Rare Legion badge - Amphibious crossing

[Chris Boonzaier]

The "stage franchissement" or "crossing qualification" was a qualification for Drivers of the Amphibious APC, the "VAB"... part of the instruction was using a mini resperator, underwater obstacles etc to train them in the case of the VAB sinking. Evacuation of personel etc.

 

In later years the extra armour on the VAB made the vehicule too heavy for amphibious operations. All the new vehicules are too heavy and for that reason the qualification no longer exists. On the left is the standard badge, on the right the relatively rare one used by the 1st company of the 2nd REI