Lecture "Au coeur des forces spéciales, leçons de vie" by Louis Saillans on March 31 at 6 p.m.

Amphithéâtre 6 (2nd floor) du Pôle des langues et civilisations
65, rue des grands moulins 75013 Paris
From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Free admission on registration

Louis Saillans, offers, in his book "Chef de guerre", a reflective look at his years spent as a marine commando with the French Special Forces. His experience taught him many lessons about the personal demands and skills required for teamwork and adaptation to new and risky situations on difficult terrain in France and abroad, which he now offers to share. Through his exceptional account of his selection for the Special Forces, his training and his participation in multiple overseas operations, Louis Saillans will examine skills and qualities that are useful to everyone, such as motivation, courage, responsibility, observation, adaptability, communication and confidence.

Summary:
We have red eyes. Alain and Cédric's coffins left a few moments ago with the President of the Republic, the families and the authorities. We then left the ranks to greet our colleagues gathered for the occasion in a courtyard of Les Invalides bathed in spring light. Around a hundred of us special operations marine commandos had come to pay our final respects to our fallen comrades. The other units of the Special Operations Command are also here: 1er RPIMA, 13e RDP, CPA 10, GIGN... I shake hands with the DGSE agents, who are in civilian clothes at the back of the courtyard. With the other members of my group, I join Tangui, who has remained in the middle of the square, now deserted by its funeral visitors. Tangui clutches Alain's photo to his chest. He had remained beside the coffin throughout the national tribute and now seems unable to let go of the framed snapshot. "This is it, he's taken the plunge."

Louis Saillans joined the marine commandos in 2010 and became group leader five years later. For almost a decade, he took part in military operations in Africa and the Middle East aimed at freeing hostages, capturing jihadist leaders or neutralizing terrorists. Thanks to notes taken during his missions and archive documents to which he had access, he reveals the reality of Special Forces missions with the utmost accuracy. He also retraces the career of the soldiers in these units, who underwent a drastic selection process during which they endured the worst physical and psychological hardships. Through a narrative of rare lucidity, he describes the daily life of these men who became warriors, the fraternity of arms, the backstage of special operations and the hidden face of the fight against terrorism. A unique eyewitness account, providing a better understanding of the work of these shadowy combatants ready to sacrifice their lives to save ours and keep the peace.