The French Army, (French: Armée de Terre, literally Land Army) is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. Just like the Armée de l'Air, the Marine Nationale and the Gendarmerie Nationale, it is placed under the responsibility of the French government. The current Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT) is general Bertrand Ract-Madoux. All soldiers are considered professionals following the suspension of conscription, voted in parliament in 1997 and made effective in 2001.
As of early 2013, the French Army employs 119,070 personnel (including the French Foreign Legion). In addition, the reserve element of the French Army consisted of 16,006 personnel of the Operational Reserve and 9,522 personnel of the Citizens Reserve.