Couldn't see that this has been posted anywhere yet;

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/17/french_colonial_marines_get_aliens_medi_net/


Thoughts, anyone?

There's a certain coolness factor there, especially for me!

I do have to admit I feel myself sort of in agreement with the Foreign Legion guy; remote command is a BAD idea. If the vitals monitoring is there to help get to the wounded better maybe, that's fine. But don't let it turn into an "Aliens" situation where even the most junior officers aren't in the field with their troops at all. That can only lead to a whole officer corps totally shielded from the reality of combat - a grunt's worst nightmare.

Also, for the record: the Foreign Legion used to be the expendable troops made up of foreigners. But that's no longer true. Over 50% of the soldiers are actually French now, and they're crack troops, but in no way throwaway cannon fodder. If they die more than the regular troops, it's just because they see more action.

_________________

Man, I wish I had the stones to join the Legion...

I've met a couple of ex-Legionnaires. I'd advise against joining personally...

One of my neighbours back in the home village was an ex-Legion surgeon - finished as a Major I think. After retiring, he'd 'entertain' the village on special occasions with slide shows of the pictures he'd taken while on deployment - mainly Africa, especially Chad.

As a surgeon, his favourites were pics of gruesome battle wounds...

And he could never understan why the village's population thought he was a bit off.

_________________

Sounds like a decent bloke!

Forget the SAS, or the SBS, or the Deltas, or the Rangers, or the Marines, or the Paras, or the whoevers...

The Légion étrangère are the baddest mothers in the valley.

I have a soft spot for the Troupes de Marines myself - for obvious reasons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troupes_de_marine


http://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/page/affichelieu.php?idLang=en&idLieu=1240
The Marsouins' equivalent to Camaron - or The Alamo.

And for the Legion lovers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camerone

_________________

Hmm, I wonder who'll get there first, the French or us Brits?
The intention of equipping soliders personal comm's with data link intended for monitoring vital signs has been planned since the introduction of the current Bowman system.

_________________
"The other Gareth"