DÉFENSE ZONE
With Parcours commando, Marius — Alain Alivon —, probably the best-known face of the French Navy commandos (commandos marine), describes what it means to become and remain a commando: selection, daily demands, and a philosophy of pushing oneself forged on every kind of terrain.
What is the book about?
The path of an ordinary kid who became a green beret: enlistment, the commando course and its famous “hell”, the years of operations, then passing it on — Marius trained and tested generations of trainees. Beyond the story, the book distils a method: toughness, discipline, team spirit, and the conviction that the mind always gives up before the body — so that everything is decided in the head.
What is its context?
The book is part of the wave of accounts by French operators who, for a decade now, have been lifting the veil — cautiously — on the commandos: it adds the distinctive voice of the instructor, the one who makes commandos rather than recounting his own exploits. In a society looking for reference points on effort and commitment, his message reaches far beyond a military readership.
Why read it?
To understand from the inside what selection for the French Navy commandos involves, which we have described from the outside in our investigations. And for the mental toolbox: candidates for enlistment, athletes, or simply readers short of discipline will find principles they can apply immediately — without the empty slogans of self-help.
Who is Marius (Alain Alivon)?
A veteran of the French Navy commandos, where he served for many years before becoming an emblematic instructor of commando trainees, Alain Alivon — “Marius” — became known to the general public through documentaries on the training of the green berets, then through his books and talks on physical and mental preparation. He embodies a rare figure: the one who passes things on, respected both within the institution and outside it.
Where to order the book?
The book Parcours commando is available in the Défense Zone bookshop. Also worth reading in the same vein: Chef de guerre (War leader) by Louis Saillans and our selection of special forces books.
