Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

Active	1973 - Present
Country	France
Allegiance	French Foreign Legion
Branch	French Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Garrison
Garrison/HQ	Dzaoudzi,Mayotte
Motto	Pericula ludus (Danger is my pleasure)
Anniversaries	Camerone Day (April 30)
Battle honours	CAMERONE 1863
Website	Official Website
Commanders
Current commander	Lcl. Schiffer
Insignia
Beret badge of the Foreign Legion Detatchment in Mayotte
Abbreviation	DLEM

The Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (French: Détachement de Légion étrangère de Mayotte, DLEM), is the smallest operational unit in the French Foreign Legion.^[1] The main role of the Detachment is to maintain a French presence in the region, enabling the French armed forces to quickly react to events in the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa.

1 History
2 Organisation
3 Notes
4 References

History

Originally established as the Foreign Legion Detachment in Comoros (DLEC) (French: Détachement de Légion Étrangère de Comoros, DLEC) in 1973 from rotating companies of 3e REI on Madagascar. When the Comoro Islanders voted for independence in 1976 the island of Mayotte opted to remain French and thus the units title was changed accordingly.

In 1984 the DLEM inherited the standard of the disbanded 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e REC).^[2]

Organisation

Approximately 255 men.

ECS - Command and Support Squadron
Proterre - rotating company from either Legion or Airborne

Notes

^ Koelher, Charles (31). "LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA: THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION SINCE 1962". U.S. General Command and Staff College. pp. 79. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA436978&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
^ Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. pp. 48.

References

Windrow, Martin. French Foreign Legion since 1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-85532-621-3

French Foreign Legion

History of the French Foreign Legion— Képi Blanc (publication)

Current Foreign Legion Units

Administrative	1st Foreign Regiment — Foreign Legion Command — Foreign Legion Recruiting Group

Infantry	2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment — 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment — 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment — 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade — Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

Cavalry	1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

Engineering	1st Foreign Engineer Regiment — 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment

Training	4th Foreign Regiment — Jungle Training Center — Combat Training Center at Arta Beach

Defunct Foreign Legion Units

Administrative and Training	Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments

Airborne	1st Foreign Parachute Regiment — 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment — 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company

Infantry	5th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers — 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers — 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers

Cavalry	2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment — 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division

Miscellaneous	Armored Train of the Foreign Legion — Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

Contents

History

Organisation

Notes

References