During the summer of 2025, several regiments within the French Foreign Legion underwent significant leadership changes, reflecting the regular rotation of senior officers across this elite force. These appointments are part of the French Army’s standard two-year command rotation cycle and affect both mainland and overseas units.
2025 Change of Command: 1er RE in Aubagne
The 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), based in Aubagne (near Marseille in southern France), came under the command of Colonel Pierre Granger. He had recently served at the Army Technical Section (Section technique de l’armée de Terre, STAT), a key component of the Army focused on innovation and developing future combat capabilities. At the STAT, Pierre Granger operated under the authority of a general officer who previously led the 13e DBLE. Colonel Granger’s career has included assignments with both the 2e REI and 3e REI, as well as a staff position at the Foreign Legion’s headquarters (COMLE).
2025 Change of Command: 1er REC at Camp Carpiagne
The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), the Legion’s only armored cavalry unit based at Camp Carpiagne near Marseille, is now led by Colonel Louis-Guilhem Larchet. He came from the Command of Land Forces and Operations and previously served as operations officer with the 3rd Hussar Regiment (3e RH) between 2020 and 2022. In the early 2010s in Orange, Louis-Guilhem Larchet commanded the 1er REC’s 2nd Squadron.
2025 Change of Command: 1er REG in Laudun
Colonel Benoît Dorigny became the new commander of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG), located in Laudun-l’Ardoise (southern France). The 1er REG is one of the Legion’s two engineering regiments and specializes in combat engineering and support. Previously, Colonel Dorigny served at the Integrated Structure for the Operational Maintenance of Army Equipment (SIMMT). He is also one of the nine co-authors of the 2020 book La Lune est claire (The Moon is bright), dedicated to the Foreign Legion. Benoît Dorigny began his military career as a lieutenant with the 3rd Company of the 1er REG. In the early 2010s, he commanded the 2nd Company of the same regiment.
2025 Change of Command: 2e REG at Saint Christol
Colonel Paul Lemaire, who had left the French Armed Forces Joint Staff (EMA), assumed command of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), based at Saint-Christol. This combat engineering unit plays a key role in mountain and specialized operations. Colonel Lemaire had previously served in both engineer regiments of the Legion.
2025 Change of Command: 4e RE in Castelnaudary
The 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE), the training unit for the entire Foreign Legion stationed in Castelnaudary, southern France, is now commanded by Colonel Jean-Hugues Delhumeau. The commanding officer also came from the French Armed Forces Joint Staff in Paris. From 2022 to 2024, Colonel Delhumeau held the role of military advisor in the Directorate General for Political and Security Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the early 2010s, he served as a company commander with the 3e REI. From 2018 to 2020, he commanded the 13e DBLE’s Operations and Training Office.
2025 Change of Command: 5e RE in Mayotte
On the island of Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, Colonel Renaud Voyer became the new commanding officer of the 5th Foreign Regiment, formerly known as the DLEM. A graduate of the military high school in Aix-en-Provence, Colonel Voyer previously served with the 2e REI and 3e REI (3rd Company commander) and was recently posted at the French Army Staff (EMAT).
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Related posts:
Foreign Legion: 2021 Change of Command took place in six regiments
Foreign Legion: 2023 Change of Command
Foreign Legion: 2020 Change of Command
13e DBLE: 2022 Change of Command