The "National Territory" Chair aims to help the French Army adapt to its commitment on the national territory, in a context of varied and increased threats and risks (terrorism, mass migration, environmental phenomena, etc.). It is created in partnership between the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan schools via their research centre (CREC), the Land Command for the national territory (COMTN) and the Saint-Cyr Foundation, with the financial support of patrons.

Reflections conducted in a global approach, like the one systematized for our external commitments, will promote a better understanding of threats and risks, will allow the consideration of all the environmental dimensions of the Army's commitment on the national territory, and will ultimately enrich the reflections.

THE OBJECTIVES

Support the Army in defining the conditions and possible modalities of its engagement in the NT.

Establish a wider network with a variety of skills in order to gather ideas and encourage innovative work.

Reinforce the Army's TN centre of expertise, including its training component in an interministerial approach.

THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

The result of a broad and high-level partnership, the "National Territory" Chair must, on the one hand, meet the needs of teaching and research and, on the other hand, provide concrete answers to the new problems of the Army's commitment to the national territory. The context of systemic and multifaceted crises must be addressed in a broad reflection. Taking into account all factors (sociological, legal, political, ethical, operational, etc.) is essential for the understanding of this issue.

The cycle of activities is defined annually and takes the following forms:

- Seminars of specialists in the field (civil and military, French and foreign);

- Colloquia giving rise to publications;

- Publications in specialized journals;

- Organization of training courses for the benefit of institutional and academic partners;

- Publications of books and reference documents;

- Recruitment of doctoral and post-doctoral students.

RESEARCH THEMES

• Representing and promoting the mission of the soldier on the national territory.

Analysing military actions related to the protection of the population by integrating social aspects (education, training, national cohesion, etc.).

• Links and relations between armed forces, internal security forces and private security actors.

Analyse the possibilities of interaction between the regalian ministries and private actors.

• Legal and regulatory adaptations.

Study the legal aspects of the engagement of the armed forces.

• The engagement of the Army, in support of State action, in an internal context of threats.

Propose innovative modes of action, in support of dedicated security forces.

TRAINING

• To develop the knowledge of the Army cadres;

• To develop training actions for the benefit of the "grandes écoles", interministerially and even internationally.

GOVERNANCE

The "chairholder" comes from the corps préfectoral. Experienced senior civil servant, experienced in crisis management, with a thorough knowledge of the workings of the State, local authorities and public or private players, whether involved or not.s in internal security, he uses his expertise, influence and networks to consolidate and lend credibility to the Chair of which he is the representative.

He is assisted by a "scientific director", an academic authorized to direct research. The latter coordinates the research and teaching work. He leads the network and directs the work of the scientific council, which ensures the influence of the chair and provides food for thought.

The "scientific council" is made up of a dozen members, chosen for their expertise in national security and their interest in training and research on issues related to the commitment of the army on the national territory. This scientific council is consulted by the holder of the chair:

- To define the curriculum;

- To give its opinion on the overall coherence of these programmes and on the priorities to be given to the different proposals;

- To make recommendations on the dissemination of the studies.

THE PARTNERS

The CREC is structured in 4 poles finalized on the military profession. The general lines of research focus on issues useful to the Army and Defence. It specialises certain activities of the research centres in the form of a chair.

The mission of the COMTN is to optimise the conditions of engagement of the Army (active and reserves) on the national territory, both in metropolitan France and overseas, and to improve the resilience of the Army on national soil.

Created in 2006, the Saint-Cyr Foundation, recognised as being of public utility, aims to promote defence research and encourage the influence of the armed forces through increased partnership with companies and civil actors.

As a major company, sensitive to national security issues and benefiting from the action of the armed forces on the TN, Aéroport de Paris financially supports the research and training activities of the TN Chair.