Military reserve forces of France


The military reserve forces of France are the military reserve force within the French Armed Forces.

History

From the very moment Napoléon Bonaparte took power as First Consul in the coup of 18 Brumaire, he was feared by his rivals, and keenly supported by the army. They participated in the creation of a new constitution that forbade a Consul from leading an active army outside France. The violence of the coup d'état had already caused disquiet, and the consuls had access to an impressive garde des consuls.
Following the new constitution to the letter, Napoléon raised a reserve army at Dijon to support his war effort in Italy. This was the turning point of his Second Italian campaign.
From 1872 to 1999 the French Army reserves were divided into:
On the suspension of obligatory national service and the professionalisation of its armies, France also modified the organisation of its military reserve in the same professionalising way. Law n°99-894 of 22 October 1999 set out the organisation of the military reserve and of the defence forces.
The military reserve was organised into two bodies :
These reservists serve in many branches of the forces - the air force, army, gendarmerie, navy, health service, supply corps, and DGA.

The Reserve of the French Army

The Army operational reserve is about 60% headquarters/staff specialists and 40% sub-unit reservists.
Two types of reserve units are in service:
Training consists of:
Among the units expected to form reserve sub-units, circa 2014, were the 1st Infantry Regiment at Sarrebourg; the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort; the 92nd Infantry Regiment at Clermont-Ferrand; the 126th Infantry Regiment ; 152nd Infantry Regiment ; :fr:7e bataillon de chasseurs alpins at Varces ; 13e BCA at Barby; 16e BC at Bitche; 27e BCA ; Annecy; 1er RTir ; Epinal; 1er RCP at Pamiers; 501e RCC at Mourmelon Le Grand; 1er RCh at Thierville Sur Meuse; 4e RCh ; Gap; 12e RC ; Olivet; 4e RD ; Carnoux En Provence; 1er RHP ; Tarbes; 3e RH at Metz; and the 1st Spahi Regiment at Valence.