Paris Olympics 2024: the legionnaires of the 1st Reg are preparing to be deployed massively in support of the internal security forces

The legionnaires of the 1st Reg tested their river boats on the Rhône. 1st reg

Des légionnaires seront dans ces embarcations pour assurer la sécurité sur la Seine aux Jeux Olympiques. 1er reg

Des légionnaires du 1er Reg, basé à Laudun-l'Ardoise, seront engagés dans le dispositif global d'appui aux forces de sécurité intérieur pour les JO. Ils seront sur la Seine, dans leurs embarcations fluviales.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the 6th foreign engineering regiment in Laudun-l'Ardoise, which became the 1st foreign engineering regiment (1st Reg) in 1999. The The next few months promise to be intense for the 1,000 executives and active legionnaires* of this regiment commanded by Colonel Rémy Chabaud. "We will be engaged, with other units of the Army and the brigade, in the overall force support system of internal security for the Olympic Games", announces the head of the corps. If the exact number of men is not yet known, it will be a massive deployment .

River zone control on the Seine

The regiment is already "quite largely" focused on the Olympic Games. "In recent months we have worked on the regiment's conventional know-how (mine clearance, decontamination, etc.) now we are in a phase adapted to the national territory and the future missions of the armies in the framework of the Olympics." And it's on the Seine that some of the white kepis of Laudun-l'Ardoise will be engaged. "Securing the Seine is very important in the context of the Olympic Games and not just for the opening ceremony, explains the colonel. This river remains a significant element of the geography of the capital and therefore it is necessarily something that will be taken into account. We will find know-how more specific to engineering, namely the crossing and control of river zones."

The 1st Reg had the opportunity to test its latest generation river boats on the Seine, on the occasion of the national holiday on July 14. They should "probably" be deployed again next summer at the Olympics as part of the &amp ;quot;area control and support for internal security forces on the Seine. "Everyone is focused on this event which is unique across the country. This is a major issue for France and for the armies, assures the senior officer.

A reservist will carry the flame

And to prepare as best as possible, the 1st Reg is organizing an exercise called "Poseidon" at the end of March with "a fairly important river aspect". "We will rely on the port of Slate which represents an environment where we are used to working. The idea is to put yourself in conditions that are close to reality. This exercise will allow us to work on the operational side and also on our communication." The internal preparation will begin on March 18 and the outdoor exercise, which will last a week, will begin on March 25. The regiment will also participate in the Olympic flame journey. A reservist will carry it during the relay which will leave Avignon on June 19.

*In the coming months, engineering capabilities (crossing, mining and counter-mining) will be recreated in 1st Reg. The workforce will then increase to "1050, 1110 legionnaires and active cadres and 200 reservists". I subscribe to read more