, also dissolved in 2003 for two proterre units, before being recreated permanently in 2010, in order to give way in response to the various accelerations of mission rhythms. In 2004, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment engaged in Operation Carbet (), in Haiti. In 2008, the president of the republic launched Operation Harpie (), with point to combat illegal activities in deep jungle (mainly illegal gold-mining activities). This mission became permanent and was also reinforced in 2010. The regiment was mainly in charge of sector Oyapock, at the Brazilian frontier, while supporting forces of the gendarmerie. At end of 2011, while the Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz became operational, the Regiment ensured protection around the area. ; 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1915–present) Since creation of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 7216 Legionnaires have died for France. In 2013, the regiment celebrated the passing of 40 years in French Guiana, where 50 legionnaires have thus far died. == Missions ==

;Operation Titan The mission of the regiment revolves around the protection of the Guiana Space Centre (). Prior and before each space launch, under a prefectoral requisition at the corps of an inter-armed contingent, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment conducts search reconnaissance patrols in the exterior zones around the launching area in order to prevent any compromising intrusion. Each planetary space launch requires the prevention deployment of 2-3 combat companies. Simultaneously, the regiment also ensures the defense of the sensitive installations in relation to the launch site towards low altitude aerial threats by the CA (Compagnie d'Appui). At the end of 2011, the Guiana Space Center integrated the Soyouz and Vega launchers, during which the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment would ensure the usual front line surrounding protection. ;Operation Harpie Initiated in 2008 and reinforced in 2010, Harpie is an inter-ministerial operation aimed at fighting illegal clandestine mining activities. The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, intervened under prefectoral requisition in support of forces of the gendarmerie. Launching operations from Saint-Georges and Camopi on the Oyapock river, combat sections conduct jungle patrol warfare operations lasting from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. These jungle operations require specific operational preparations and perfect know-how and knowledge of the equatorial jungle forests. ;Jungle Combat Training Centre d'entraînement en forêt équatoriale (CEFE) Situated in Regina, on the shores of the Approuague, in a jungle environment, the Jungle Training Center () is the French reference center for equatorial forest domain training and expertise, and one of the 4 "jungle instruction centers" internationally recognized. The mission of the CEFE is to train, teach, and ensure combat readiness of French and foreign units in all matters related to combat operations in a jungle environment. The CEFE is renowned around the world for being equipped with highly qualified if not the best jungle warfare senior instructors and aid-moniteur in the world. Created in 1986, the CEFE graduates around 1800 soldiers per year (). ; A Regional Sea Continental Operational Force The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment is projected in the Caribbean South America. The regiment is a prepositioned operational force capable of intervention at any moment in the Caribbean South America zone, such as in 2004 during Operation Carbet in Haïti. == Organization ==

The regiment is composed of around 675 men organised into 5 companies. • Pionniers de la Légion étrangère • Compagnie de Commandement et de Soutien (CCS) – Command and Support Company (mixed regular / 4 month tours) including the SAED (Section d'Aide à l'Engagement Débarqué – the Regiment's recon platoon, all regular) • 2e compagnie (2e Cie) – 2nd Infantry Company (an administration and logistic platoon, 3 combat platoons and a support platoon) • 3e Compagnie (3e Cie) – 3rd Infantry Company (an administration and logistic platoon, 3 combat platoons and a support platoon) (replaced between 1998 and 2010 by a 4-month-tour unit, re-created as regular in 2010) • ''Compagnie d'appui (CA)'' – Support Company (air defense) (on 4-month tours, an administration and logistic platoon, 2 SHORAD platoons) • Compagnie de Réserve (4e Cie) – Reserve Company (formed in 2010) == Traditions ==

Insignia File:RMLE.jpg|Insignia of the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion, R.M.L.E File:3rei.jpg|Regimental Insignia of the 3e REI Regimental colors Regimental song Chant de Marche : Anne-Marie du 3e REI lyrics in German: Mein Regiment, mein Heimatland Meine Mutter hab' ich nie gekannt Mein Vater starb schon früh im Feld, ja Feld Ich bin allein auf dieser Welt. (bis) Anne-Marie, das ist mein Nam' Den ich vom Regiment bekam Mein ganzes Leben lasse ich, ja ich Fur's Bataillon da sterbe ich. (bis) Wenn's Regiment früh ausmarschiert Der Tambur seine Trommel rührt Tausch ich mit keiner Fürstin nicht, ja nicht Sie lebt nicht glücklicher als ich. (bis) Ein Offizier den mag ich nicht Weil er den Mädchen viel verspricht Ein Legionär nur soll es sein, ja sein Ihm schenke ich mein Herz allein. (bis) Refrain Mein Name ist Anne-Marie Ein jeder kennt mich schon Ich bin ja die Tochter vom ganzen Bataillon Honours Battle honours • Cameróne 1863 • Artois 1915 • Champagne 1915 • Bataille de la Somme 1916 • Les Monts de Verdun 1917 • Picardie-Soissonnais 1918 • Vauxaillon 1918 • Maroc 1921–1934 • Djebel Mansour 1943 • Alsace 1944–1945 • Stuttgart 1945 • Indochine 1946–1954 • AFN 1952–1962 Decorations The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, heir to the traditions and being the former Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion is actually in its class and in a single forming, the most decorated Regiment of France, along with the Marine Tank Infantry Regiment (RICM). Regimental colors of the 3e REI are decorated with: • Knight Cross of the Legion of Honour • Médaille militaire • Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with 9 palms, allowing the double fourragère in colours of Légion d'honneur and . • Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with 3 palms, allowing the 1939–1945 olive on the aforementioned fourragère. • with 5 palms, allowing the fourragère in colours of with the TOE olive. • '''' (Morocco) • '''' (Order of the Tower and Sword – Portugal) • '''' (Catalonia) • Presidential Unit Citation with RHINE-BAVARIAN ALPS conferred 6 May 1946 by the United States. • '''' of the National Centre for Space Studies of Kourou conferred for the first to a military unit. File:Chevalier légion d'honneur 2.png|Knight Cross of the Legion of Honneur File:Medaille Militaire dite de la 4e Republique, variante de fabrication privée (France).jpg|Médaille militaire File:Croix de Guerre 1914 1918.jpg|Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with 9 palms File:Croix de Guerre 1939 France AVERS.jpg|Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with 3 palms File:AVERS Croix de Guerre TOE France 2 citations.jpg|Croix de Guerre TOE with 5 palms Image:Ordreportugais.jpg|Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword Image:Puc-2edb-origine-p-ghemard.jpg|United States Army Distinguished Unit Citation RHINE-BAVARIAN ALPS Image:Fourragere-3-REI.jpg|Fourragère of the 3e REI Honorary Regimental Arms Celebration The annual celebration day of inheritance for the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment is the piercing of the Hindenburg Line on 14 September 1918 by the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion. == Regimental Commanders ==