The Foreign Legion Command (french: Commandement de la Légion Étrangère, (COMLE)) (official) is the Command of the Foreign Legion in the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

. The Legion is led by a French

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

, a Legion officer (french: Officier de Légion) 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)
L'Etat-major du Commandement de la Légion Étrangère (general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command)(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). As of 2017, the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command includes several divisions related to the functioning of the Legion. The general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command has adopted various List of French Foreign Legion units, inspecting, grouping, and commanding designations since 1931 and has been designated officially as C.O.M.L.E since 1984. The

Général de division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

commanding the

Legion Legion may refer to: Military * Roman legion, the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army * Spanish Legion, an elite military unit within the Spanish Army * Legion of the United States, a reorganization of the United States Army from 179 ...

, also known as '' Father of the Legion'' (french: Le Père Légion) or ''Foreign Legion Command Chief'' (french: Chef COMLE)
Le C.O.M.L.E, Le Commandement de la Légion Étrangère (C.O.M.L.E, The Foreign Legion Command) (official) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of Staff of the French Army (C.E.M.A.T). The Division

Général is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level office ...

is also the technical counselor commanding for the ensemble related to the Legion (recruitment, traditions, employment, regimental formations and security). The Divisional general commanding the Legion, commands also the 1st Foreign Regiment, the 4th Foreign Regiment and the Foreign Legion Recruiting Group (G.R.L.E). The GRLE was not formed till 2007. The commands of the C.O.M.L.E division general commandant extends to: * Guardian of Legion Esprit de Corps, Legion Patrimony and Legion Traditions * Guardian Protector of Personnel Serving at Foreign Status * Command of General Personnel Administration Operations * Command of Training and Instructing Procedure Implementations * Guardian of Legion Communities The Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE) is led by the Music Chief.

History

The

origins Origin(s) or The Origin may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics and manga * ''Origin'' (comics), a Wolverine comic book mini-series published by Marvel Comics in 2002 * ''The Origin'' (Buffy comic), a 1999 ''Buffy the Vampire Sl ...

and

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

tradition making of

regiments was front line opened and led by the Pionniers and charged by the service and sacrifices of the legionnaires following behind their

legion Legion may refer to: Military * Roman legion, the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army * Spanish Legion, an elite military unit within the Spanish Army * Legion of the United States, a reorganization of the United States Army from 179 ...

regimental, battalion and company commanders since 1831 and serving the commanding Division Général of the Legion since 1931. The Legion is part of the

History of France The first written records for the history of France appeared in the Iron Age. What is now France made up the bulk of the region known to the Romans as Gaul. The first writings on indigenous populations mainly start in the first century BC. Gree ...

. 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.

Pionniers & Legion Regiments

Creation and different nominations (1931-1984)

The command of the Foreign Legion is stationed at quartier Vienot in

Aubagne Aubagne (, ''Aubanha'' in Occitan according to the classic norm or ''Aubagno'' according to the Mistralian norm) is a commune in the southern French department of Bouches-du-Rhône. In 2018, it had a population of 47,208. Its inhabitants are k ...

at the corps of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^er 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

. * On March 2, 1931; the Inspection of the Foreign Legion (I.L.E) (french: Inspection de la Légion étrangère, I.L.E) was created. * Between 1934 and 1935, the I.L.E was dissolved. * In 1948, the I.L.E is recreated. * 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. * On July 1, 1955; the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.L.E) (french: Commandement de la Légion étrangère) was created. * 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 July 1, 1964; the I.T.L.E was dissolved. * 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 The Operation Group of the Foreign Legion (french: Groupement opérationnel de la Légion étrangère (G.O.L.E)) was a unit of the Foreign Legion with an operational vocation. Created on August 1, 1971 from elements of the 1st Foreign Regiment, ...

(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).

History of the garrisons, campaigns and battles

During the interwar period on April 1, 1931, while the Legion reached requirements of 30,000 Legionnaires,

général is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level office ...

Paul-Frédéric Rollet, was entrusted with the post of Inspector of the Foreign Legion newly created in Tlemcen in

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

. It is at this moment that the

Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments The Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments (DCRE), or (french: Dépôt commun des régiments étrangers, D.C.R.E), was the primary training formation of the Foreign Legion from 1933 to 1955. History The Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments ...

(D.C.R.E) (french: Dépôt commun des régiments étrangers, 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

Raoul Magrin-Vernerey Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...

. Again dissolved in 1950, the inspection unit left way for the Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion (G.A.L.E) commanded consecutively by

s Jean Olié and

Paul Gardy Paul Gardy was Général de brigade of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion in 1951 and 1958. Military career Saint-Cyrien of the 108th promotion ("du Souvenir" - "of Memory" promotion), sous-lieutenant Gardy, graduated Saint- ...

which had the attributions of Inspector General. Accordingly, the (G.A.L.E) was composed of one headquarter staff ''état-major'' at Sidi bel-Abbès, the Communal Depot of the Legion, the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1^er REI that regrouped all training/ instruction units, the intelligence service, and the Moral Service for Works of the Foreign Legion (S.O.M.L.E) (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 First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...

, the Foreign Legion was reorganized. The 1st Foreign Regiment 1^er RE 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

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

René Lennuyeux René Lennuyeux (1904-1990) was a Général de division of the French Army and Commandant of the French Foreign Legion from 1955 to 1958. 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 1^er RE. In 1972, under the impulsion of Colonel

Marcel Letestu Marcel Letestu (8 April 191829 August 2006) was a Général de brigade of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion. Military career Marcel enlisted in the French Army in 1936 and became a Sergent (Sergeant) in 1938. A Sous-Of ...

, a Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E) was created which was put at his disposition. Accordingly, Colonel Letestu has immediate authority on the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^er RE and the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2^e RE and conserved this prerogative of General Inspector. On the other hand, the commander of the (G.L.E) commanded also the 31st Brigade. This experimental unit,

dominated was among the first inter-arm brigade. The 31st Brigade (french: 31^e Brigade) engaged in peacekeeping combat operations in

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

at the corps of the

Multinational Force in Lebanon The Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) was an international peacekeeping force created in August 1982 following a 1981 U.S.-brokered ceasefire between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel to end their involvement in the confl ...

under the command of Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E)

Général de brigade 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 to ...

Jean-Claude Coullon. The 31^e Brigade was subsequently replaced by the 6th Light Armoured Division 6^ème D.L.B in 1984 and then became designated as the 6th Light Armoured Brigade 6^ème B.L.B following the

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...

at the corps of Division Daguet. On July 1, 1984; the (G.L.E) inherited the denomination of Foreign Legion Command (C.O.M.L.E) (french: Commandement de la Légion étrangère).

Organization

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 1^er 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 The Foreign Legion Museum (french: link=no, Musée de la Légion étrangère) situated in Aubagne, France, represents the history and "arms history" accomplishments (french: link=no, faits d'armes) of the Foreign Legion throughout the course of ...

(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, 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.
L'Etat-major du Commandement de la Légion Étrangère (general staff headquarters of the Commandment of the French Foreign Legion)

Commanders

Commandement de La Légion Étrangère (1931 - 1984)

Inspector Tenure of the Foreign Legion

;''Inspection de la Légion étrangère (I.L.E)''

Autonomous Group Tenure of the Foreign Legion

; ''Groupement autonome de la Légion étrangère (G.A.L.E)''

Foreign Legion Command Tenure

; ''Commandement de la Légion étrangère (C.O.L.E)''

Technical Inspection Tenure of the Foreign Legion

;''Inspection technique de la Légion étrangère (I.T.L.E)''

Foreign Legion Groupment Tenure

; ''Groupement de la Légion étrangère (G.L.E)''

Commandement de la Légion Étrangère - C.O.M.L.E - (1984 - present)

The Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E) transitted giving formation to the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.M.L.E) through the command of Ranks in the French Army, Général de brigade Jean-Claude Coullon in 1984.

References & Notes

{{French Foreign Legion navbox French Army Units of the French Foreign Legion Military units and formations established in 1931