| Unit Name: | 4th Foreign Regiment |
| Native Name: | 4e régiment étranger |
| Dates: | 1920–1940 1941–1943 1948–1963 1976 – Present |
| Country: |  France |
| Branch: | French Army |
| Role: | Instruction command Recruit induction & Training |
| Command Structure: | Foreign Legion Command |
| Garrison: | Quartier Captaine Danjou, Castelnaudary, Aude, France |
| Nickname: | Creuset de la Légion (Crucible of the Legion) |
| Colors: | Green & Red |
| Battles: | Rif War (1924–1934) Syrian Revolution (1921–1926) Second World War * Tunisia Campaign (1943) Malagasy Uprising (1947–1951) First Indochina War (1949) Algerian War (1955–1964) |
| Battles Label: | Battles/Wars |
| Decorations: | Croix de guerre (1939-1945) w/ Palm |
| Website: | Official Website |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Beret insignia of the 4th Foreign Regiment |
| Identification Symbol 2: | 4e RE |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Abbreviation |
The 4th Foreign Regiment (French: 4<sup>e</sup> Régiment étranger, 4<sup>e</sup> RE) is a training regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. Prior to assuming the main responsibility of training Legion recruits, it was an infantry unit which participated in campaigns in Morocco, Levant, French Indochina, and Algeria.[1]
Created in November 1920 in Marrakesh, Morocco, the 4th Foreign Regiment became the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1922.[2] Following its formation, the regiment was engaged in campaigns in Morocco in the Rif War between 1920 and 1934.[2] The 4th and 5th battalions saw active service in the Levant between 1921 and 1926.[2]
Dissolved in November 1940 to allow the creation of the 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment and then the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, the 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1941 under the designation of 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion.[2] The regiment participated in 1943 in the Tunisian campaign, seeing combat in the Zaghouan Mountain (or djebel).[2] The regiment was again dissolved in June 1943, and its personnel were transferred to the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E.), which experienced heavy combat during the campaigns of France and Germany.[2]
The 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1946. Battalions saw active service in Madagascar between 1947 and 1951. In the Far East, the 2nd and 5th battalions served as a single unit before being broken up to reinforce other regiments.[2] Again dissolved in 1951, the <<4th>> was recreated in Morocco in March 1955, before being engaged in combat in Algeria between 1957 and 1962.[2]
In July 1962, the 4th Foreign Regiment was redeployed to Reggane in southern Algeria, tasked with guarding the oil fields and French nuclear facilities in the region.Subsequently the 4th Foreign Regiment was disbanded and its subordinate units incorporated into the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. In October 1976 the Foreign Legion established a new Instruction Regiment (Regiment d'Instruction) at Castelnaudary by divesting the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment's Instruction Group (Groupement d' Instruction).
On September 1, 1977, the regimental colors of the 4e Etranger were entrusted to the Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion which had taken up garrison duties at Castelnaudary, a year earlier.[2] On June 1, 1980, the unit was redesignated as the 4th Foreign Regiment.[2]
Now based at Castelnaudary for more than 30 years, first at the Lapasset barracks then at the Danjou barracks, the regiment has trained multinational cadres, specialists and foreign volunteer recruits. The training cadre comprises about 44 officers, 170 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, and 358 enlisted personnel.[2]
The Regiment consists of six companies:
The regimental headquarters company which also has integrated logistical capabilities. This company has several subordinate administrative units such as the Office of Maintenance and Logistics, the Office of Job Training (Bureaux Instruction Empoi), and the Directorate of Human Resources (Direction des Ressources Humaines).[3]
Responsible for performing recruit basic training. The regiment has three such companies.
Conducts all NCO education and professional development courses.[4]
Conducts training courses in administrative and technical skill. This company teaches over forty courses a year ranging from three to fifteen weeks each.[5]
See main article: Foreign Legion Command.
Inscribed on the regimental colors of the 4th Foreign Regiment are the motto of the Foreign Legion:
Chant de Marche : C'est le 4 en chantant featuring:
C'est le 4 en chantant qui s'avance,Qui s'avance, laissez-le passer.
Sur les pistes des Corbières,Nous partons en mission.Une colonne de bérêts verts,S'en va à l'instruction.Vers la Jasse ou vers Bel-Air,Dans toutes les directions,Devenir légionnaire,C'est notre seule ambition.
See main article: Foreign Legion Command and Honneur et Fidélité.
| valign=top | 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1920-1940)[8] 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4e R.E.I)
4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
1st Foreign Motorized Infantry Regiment
| valign=top | 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (Morocco) - 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie (Maroc) - 4ème Demi-Brigade de La Légion Etrangère (4ème R.E.I. (Maroc) - 4ème D.B.L.E. (Maroc))
2/4 D.B.L.E. - 4/4 R.E.I. (Madagascar)
1/4 R.E.I.
| valign=top | 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1955-1964) 4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4e R.E.I)
Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion
4th Foreign Regiment Tenure (1980–present)
| valign=top |
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