Appointed Chief of Staff of the French Army since July 22, I have been able to measure during these first months how solid and generous our Army is, ready to pay the price of blood for a France that is a balancing power in the service of peace, in the image of Master Corporal Maxime Blasco, who died with his arms in the fight against armed terrorist groups in the Sahel. Our wounded and their families, the bereaved families deserve our respect and deepest gratitude.
General Bosser organized the Army"In Contact". On this basis, General Burkhard has set it in motion, by giving the ambitious perspective of a hardened army. I am in line with this Strategic Vision and the plan drawn up to implement it. The intention is unchanged: "To raise the level of operational readiness in order to forge men capable of fighting even in the toughest fields of conflict".
In the immediate future, the imperatives of the short term require the successful recruitment, training and promotion of the 15,000 or so young Frenchmen who decide to join our ranks each year. At the same time, the Army contributes to the effectiveness and adaptation of our operational commitments. In this respect, the next few months will be decisive in the Sahel in the context of the reorganisation of the "Barkhane" operation.
Over the long term, the Strategic Vision has defined a set of projects based on four guidelines, four strategic objectives: men and women who are equal to future shocks, capabilities that allow us to outperform the adversary, a commitment focused on major engagements, and a simplified operation, a guarantee of efficiency and resilience.
The Army has well begun its forward march. It will pursue it with determination. Some projects have already been completed; others have become necessary in order to further consolidate the Army that France needs. A progress report on the Strategic Vision, that is what you will find in this October's Au Contact letter. I hope you enjoy reading it.
