title: École du service de santé des armées
text: # École du service de santé des armées
  
  The École du service de santé des armées (ESSA) is the main medical school organisation for the French Armed Forces (Forces armées françaises), although mainly administered by the French Army (Armée de terre).
  
  ## Structure
  
  The École du personnel paramédical des armées trains paramedics, and was formed in 1990.
  
  The head of the SSA is Lt-Gen Maryline Gygax Généro, the Surgeon General (Médecin général des Armées or MGA) of the French Army since 2017 (Directrice centrale), and the first female to hold the post, when she replaced Jean-Marc Debonne.
  
  ## Training
  
  Military medical training in France is the responsibility of the French Defence Health Service (Service de Santé des Armées or SSA).
  
  