All policy matters relating to defense are the responsibility of the executive president, who also doubles as the supreme commander of the country's armed forces and minister of national defense. The other ranking military officers are the chief of the general staff, followed by the commander of the Army, the commander of the Navy, the commander of the Air Force, and the commander of the National Gendarmerie. Immediately following them are the vice minister of national defense and the inspector general of the National Army. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika remains the effective leader of the Algerian military establishment, but the command structure is gradually moving toward increased civilian control. In the current command organization, military officers control all other major positions; however, under a series of reforms introduced by Bouteflika since 2003, civilians are assuming a more prominent role in shaping security policy.
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