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) 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 Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the e ...

and Aix 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.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. Later, he joined the paratroopers by transferring to the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, with the same rank. In 1979, he took part in Opération Tacaud, in

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. In 1980, promoted to captain, Irastorza was given command of a

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of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment. From 1982, he taught at the instruction centre for military preparation in

Montpellier Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of France, department of ...

, until 1985 when he joined the general staff of the 3rd military region in

Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...

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 in Defence and

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in 1986 and attending the

École supérieure de guerre École or Ecole may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * Éco ...

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, 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 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 ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

*Commander of the Order of National Merit * Cross of military valour * Croix du Combattant * Overseas Medal * Medal of National Defence * Medal of National gratitude d'Afrique du Nord *Honorary Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(General Division)

Sources and references