Structure of the French Army

The structure of the French Army is fixed by Chapter 2 of Title II of Book II of the Third Part of the Code of Defense, notably resulting in the codification of Decree 2000-559 of 21 June 2000.^[1]

Chief of the Defense Staff of the Armed Forces

The Chief of Staff of the French Army (Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre,C.E.M.A.T) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Armed Forces (Chef d'État-Major des Armées,C.E.M.A).

In terms of Article R.3222-3 of the Code of Defence,^[2] the Army comprises:

• The Chief of Staff of the French Army (Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre (CEMAT)).
• The army staff (l'état-major de l'armée de terre (EMAT)), which directs and manages all the components;
• The Army Inspectorate (l'inspection de l'Armée de terre);
• The Army Human Resources Directorate (la direction des ressources humaines de l'armée de terre (DRHAT));
• The forces;
• A territorial organisation (5 land régions: Île-de-France, Nord-Ouest, Sud-Ouest, Sud-Est and Nord-Est);^[3]
• The services;
• The personnel training and military higher training organisms.

Structure of the French Army (click to enlarge).

Chief of Staff of the French Army

• General Commanding the Foreign Legion (Aubagne)
• 25^e Régiment du Génie de l'Air (25^e RGA) - Air Engineer Regiment in Istres tasked with construction and maintenance of forward airbases
• Brigade de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP) - fire brigade for the city of Paris and surrounding suburbs, part of the Engineer Corps

Land Forces Command

The CFT (Commandement des Forces Terrestres or Land Forces Command) commands the two divisions and the four specialized commands.

French Army

Components Army Light Aviation Armoured Cavalry Troupes de marine French Foreign Legion Chasseurs alpins List of current regiments Structure of the French Army Administration Chief of Staff of the French Army Equipment Modern Equipment History Military history of France Personnel List of senior officers of the French Army Ranks in the French Army Awards Croix de guerre Médaille militaire Légion d'honneur Awards

Corps de Réaction Rapide - Rapid Reaction Corps

• Corps de Réaction Rapide - a NATO corps sized deployable headquarters in Lille.

1^re division – 1st Division

Based in Besançon.

• 1^er Régiment d'Artillerie (1^er RA) - Rocket Artillery Regiment in Bourogne with MLRS
• 19^e Régiment du Génie (19^e RG) Engineer Regiment in Besançon
• 132^e Bataillon Cynophile de l'Armée de Terre (132^e BCAT) - Military Working Dog Battalion in Suippes

7^e brigade blindée – 7th Armoured Brigade

Based in Besançon.

• 7^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (7^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Besançon with VAB
• 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs (1^er RCh) - Armoured Regiment in Verdun with 60 Leclerc
• 5^e Régiment de Dragons (5^e RD) - Armoured Regiment in Mailly-le-Camp with 60 Leclerc
• 1^er Régiment de Tirailleurs (1^er RTir) - Infantry Regiment in Epinal with VBCI
• 35^e Régiment d'Infanterie (35^e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Belfort with VBCI
• 152^e Régiment d'Infanterie (152^e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Colmar with VBCI
• 68^e Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique (68^e RAA) - Artillery Regiment in Valbonne with 12x CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, 16x 120mm RTF1 mortars and Mistral Surface-to-air missiles
• 3^e Régiment du Génie (3^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Charleville-Mézières

9^e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine - 9th Marine Infantry Brigade

Based in Poitiers.

• 9^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (9^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Poitiers with VAB
• Régiment d'Infanterie-Chars de Marine (RICM) - Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in Poitiers with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (1^er RIMa) - Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in Angoulême with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 2^e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (2^e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Le Mans with VBCI
• 3^e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (3^e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Vannes with VAB
• 126^e Régiment d'Infanterie (126^e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Brive-la-Gaillarde with VAB
• 11^e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (11^e RAMa) - Marine Artillery Regiment in Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
• 6^e Régiment du Génie (6^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Angers

27^e brigade d’infanterie de montagne – 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade

Based in Varces.

• 27^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions de Montagne (27^e CCTM) - Command and Signals Company in Varces
• 4^e Régiment de Chasseurs (4^e RCh) - Wheeled Armoured Regiment in Gap with 36 ERC 90, 16 VBL and 6 Gazelle helicopters
• 7^e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (7^e BCA) - Mountain Infantry Battalion in Bourg-Saint-Maurice with VAB and VHM
• 13^e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (11^e BCA) - Mountain Infantry Battalion in Chambéry with VAB and VHM
• 27^e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (27^e BCA) - Mountain Infantry Battalion in Annecy with VAB and VHM
• 93^e Régiment d'Artillerie de Montagne (93^e RAM) - Mountain Artillery Regiment in Varces with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, RTF1 mortars and Mistral Surface-to-air missiles
• 2^e Régiment Etranger de Génie (2^e REG) in Saint-Christol

Brigade franco-allemande – Franco-German Brigade

Based in Müllheim, Germany

French contribution:

• 3^e Régiment de Hussards (3^e RH) - Wheeled Armoured Regiment in Metz (France) with AMX 10 RC and VBL
• 1^er Régiment d'Infanterie (1^er RI) - Infantry Regiment in Sarrebourg (France) with VAB

3^e division – 3rd Division

Based in Marseille. Carries the traditions of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division.

• 2^e Régiment de Dragons (2^e RD-NBC) - Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique NBC-defense Regiment in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
• 54^e Régiment d'Artillerie (54^e RA) - Air-defense Regiment in Hyères with Mistral
• 31^e Régiment du Génie (31^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Castelsarrasin

2^e brigade blindée – 2nd Armored Brigade

Based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden.

• 2^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Illkirch-Graffenstaden with VAB
• 12^e Régiment de Cuirassiers (12^e RC) - Armoured Regiment in Olivet with 60 Leclerc
• 501^e Régiment de Chars de Combat (501^e RCC) - Armoured Regiment in Mourmelon-le-Grand with 60 Leclerc
• Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Meyenheim with VBCI
• 16^e Bataillon de Chasseurs (16^e BC) - Infantry Battalion in Bitche with VBCI
• 92^e Régiment d'Infanterie (92^e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Clermont-Ferrand with VBCI
• 40^e Régiment d'Artillerie (40^e RA) Self-propelled Howitzer Regiment in Suippes with 32 GCT 155mm and 12 120mm mortars
• 13^e Régiment du Génie (13^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Valdahon

6^e brigade légère blindée – 6th Light Armoured Brigade

Based in Nîmes.

• 6^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (6^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Nîmes with VAB
• 1^er Régiment de Spahis – Cavalry Regiment in Valence with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1^er REC) Foreign Legion - Cavalry Regiment in Orange with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 2^e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2^e REI) - Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in Nîmes with VBCI
• 13^e Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13^e DBLE) - Foreign Legion regiment in with VAB
• 21^e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (21^e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Fréjus with VAB
• 3^e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (3^e RAMa) - Marine Artillery Regiment in Canjuers with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
• 1^er Régiment Étranger de Génie (1^er REG) - Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in Laudun

11^e brigade parachutiste – 11th Parachute Brigade

Based in Balma.

• 11^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11^e CCTP) - Command and Signals Company in Balma
• 1^er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1^er RHP) - Parachute Hussar Regiment in Tarbes with ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1^er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Pamiers
• 2^e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2^e REP) French Foreign Legion - Parachute Regiment in Calvi
• 3^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3^e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Carcassonne
• 8^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8^e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Castres
• 35^e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35^e RAP) - Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, RTF1 mortars and Mistral Surface-to-air missiles
• 17^e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17^e RGP) - Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban
• 1^er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1^er RTP) - Parachute Supply Regiment in Toulouse

Commandement du renseignement – Intelligence Command

Based in Strasbourg.

• 2^e Régiment de Hussards (2^e RH) - Reconnaissance Regiment in Haguenau with VBL
• 44^e Régiment de Transmissions (44^e RT) - Signals Intelligence Regiment in Mutzig
• 54^e Régiment de Transmissions (54^e RT) - Tactical Electronic Warfare Regiment in Haguenau
• 61st Artillery Regiment (61 RA) - Unmanned aerial vehicle Regiment at Quartier Général d'Aboville, Chaumont with CL-289 drones
• 28^e Groupe Géographique (28^e GG) - Topography Unit in Haguenau
• Centre Interarmées des Actions sur l’Environnement (CIAE) - PSYOPS unit in Lyon
• 785^e Composante Guerre Electronique (785^e CGE) - Electronic Warfare Centre in Rennes

Commandement des systèmes d'information et de communications – Information and communication systems Command

Based in Cesson-Sévigné.

• 28^e Régiment de Transmissions (28^e RT) - Signal Regiment Issoire
• 40^e Régiment de Transmissions (40^e RT) - Signal Regiment Thionville
• 41^e Régiment de Transmissions (41^e RT) - Signal Regiment Douai
• 48^e Régiment de Transmissions (48^e RT) - Signal Regiment Agen
• 53^e Régiment de Transmissions (53^e RT) - Signal Regiment Lunéville

Commandement de la logistique – Logistics Command

Based in Lille.

• 121^e Régiment du Train (121^e RT) - Logistic Regiment in Montlhéry
• 503^e Régiment du Train (503^e RT) - Logistic Regiment in Nîmes
• 511^e Régiment du Train (511^e RT) - Logistic Regiment in Auxonne
• 515^e Régiment du Train (515^e RT) - Logistic Regiment in Angoulême
• 516^e Régiment du Train (516^e RT) - Logistic Regiment in Toul
• 519^e Groupe de Transit Maritime (519^e GTM) - Sea Transport Group in Toulon
• Régiment de soutien du combattant - Combat Logistic Regiment in Toulouse
• Régiment Médical (RMED) - Field Hospital Regiment in Valbonne
• 24^e Régiment d'Infanterie-Bataillon de réserve Ile de France - vital points protection reserve Battalion in Paris^[4]

Commandement de la maintenance des forces - Maintenance Command

Based in Lille and Versailles.

• 2^e Régiment du Matériel (2^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Bruz
• 3^e Régiment du Matériel (3^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Muret
• 4^e Régiment du Matériel (4^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Nimes
• 6^e Régiment du Matériel (6^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Besançon and Gresswiller
• 7^e Régiment du Matériel (7^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Lyon
• 8^e Régiment du Matériel (8^e RMAT) - Material Regiment in Mourmelon and Woippy

Other Commands

Commandement de l'Aviation légère de l'Armée de terre - Army Light Aviation Command

The Aviation légère de l’Armée de terre (ALAT) controls the army's light aviation units and training establishments. ALAT is headquartered at Vélizy-Villacoublay.

• 9^e Bataillon de Soutien Aéromobile - Aviation maintenance base in Montauban.

4e brigade d'aérocombat - Air-Combat Brigade

Based in Clermont-Ferrand :

• 4^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (4^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Clermont-Ferrand
• 1^er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (1^er RHC) - Combat Helicopter Regiment in Phalsbourg with 42 Gazelle, 20 Puma and 14 Cougar helicopters
• 3^e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (3^e RHC) - Combat Helicopter Regiment in Étain with 37 Gazelle, 16 Puma helicopters
• 5^e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (5^e RHC) - Combat Helicopter Regiment in Pau with 52 Gazelle helicopters

COS

The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (Special Operations Command, COS) is the command, which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches (Army, Navy, Air Force and Gendarmerie). The Special Forces units of the French Army are united in the Commandement des forces spéciales terrestres (Army Special Forces Command, COM FST).

Commandement des forces spéciales terrestres - Army Special Forces Command

Based in Pau.

• 1^er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (1^er RPIMa) Special Forces Regiment in Bayonne
• 13^e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes (13^e RDP) Long Range Reconnaissance Regiment in Martignas-sur-Jalle.
• 4^e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales (4^e RHFS) Special Operations Army Aviation Regiment in Pau

Commandement de la Légion étrangère - Foreign Legion Command

Based in Aubagne.

• 1er Régiment étranger (1er RE) 1st Foreign Regiment in Aubagne.
• 4e Régiment étranger (4e RE) 4th Foreign Regiment in Castelnaudary.

Commandement pour le territoire national - National territory Command

• Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris (BSPP) Paris Fire Brigade.
• Unités d'instruction de la Sécurité Civile n°1, 5 et 7 in Nogent-le-Rotrou, Corte and Brignoles.
• Service militaire volontaire (SMV) Voluntary Military Service.
• Service militaire adapté (SMA) Adapted Military Service.
• Army Military reserve force

Commandement de la formation et de l'entrainement interarmes - Training Command

• Centre d'entraînement des postes de commandement (CEPC) in camp de Mailly ;
• Centre d'entraînement au combat (CENTAC), in camp de Mailly ;
• Commission nationale de contrôle interarmes (CNCIA), in camp de Mailly ;
• Centre d'entraînement aux actions en zone urbaine (CENZUB), in camp de Sissonne (02) ;
• Centre d'entraînement interarmes et du soutien logistique (CENTIAL), in Mourmelon-le-Grand (51) ;
• Centre national d'entrainement commando (CNEC), in Mont-Louis ;
• École du combat interarmes (ECIA) ;
• 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique (1^er RCA) - Armoured Training Regiment in Canjuers
• 17^e Groupe d'Artillerie (17^e GA) - Air Defense Artillery Training Battalion at Biscarosse, Landes

Direction centrale de la Structure intégrée du maintien en condition opérationnelle des matériels terrestres - Industrial maintenance Service

Based in Versailles.

• 5^e Base de Soutien du Matériel (5^e BSMAT) - Materials Base in Draguignan
• 12^e Base de Soutien du Matériel (12^e BSMAT) - Materials Base in Salbris
• 13^e Base de Soutien du Matériel (13^e BSMAT) - Materials Base in Clermont-Ferrand

Army units permanently deployed overseas

Africa and Middle East

• 5^e Régiment de Cuirassiers (5^e RC) - Mixed Regiment based in the United Arab Emirates
• 5^e Régiment Interarmes d’Outre-Mer (5^e RIAOM) - Mixed Marine Regiment in Djibouti equipped with AMX 10 RC
• 6^e Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine (6^e BIMa) - Marine Infantry Battalion based in Gabon equipped with ERC 90 Sagaie

Caribbean

• Détachement Terre Antilles/33e RIMa (33e RIMa) in Fort-de-France (Martinique) (infantry)

French Guiana

• 3^e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie, 3^e REI - Infantry regiment tasked with the protection of the European Guiana Space Centre in Kourou
• 9^e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (9^e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Cayenne

Indian Ocean

• 2^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (2^e RPIMa) - Marine Airborne Infantry Regiment in Saint-Pierre, Réunion
• Détachement de Légion Etrangère de Mayotte (DLEM) - Foreign Legion detachment in Mayotte with 240 men

Pacific Ocean

• Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique Nouvelle Calédonie (RIMaP-NC) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Nouméa, New Caledonia
• Régiment d'infanterie de marine du Pacifique - Polynésie (RIMaP-P) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Papeete, Tahiti

References

1. ↑ "Version du décret avant abrogation" (in French). Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2013-01-25. 
2. ↑ CDEF(R), no. R3222-3 Code de la défense, art. R.3222-3
3. ↑ CDEF(R) no. R1212-4, Code de la défense, art. R.*1212-4.
4. ↑ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/infanterie/bataillon-de-reserve-ile-de-france-24-r.i