General Elrick James Martial Irastorza
portant réintégration dans les cadres et admission dans la 2e section, admission dans la 2e section par anticipation et sur demande, élévation aux rang et appellation de général d'armée, promotion et nomination dans la 1re et la 2e section, nomination au titre du congé du personnel navigant et affectation d'officiers généraux (born 29 September 1950 in

Maillezais Maillezais () is a Communes of France, commune in the Vendée Departments of France, department in the Pays de la Loire Regions of France, region in western France. It was once an island in the Marais Poitevin, until monks of the Maillezais Abbey ...

) is a French general, formerly Chief of Staff of the French Army. He has served a career in marine paratrooper infantry, notably in oversea operations.

Biography

After studying at military preparatory high schools in

Autun Autun () is a subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the early Roman Empire by Emperor Augustus as Augustodunum to give a Ro ...

and

Aix Aix or AIX may refer to: Computing * AIX, a line of IBM computer operating systems *An Alternate Index, for a Virtual Storage Access Method Key Sequenced Data Set * Athens Internet Exchange, a European Internet exchange point Places Belgi ...

between 1961 and 1970, Irastorza joined the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in September 1970. He graduated in 1972, obtaining the rank of lieutenant and opting for service in the

Troupes de marine The (TDM, ) is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals). Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibi ...

.Biographie du général d’armée Elrick IRASTORZA, chef d’état-major de l’armée de Terre
Ministry of Defence

Junior officer

From 1973, Irastorza commanded a combat section of the

3rd Marine Infantry Regiment The 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment (french: 3e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine, 3e RIMa) is a unit of the French Army in the French Forces. The 3e RIMa is one of the oldest of the troupes de marine. This regiment is one of the "Quatre Grands" of ...

. Later, he joined the paratroopers by transferring to the

2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 2e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army created in 1947. The regiment is heir to the traditions of the 2nd Colonial Command ...

, with the same rank. In 1979, he took part in Opération Tacaud, in Chad. In 1980, promoted to captain, Irastorza was given command of a company of the

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (french: 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, (8e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army. The 8e RPIMa was created on 28 February 1951 and the men wear the red beret. It is par ...

. From 1982, he taught at the instruction centre for military preparation in Montpellier, until 1985 when he joined the general staff of the 3rd military region in Rennes as officer for logistics.

Senior officer and higher studies

Irastorza then completed his studies and oriented himself towards a high-ranking career by attending the École d'application de l'infanterie, obtaining a

Master of Advanced Studies A Master of Advanced Studies or Master of Advanced Study (MAS, M.A.S., or MASt) is a postgraduate degree awarded in various countries. Master of Advanced Studies programs may be non-consecutive programs tailored for "specific groups of working pro ...

in Defence and

international relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such a ...

in 1986 and attending the

École supérieure de guerre The ''École supérieure de guerre'' ("Superior School of Warfare") was the most senior military education institute and staff college of the French Army, from 1876 until 1993, when it was merged into the inter-service ' (Joint Defense College), wh ...

the next year. In 1989, he obtained the degree that validates training in command and general staff duties.Section 1 : Organisation générale
, code de la Défense He then joined the RIMAP as chief of operations. Promoted to

lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colo ...

, Irastorza assumed command of the 8e RPIMa in 1991. The next year, he supervised the 1st French battalion of the UNTAC. From 1993 to 1996, Irastorza was desk officer and second in command at the complement officer of the general staff of the Army, in Paris. He then moved on to serve at the office of military personnel of the Army (DPMAT); from 2000, he was under-director of the DPMAT in charge of recruitment.

General officer

Irastorza was promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

on 1 October 2000. In 2002, Irastorza went to supervise the École d'application de l'infanterie. From 2004, he served as aid to the head of the chief of the ''Force d'action Terrestre''. From 15 June 2005 and June 2006, he commanded the Force Licorne in the Ivory Coast. Irastorza has served as Chief of Staff of the French Army since 2 July 2008.Décret du 2 juillet 2008
portant affectation et élévation aux rang et appellation de général d'armée, élévation aux rang et appellation de général de corps d'armée, affectation et élévation aux rang et appellation de général de corps d'armée, promotion ou nomination dans la 1re et la 2e section et affectation d'officiers généraux He retired from the army on the 31 August 2011.

Decorations and medals

*Commander of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

*Commander of the

Order of National Merit Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

* Cross of military valour *

Croix du Combattant The Combatant's Cross (french: "Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France. The Poilus (French combat soldiers) of World War I worked toward recognition by the govern ...

Overseas Medal The Overseas Medal (french: Médaille d'Outre-Mer) is a commemorative or campaign medal issued to members of the French Armed Forces and other nations in assistance to French troops for participating in operations outside national territory. It rep ...

* Medal of National Defence * Medal of National gratitude d'Afrique du Nord

Sources and references