In 1915, at the age of 15, Galán entered the Toledo Infantry Academy in the Alcázar, one of the few students of peasant or worker origins.

When he was 18 he became a second lieutenant and joined the Guipúzcoa No.
53 Infantry Regiment in Vitoria.

He disliked the low level of general education in the regiment and its use in repressing workers' movements and demonstrations.

He obtained a transfer to the Barbastro No 4.
Cazadores Regiment in the Tétouan garrison of the Spanish protectorate in Morocco, where Spain had been fighting the Riffians since 1912.

During the year and a half spent on defensive duties Galán devoured books on sociology and learned how the Russian Revolution had emancipated the workers and peasants.

In 1921 he joined the troops of the Ceuta Indigenous Police, where he remained for two years.

He was promoted to lieutenant and learned Arabic.

Galán wrote a proposal for a political-military plan to end the war in Morocco.

This was rejected by the higher command, but they recognised his ability, in October 1922 gave him first class cross of military merit with a red badge, and would send to ask for his opinions on various subjects.

In April–August 1923 he was in Madrid while waiting to take a post with the Wad-Ras nº50 Regiment, and presented his project to the Africanist League.

The king listened to his views, then sent him to the Minister of War.

At this point the military uprising of General Miguel Primo de Rivera put an end to the project.

Galán was posted to Gomara in the Jalifianos Service.

He had a reputation as an African expert, wrote articles in the Colonial Troops Magazine, and was a spokesman for the Africanist officers.

In April 1924 he was assigned to the 3rd Foreign Legion, where he was frequently cited for his courage.

Galán was seriously injured in action in the Kabylie.

He was evacuated to the Military Hospital in Madrid.

During his stay in hospital and subsequent convalescence he became disillusioned with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and began to seriously consider conspiracy to restore the Republic.

He wrote a historical and autobiographical novel at this time, La barbarie organizada (Organized Barbarism), about the colonial war in Morocco.

In April 1925 he was discharged and spent two months in Ceuta, then for a short period was in Madrid before being promoted to Captain and assigned to the Luchana nº28 Infantry Regiment in Tarragona, which he joined on 13 August 1925, aged 25.
In 1915, at the age of 15, Galán entered the Toledo Infantry Academy in the Alcázar, one of the few students of peasant or worker origins.
When he was 18 he became a second lieutenant and joined the Guipúzcoa No. 53 Infantry Regiment in Vitoria.
He disliked the low level of general education in the regiment and its use in repressing workers' movements and demonstrations.
He obtained a transfer to the Barbastro No 4. Cazadores Regiment in the Tétouan garrison of the Spanish protectorate in Morocco, where Spain had been fighting the Riffians since 1912.
During the year and a half spent on defensive duties Galán devoured books on sociology and learned how the Russian Revolution had emancipated the workers and peasants.
In 1921 he joined the troops of the Ceuta Indigenous Police, where he remained for two years.
He was promoted to lieutenant and learned Arabic.
Galán wrote a proposal for a political-military plan to end the war in Morocco.
This was rejected by the higher command, but they recognised his ability, in October 1922 gave him first class cross of military merit with a red badge, and would send to ask for his opinions on various subjects.
In April–August 1923 he was in Madrid while waiting to take a post with the Wad-Ras nº50 Regiment, and presented his project to the Africanist League.
The king listened to his views, then sent him to the Minister of War.
At this point the military uprising of General Miguel Primo de Rivera put an end to the project.
Galán was posted to Gomara in the Jalifianos Service.
He had a reputation as an African expert, wrote articles in the Colonial Troops Magazine, and was a spokesman for the Africanist officers.
In April 1924 he was assigned to the 3rd Foreign Legion, where he was frequently cited for his courage.
Galán was seriously injured in action in the Kabylie.
He was evacuated to the Military Hospital in Madrid.
During his stay in hospital and subsequent convalescence he became disillusioned with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and began to seriously consider conspiracy to restore the Republic.
He wrote a historical and autobiographical novel at this time, La barbarie organizada (Organized Barbarism), about the colonial war in Morocco.
In April 1925 he was discharged and spent two months in Ceuta, then for a short period was in Madrid before being promoted to Captain and assigned to the Luchana nº28 Infantry Regiment in Tarragona, which he joined on 13 August 1925, aged 25.
Fermín Galán