Four former soldiers from the elite 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment in southern France have filed formal complaints accusing their superiors of physical violence, moral harassment and degrading treatment.

They also described “entrenched” racism, saying words like “bonobo” and “negro” were used freely.

Tritto said two-thirds of those who joined the regiment in the same year as him have since left the army, and one in four are dealing with depression.