Mounted Companies (Légion étrangère)

At the end of the 19th century, the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2e REI) set the mounted companies on foot in order to allow these infantry to move over long distances while avoiding fatigue.

Assigned to the 3rd Foreign Regiment on 15 November 1920, the corps was reassigned to 2e REI on 1 January 1922, and reassumed the original designation.

A mounted company progressed at 6 kilometers per hour, but in case of necessity, the mule can sustain a rapid pace and the man on foot can follow in a fast tempo cadence.

The legionnaires assigned to these units were the selected tier one (French: sont triés sur le volet) and only the most robust volunteers would hope to serve the "Mounting".

Those of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment were seen compensated with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with four citations at the orders of the Army and the fourragère with colors of the Médaille militaire.