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9e Brigade Légère Blindée de Marine [9e BLBMa]
9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade

A tool of combat for the management of crises, the 9e BLBMa is particularly suited for amphibious actions (projection on short notice of a staff and a reinforced battalion (1,400 men) by maritime military means, to conduct operations from the sea whose purpose is a land mission in autonomous, in a framework of space-time of 100 km in 10 days.) It can conduct operations for safety, security or urban combat missions; decentralised intelligence actions in depth; and rapid and deep incursions (armored raid to a depth of 100 Km) to take over a controlling centre or destroy important objectives.

The only large unit of the troupes de marine, the 9e BLBMa is the natural and moral heir to the "Division Bleue", enlarged by the fighting in Bazeilles in 1870, in which three of its regiments participated, and the 9e Colonial Infantry Division (9e DIC - division d'infanterie coloniale), famous for having written the first page of glory in June 1944 with the conquest of the island of Elba and then the landing of Provence in August 1944 and the liberation of Toulon. The 9e DIC ceased to exist in December 1947 in Indochina without having been formally dissolved. In July 1963, she was reborn in Brittany as the "9e brigade". It became an autonomous brigade of the land force of intervention in 1971. On 01 January 1976, she was named the "9e marine infantry division (9e DIMa - division d'infanterie de marine). It was then attached to the land intervention force, and then the force for rapid action (FAR) from 1983. On 01 July 1999, the division was restructured as a brigade, and the 9e DIMa became the 9e BLBMa.

Since its origin, the 9e BLBMa units participated and showcased internal and external theaters where the France is committed. Moreover, less known facts, they have provided permanent assistance, humanitarian (food, medical aid to the population) and infrastructure (wells, irrigation, reconstructions of roads, buildings,...) in the countries where these units were staying. They have thus proven worthy of the oldest traditions of the Navy troops.

Their motto is "Semper and Ubique" (always and everywhere). The 9e BLBMa badge is the badges of the 9e DIC on a background of sky and waves symbolizing both amphibious vocation and the overseas. The staff of the 9e BLBMa, the 9e CCTMa and the band are settled in Poitiers.

Composed of 5 regiments, it is commanded by a Brigadier General and his staff. In addition to these 6,000 men, there are 3 companies of support staff.

• A staff (EM9), composed of 6 offices (employment, logistics, maintenance, information and transmission), coordinates the implementation in operational condition of the 5 regiments.
• 2(E) marine infantry regiment (RIMa 2e ) of Champagné.
• 3(e) marine infantry regiment (RIMa 3e ) valves.
• tanks of marine infantry regiment (RICM) of Poitiers
• 11e marine artillery regiment (11e RAMa) of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier,.
• 6e Engineer Regiment (6e RG) Angers, officially become engineers of marine in 2006.

• 9e company command and transmissions (9e CCTMa) marine with the EM9
• squadron lighting and investigation (IEE 9) seconded to the RICM
• battery of intelligence brigade (BRB 9) withthe 11th RAMa.

The Station at Coëtquidan is the center of initial military training for the ranks of the 9e BLBMa (CFIM 9). Coaching is provided by the staff of the 9e BLBMa permanent frames and "rotating" frameworks from the regiments of the brigade, direct beneficiaries of the recruits. Equipment includes the AMX 10 RC vehicle the before blindé (VAB), light armoured vehicle (Lav), post MILAN and ERYX, CAESAR guns, 120 mm mortars, versatile Engineering (MPG), crossing the front gear (EFA).