France's Foreign Legion: a military wing for hardened hopefuls For men aged between 17 to 40 with nothing to lose and a sense of adventure, the French Foreign Legion may seem full of promise. Founded in the early 19th century, the Legion is the only Western military force to be made up almost entirely of foreign nationals - soldiers of fortune willing to go through the grit of the army to come out with a French passport and brighter prospects. An AFPTV report.