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DJIBOUTI, Africa -- U.S. service members deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti participated in the French Desert Commando Course (FDCC) conducted by the French Foreign Legion this week at the Centre d'Entrainment au Combat de Djibouti. The FDCC trains elite military members to survive and fight in extreme desert conditions and is the only place in the world where participants can earn the coveted Scorpion badge.
The unique environment of Djibouti, characterized by its desert, ocean, and mountainous terrains, is the ideal setting for this exclusive French commando training.
"This is a perfect place for amphibious assaults and mountain operations," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Lovely, head instructor, U.S. Desert Commando Training Program. "It's the reason the French have been training out here since the mid-seventies."
Elite French and American military members trained together during the course which exacted challenging physical and mental demands on the participants. During the course, the participants slept and trained outdoors for six days under intense heat and blazing sun while completing rigorous physical feats of endurance and tactical prowess.
"They often have no overhead cover and have to be ready to acclimate physically to these conditions. They have to cool off outside in the heat because in the FDCC you are outside for six days straight," explained Lovely.
Led by the French Foreign Legion instructors, the participants learned desert survival tactics including how to purify water, make improvised fishing lines, start a fire, tie knots, perform tactical movements underwater, climb and descend mountainous terrain and perform self-care under austere conditions in one of the world's hottest climates.
"The candidates are actually kicked out to survive on their own for a period of time overnight and into the next day," explained Lovely. "They get to apply some of those skills in a live scenario."
During FDCC, the participants complete a challenging water obstacle course, a mountain obstacle course, a six-mile ruck march in punishing heat, nighttime operations, complex knot-tying assessments, and a series of grueling physical fitness assessments all while enduring sleep deprivation and heat stress in a desert environment.
The course requires not only physical toughness, but also mental toughness. It exposes participants to their fears and forces them to overcome the extreme challenges despite their fear. Participants confront fear of heights, drowning, physical deprivation, claustrophobia, and even being punched in the face.
"A lot of people haven't been punched in the face before the course. It's important to test someone's character and bring forth different fears they may face throughout their life," said Lovely. "Over the course of those six days, they confront those fears in a controlled environment."
Collaboration with French special operations forces is another unique aspect of the course. U.S. service members have the opportunity to train alongside French special operations forces and participate in French military culture and build camaraderie with our foreign partner and ally.
"You find yourself in Africa on deployment, getting to complete a school with the French military," said Lovely. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of these guys."
Those who complete this grueling training receive the rare Scorpion badge, but they also know the sacrifice and commitment required to attain it.
"It's a very unique badge limited to 40 to 80 soldiers who can earn it in a year," said U.S. Army Capt. Thurston, FDCC action officer. "It's a great honor to be able to complete this course and earn this badge."
| Date Taken: | 10.10.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2024 07:15 |
| Story ID: | 482989 |
| Location: | DJIBOUTI, DJ |
| Web Views: | 588 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. military members participate in French Desert Commando Course, by TSgt Kathleen LaCorte, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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