The Foreign Legion Command (
French: Commandement de la Légion Étrangère, (COMLE)) (official) is the Command of the
Foreign Legion in the
French Army.[3][4]
The Legion is led by a French
general, a Legion officer (
French: Officier de Légion)[1] who is usually a general who spent his entire career in
Legion units. COMLE also includes the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command (
French: L’Etat-major du COMLE)[5](official), led by another senior officer, chief of the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command (
French: Chef de L’Etat-major du COMLE) (official).[5][6] As of 2017, the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command includes several divisions related to the functioning of the Legion.[7] The general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command has adopted various
inspecting,
grouping, and
commanding designations since 1931 and has been designated officially as
C.O.M.L.E since 1984.[1] The
Général de division commanding the
Legion, also known as Father of the Legion (
French: Le Père Légion) or Foreign Legion Command Chief (
French: Chef COMLE) [8] (official) is a direct subordinate of the
Chief of Staff of the French Army (C.E.M.A.T). The Division
Général is also the technical counselor commanding for the ensemble related to the Legion (recruitment, traditions, employment, regimental formations and security).[9]
The Legion is part of the
History of France.[11] it was created by a King, combat engaged at Camarón under an Emperor and has known to endure the most heavy losses under the Republic.[12]
The command of the Foreign Legion is stationed at quartier
Vienot in
Aubagne at the corps of the
1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE. The headquarters detachment was established in 1984 following the reorganization of the previous Foreign Legion Group (G.L.E). Foreign Legion Command is headed by
a
Général.
On September 1, 1950; the I.L.E was dissolved and the Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion (G.A.L.E) (
French: Groupement Autonome de la Légion étrangère, G.A.L.E) is created.[1]
On July 1, 1955; the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.L.E) (
French: Commandement de la Légion étrangère) was created.[1]
On September 16, 1957; the C.O.L.E became the Technical Inspection of the Foreign Legion (I.T.L.E) (
French: Inspection Technique de la Légion étrangère).
On September 1, 1972, creation of the Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E) (
French: Groupement de Légion étrangère) which included the
Operational Group of the Foreign Legion (G.O.L.E.) (
French: Groupement Opérationnel de la Légion étrangère).
On July 1, 1984, the G.L.E became the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.M.L.E) (
French: Commandement de la Légion étrangère).[1]
During the interwar period on April 1, 1931, while the Legion reached requirements of 30,000
Legionnaires,
généralPaul-Frédéric Rollet,[1] was entrusted with the post of Inspector of the Foreign Legion newly created in Tlemcen in
Algeria. It is at this moment that the
Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments (D.C.R.E.) was created. This Inspector of the Foreign Legion was dissolved with the retirement of the Father of the Legion.
In 1948, the
Inspection was recreated for 2 years under the command of
Général de divisionRaoul Magrin-Vernerey.[1] Again dissolved in 1950, the inspection unit left way for the Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion (G.A.L.E.) commanded consecutively by
GénéralsJean Olié and
Paul Gardy which had the attributions of Inspector General.[1] The G.A.L.E. was made up of a headquarter staff at
Sidi bel-Abbès, the Communal Depot of the Legion, the
1st Foreign Infantry Regiment which included all training/ instruction units, the intelligence service, and the Moral Service for Works of the Foreign Legion (
French: Service du Moral et des œuvres de la Légion étrangère)(S.O.M.L.E.).
In 1954, at the end of the
First Indochina War, the Foreign Legion was reorganized. The
1st Foreign Regiment inherited all the attributions of Legion units. The Foreign Legion Command (C.O.L.E.) was created on July 1, 1955 at Vincennes; with command ensured by
ColonelRené Lennuyeux.[1] Two years later on September 16, 1957, the foreign legion command inherited the new naming of Technical Inspection of the Foreign Legion (I.T.L.E). This technical inspection was dissolved in 1964 and its attributions were transferred to the regimental commander of the
1st Foreign Regiment .
In the mission, the division general commanding the Foreign Legion is assisted by a general staff headquarters which service operations are based on the personnel of the
1st Foreign Regiment 1er R.E and the
Foreign Legion Recruiting Group (G.R.L.E). This general staff compromised as of the 2012 of the following Divisions and bureaux:
Foreign Legion Human Resources Division (
French: Division des Ressources Humaines, D.R.H.L.E): Division ensured the management of the ensemble administration of personnel serving at
Foreign Status.
Foreign Legion Recruiting Group, (
French: Groupement de Recrutement de la Légion étrangère, G.R.L.E): responsible entity for Legion centers of information, Legion recruiting centers, as well as the Legion center of selection and incorporation.
Foreign Legion Information Systems and Communication Division, (
French: Division des Systèmes d'Information et de Communication, D.S.I.C.L.E): Division developed proper applications, administered networks and consulting in material of formation (Information Systems) for the Foreign Legion. The division also supported the Foreign Legion Service Handling of Information (
French: Service de traitement de l'information de la Légion Étrangère, S.T.I.L.E).
Foreign Legion Statistical and Personnel Protection Division (
French: Division Statistiques et Protection du Personnel de la Légion étrangère, D.S.P.L.E): Division handled in material of protection and security, the ensemble of personnel serving at Foreign Status. This division participated at the selection process of candidates at engagement.
Foreign Legion Communication and Information Division, (
French: Division Communication et Information, D.I.C.L.E): Division in charge of institutional communication. This division ran public relations, the media, issue numbers production of Képi Blanc (
French: Képi Blanc), the monthly of the legion, the administration of information technologies, as well audio cells.
Foreign Legion History and Patrimony Division, (
French: Division Histoire et Patrimoine, D.H.P.L.E): Division handled the conservation preservation and management of the foreign legion, and most notably the management of
Foreign Legion Museum (
French: Musée de la Légion étrangère).
Foreign Legion Social Work and Aid Bureau, (
French: Bureau d'Action Sociale et d'Entraide de la Légion étrangère, BASELE/FELE).
As of 2017, the general staff headquarters of the Foreign Legion Command (
French: L'Etat-major du Commandement de la Légion Étrangère), at the disposition of the Commandant of the Legion,[1] has undergone further organizational structuring and was articulated in various legion divisions revolving around: studies, pilotage and synthesis; human resources; security and protection; patrimony; solidarity and others.[37]
The Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E)[1] became the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.M.L.E)[1] under the command of
Général de brigade Jean-Claude Coullon in 1984.[1]
^[6] History of the French Foreign Legion Music Band
^[7], « La Légion étrangère fait partie de l’histoire de France » ( The French Foreign Legion is part of the
History of France), correspondence interview with Foreign Legion Command chief general
Jean Maurin, source : Ministry of the Armies (
French: Ministère des Armées).
^[8], « La Légion étrangère fait partie de l’histoire de France » ( The French Foreign Legion is part of the
History of France), correspondence interview with COMLE chief general
Jean Maurin, source : Ministry of the Armies (
French: Ministère des Armées).
^[19]Archived 2015-09-26 at the
Wayback Machine Official Website of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG), Regimental Commanders (1984 - present)
^[23]Archived 2015-08-29 at the
Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), Regimental Commanders (1955 - present)
^[24]Archived 2015-08-29 at the
Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of Regimental and Commanders of the CEPs, BEPs and REPs (1948-Present)
^[30]Archived 2015-09-01 at the
Wayback Machine Official Website of the 13th Dem-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE), Regimental Commander (1940- Present)
^[31] Official Website of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte
^[32]Archived 2015-09-30 at the
Wayback Machine Official Website of the Foreign Legion Deatchment in Mayotte (DLME) and 2nd Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e Co. 3e REI), Regimental Commander
^[33] L'Etat-major du Commandement de la Légion Étrangère (general staff headquarters of the Commandment of the French Foreign Legion)