European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Eastern europeans flocking to foreign legion by William Drozdiak the Washington Post t he French foreign legion that legendary band of mercenaries founded by King Louis Philippe in 1831 to resolve a Domestic immigration problem and ensure the Conquest of Algeria has thrived in times of historic upheaval. Alsatian fleeing German occupation spaniards driven from their Homeland by civil War and indochinese boat people have during different eras taken Refuge Here and embarked on new lives through mass enlistments in the unique French fighting Force. But since the Berlin Wall tumbled a Little Over two years ago legion officers say they have never seen anything like the surge of recruits now coming from Eastern Europe. Desperate for hard currency exotic adventure and a Chance for a Western passport Young Eastern europeans Are flocking to join the elite regiments transforming them into havens Jor expatriates from the defunct Warsaw pact. Poles. Hungarians czechoslovak and romanians now account for nearly half of the 1,500 recruits annually entering the 8,500-Man Force whose officer corps is almost entirely French moreover the legion is bracing for another even larger wave of volunteers from Russia Belarus Ukraine and other former soviet republics. Quot some Are former soldiers from the communist Era but most of them Are civilian men in their Early 20s who Are worried about the economic chaos in their countries and look to us to Mold their futures Quot col. Pierre Romager the legions chief recruiting officer said in an interview at base Headquarters in Autagne France near the Mediterranean port City of Marseille. More than 100 nationalities Are represented in the Force but Romager noted Many of the Eastern europeans recruits who grew up under austere totalitarian circumstances possess special Virtues they Are discreet and Quot talk so even Walls cannot hear Quot they Are accustomed to spartan lifestyles they generally eschew drugs and they Are motivated by a desire to stay in the West. Quot there s no Way i want to go Back Quot said a 23-year-old romanian recruit who gave his name As Bogdan Quot i spent 16 months in the romanian army As a radio operator and from what i have seen Here i will do everything possible to  other foreign recruits said in interviews that they signed up for personal reasons to escape from an unhappy marriage from grief Over a Fiancee s death from a Boring Job or from an unsavoury neighbourhood and a life of Petty crime Michael a 24-year-old former German infantryman said he Felt adrift after the Berlin Walt came Down and Germany was reunited. Quot i d been in the army 15 months and suddenly the East West Battleground disappeared Quot he said. Quot i did t know what to do with my life. I started having trouble with my parents and Girlfriend and so i decided to come Here. A lot of germans from the East Are doing the same thing As me Quot. The legion has gained such popularity in Eastern Europe that unauthorized Quot recruitment bureaus Quot recently emerged in Hungary charging As much As $200 for advice on How to join. The scams prompted the legion to Issue a communique informing Eastern europeans that volunteers should address themselves Only to official French representatives. The influx of applicants has allowed the legion the luxury of becoming much More selective in determining who will Wear the White Kepi a the legion s distinctive Cap _ and Blue Sash originally worn in the belief it protected against intestinal disorders. The most recent Batch of legionnaires is considered smarter better educated and More mature than those in the Days when there were fewer applicants today five out of six Are rejected because the annual quota has been held at 1,500. Nonetheless. Romager said Quot we Are ready to look at anybody provided they Are not perverts or too advanced in their delinquency. Deserters can be accepted provided they have not committed capital offences like killing their commanding officer. After All we know we can t build a Good fighting Force with  recruits must be single and Between the Ages of 17 readers action line Here show to reach potty proud a makers in the stars and stripes Jan. 14you published an article from the United press International about a revolutionary toilet training system developed by two ladies from Michigan called potty proud. I am very interested in this for my daughter and wondered if you could find an address for the company that makes it a Anton enterprises. Leanne r. Skrok Blob org Germany Tim Cahill stars and stripes new York office replies potty proud can be reached at and 40, in Good health and willing to undertake any military operation. A recruiting brochure describes a Legionnaire As Quot Seldom an Angel but never a  initial five year contracts provide for net pay of $300 a month during the first year. Women have always been prohibited from joining the legion and officers say there is no desire to let them in even though the sex Barrier has been broken in other armies. Quot it would be too disruptive to allow women into the legion Quot said it. Cot. Rene Tomatis sitting in front of a huge poster depicting a Legionnaire standing guard in the desert. Some of the French military s most hazardous tasks have been carried out by legionnaires defending France s colonial interests in Africa and Asia. More than 35,000 of them have died in combat. Only in exceptional circumstances such As a military assault against his native country would a Legionnaire be allowed to ask for an exemption from his obligation to serve anywhere at any time. Legion officers say such anomalies rarely occur. During last year s persian Gulf War iraqi born legionnaires joined the 2,300-Man Force attached to the French Daguet division that swept deep into Iraq to encircle president Saddam Hussein a occupation army inside Kuwait. When Gen. Hnorman Schwarzkopf the commander of the Allied troops during the Gulf conflict visited legion Headquarters to be decorated last year he gave his four Star Cap to the legion museum As a Token of his respect for its contribution. Anton enterprises 36892 Fox Glen Farmington Hills Mich. 48331 Telephone number 313 788-1540. The retail Price is $14.95 and there also May be a shipping  to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit29480, Apoate 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes tuesday april 14, 1992