DÉFENSE ZONE
To mark the release of issue 9 of our magazine, Défense Zone brings you a series of exclusive interviews with the three commanders of the Special Operations Command (COS) units. Each looks back on his career, the missions entrusted to him and his place alongside the other COS units.
General Christophe Aubé, BFSA
After joining the French Air Force Academy (École de l’Air) in 1986, General Aubé began his career as a fighter pilot on the Mirage F1-C in Cambrai. After a stint as an Alpha Jet instructor at the Tours fighter school, he became a patrol leader on the Mirage 2000. He served as deputy operations officer of Fighter Squadron 02/002 in Dijon before commanding Training Squadron 05/002 there. In 2012 he took command of the Franco-German Air Support Training Centre in Nancy.
In 2014 he entered the world of special operations at the COS plans office in Villacoublay. He remained on the staff of Special Operations Command, where he also served as head of the AFNOR cell before becoming deputy for planning in the operations division (DIV OPS).
In 2021 General Christophe Aubé was appointed commander of the Air Special Forces Brigade (BFSA), taking charge of a force of nearly 4,200 people.
General Guillaume le Segretain du Patis, COMFST
General le Segretain du Patis entered the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1989. At the end of his training he chose the armoured cavalry branch and began his career with the 4th Chasseurs Regiment in Gap (a unit of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade). Three years later he passed the selection tests and joined the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP), the intelligence specialist regiment of Army Special Forces Command. He served successively as team leader, operations officer, company commander and head of the operations office before taking command of the regiment in 2011.
Intelligence has strongly shaped the general’s career: apart from his posts at the 13e RDP, he held several positions in the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM), in the office of the Minister of the Armed Forces at the bureau of reserved affairs (coordination of intelligence services) and at the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security (DRSD), notably as chief of staff.
In 2022 General Guillaume le Segretain du Patis took command of Army Special Forces Command (COM FST), whose headquarters is based in Pau, and of the 2,500 men and women who make it up.
Admiral Pierre de Briançon, FORFUSCO
After his studies at the French Naval Academy (École navale) in Brest from 1989 to 1992, Admiral Pierre de Briançon served as third officer, then second-in-command, aboard the P400 patrol vessel La Railleuse in Tahiti.
He then joined the special forces after passing the commando course and then the combat swimmer course. He joined the prestigious Commando Hubert, where he held every position of responsibility before taking command of it in 2003.
At sea he was second-in-command of the landing platform dock Foudre, before commanding the light stealth frigate (FLF) Guépratte and then the amphibious helicopter carrier Dixmude in 2013.
After a spell at the operations planning and command centre at the Ministry of the Armed Forces and in the office of the Chief of Staff of the French Navy, Admiral Pierre de Briançon took command of the Naval Rifle and Commando Force (FORFUSCO), an organisation of 2,400 sailors, including 700 commandos under COS command, divided into 5 assault commandos and two support commandos.
The Premium series
You can hear the testimonies of these three general officers by subscribing to our Premium area. You will then have access to more than three hours of exclusive interviews in which each of them talks about his career, the missions of the units under his command, the role of each within Special Operations Command and the place of commando missions in high-intensity warfare.
You can read our full feature on Special Operations Command in issue 9 of Défense Zone.
You can also subscribe to our magazine and receive our latest issue, whose main feature is devoted to Special Operations Command, access exclusive content and benefit from offers on gear and equipment from our partners. Visit the Premium section.
