fab13n

is it true that regular French troops are not paid a salary?

Technically it is, but not the way you understood it: military staff is not paid a salaire (salary), but a solde (as in soldat).

The difference is that when you are salarié (salaried), your job comes with some inalienable rights, e.g. to strike (this is France after all), to unionize, to get safe working conditions, to quit, etc. which are deemed incompatible with an effectively run army. When you're soldé rather than salarié, you voluntarily sign most of your human rights away.

The question of allowing (limited) military unions regularly resurfaces. One of their current unofficial ways to express their views is through associations of spouses of soldiers (you can't sign away your wife's right to free speech by enlisting. Which is a shame, some might view that as a powerful incentive :D).

For how long would your clients make you follow a suspect, if you don't find anything incriminating at first?