| Chief of the Army Staff | |
|---|---|
| Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre | |
 | |
 | |
| Ministry of the Armed Forces | |
| Type | Chief of Staff |
| Abbreviation | CEMAT |
| Member of | Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Seat | Hexagone Balard, Paris |
| Appointer | President of the Republic Requires the Prime Minister's countersignature |
| Formation | 8 June 1871 |
| First holder | François Hartung |
| Deputy | Major General of the Army |
| Website | defense.gouv.fr/terre |
The Chief of the Army Staff (French: Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre,[a] CEMAT)[2] is the military head of the French Army.[3] The chief directs the army staff and acts as the principal advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on subjects concerning the Army.[4] As such, they ensure the operational preparedness of their service branch, express their need for military and civilian personnel, and are responsible for maintaining the discipline, morale and conduct of their troops.[5] Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.[6]
The chief does not have a fixed term, nor an attached rank. In practice, however, a term has never exceeded five years and all chiefs since the late 1950s have been five–stars generals (OF–09). They are assisted in their duties by the Major General of the Army who will deputise if needed.
General Pierre Schill is the current chief and has been serving since 22 July 2021.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (10 August 1939). "Marks, honors, salutes and visits in the naval forces and on board naval vessels". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ French Army. "The Chief of the Army Staff" (in French). Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ Defence Code – Article R3222–3 § 2
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 1
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 2
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 3
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