The Land Component (, ) is the land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Pierre Gérard. Ranks in use by the Belgian Army are listed at Belgian military ranks. History Organisation 1870s According to the Law of 16 August 1873, the army was to consist of: Infantry 14 regiments of line infantry (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) 3 regiments of Jäger (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) 1 regiment of grenadiers (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) 1 regiment of Carabinier (four active battalions, 2 reserve and 1 depot company of deposit) 2 companies settled 1 discipline body 1 military school for children of servicemen Note: a battalion (864 men) consists of four companies of 216 men Cavalry 4 regiments of lancers (4 active squadrons and one reinforcement in each regiment) 4 regiments of guides (4 active squadrons and one reinforcement in each regiment) 2 regiments of Chasseur (4 active squadrons and one reinforcement in each regiment) Note: a squadron had approximately 130 horses Artillery 4 regiments of artillery (10 batteries in each regiment) 3 regiments of fortress artillery or siege artillery (16 batteries, 1 battery and 1 spare battery depot in each regiment) 1 pontoon company 1 company of artificers 1 company of gunsmiths 1 company of artillery workers Note: A battery has 6 guns Engineering 1 Engineer Regiment (3 active battalions and one depot battalion) 1 railway company 1 campaign Telegraph company 1 telegraph room company 1 pontoon room company 1 workers company Train 7 train companies World War I A major reorganisation of the army had been authorised by the government in 1912, providing for a total army of 350,000 men by 1926 - 150,000 in the field forces, 130,000 in fortress garrisons and 70,000 reserves and auxiliaries. At the outbreak of war this reorganisation was nowhere near complete and only 117,000 men could be mobilised for the field forces, with the other branches equally deficient. The Commander-in-Chief was King Albert I, with Lieutenant-General Chevalier Antonin de Selliers de Moranville as the Chief of the General Staff from 25 May 1914 until 6 September 1914 when a Royal Decree abolished the function of Chief of Staff of