The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment is one of two combat engineer regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. Stationed, since its creation in 1999, on the former site of the French Strategic Nuclear Missiles at Saint Christol, Vaucluse, southern France. The regiment provides the combat engineering component of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade.

History

The regiment was created in 1999 and is an heir to one of the 18 combat engineer formations of the Foreign Legion in Indochina. The regiment participated to the conservation of the indochinese patrimony of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 5e REI, "The Tonkin Regiment". The regiment is a unit component of the military engineers of the French Army. The regiment like all Legion regiments is composed of foreign legionnaires. The younger legionnaires are issued from the 4th Foreign Regiment 4e RE while the older legionnaires are selected from other legion regiments. Since creation, the regiment is stationed in garrison Maréchal Koenig, based on plateau Albion, on the commune of Saint-Christol, Vaucluse, which housed previously the 1st Strategic Missiles Groupment (1er GMS) of the Strategic Air Forces, on Aerial Base 200 Apt-Saint-Christol. The missions of the regiment at the corps of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e BIM) are intelligence gathering, direct combat, mobile support (demining, clearing paths, etc.) to any counter mobilities and the deployment amongst combat units. The particularity of the mountain brigade imposes adaptation to techniques that are demanding and specific in either relieving infantry units or replacing their combat role in operations of area control. The regiment has been present on most exterior theatres of operations since creation. Projecting each year a number of legionnaires in various fields of operations, the regiment was engaged in Djibouti at the corps of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion and in Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, French Guiana; similarly, at the corps of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, in the Balkans, in Martinique and metropole France during interior operations.

Campaigns ( 1999–present)

** Engineer Combat Missions** Since creation in 1999, the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment has been present in the following theatres of exterior operations: ** Humanitarian Missions**

Organization

The regiment is composed of around 900 to 925 men organized into 6 companies.

Traditions

Insignias

Regimental Colors

Regimental Song

Chant de Marche: Rien n'empêche featuring: De la boue des rizières aux plateaux du Tonkin Honneur, Fidélité pour unique refrain Le feu, l'eau et la terre comme seul univers Il s'avance et combat, le sapeur légionnaire, Brisant tous les assauts quand la mitraille explose Sur cette terre d'Indo où tant d'anciens reposent. Dans le froid, la tourmente, à la mort à la vie Rien n'empêche le deuxième étranger de génie. (bis) Aujourd'hui la mémoire sonne le rappel. Nous, légionnaires du 2 répondons à l'appel. Ouvrir, tracer la route c'est pour le régiment Passer coûte que coûte, voilà notre serment Foi, vaillance et courage comme seul héritage Nul obstacle et nul homme pour nous faire barrage. Refrain Sur les cimes de l'Alpe quand le combat résonne Du fracas de la foudre et que l'orage tonne En avant képis blancs, à nous les grands espaces. En tout lieu en tout temps, il nous faut faire face. Relever les défis, voilà notre ambition. Ne jamais faire défaut, c'est notre tradition. Refrain

Decorations

Honors

Battle honours

Regimental Commanders