Jean Brette


Jean Brette was a Général de corps d'armée of the French Army, who served in the French Foreign Legion and was the regimental commander of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP in 1974.

Military career

Jean volunteered for eight years at the title of ESMIA, he integrated the promotion "Garigliano" and joined the 5e BCP in Germany on October 1, 1949. In reason of his excellent performance allure, he was nominated as a Caporal-chef on February 1, 1950, then to the rank of Sergent on April 1.
Nominated to the rank of Sous-lieutenant, he joined the infantry application school on October 1, 1951.
Following, he was assigned to the Legion and disembarked in North Africa in quality as a section chief of the 1st combat company of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1e RE, On October 10, 1952. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on October 1, 1953.
He participated to the operations of maintaining order with 2e BM/1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1e REI, at Berkane in Morocco from August 19 to August 28, 1953.
Destined to served in the Far East, he disembarked in Saigon. Assigned to the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 13e DBLE, he served successively in the 2nd Battalion on November 17, in the 2nd company of bennes trucks as of December 11, a unit which he received the provisionary commandment on December 25, then passed to the cannon section without recoil of the 6th company, on January 25, 1954, in quality as a section chief.
He then served in the general staff headquarters of the regiment as a reconnaissance artillery officer in June before being detached to the transport group 516, in August. Hen then received the commandment of the 2nd Battalion of the CCB, on November 1. During his tour deployment, he distinguished capability on February 7, 1954 at Phu Lao and on March 25, at Xa-Dong Tang and Truc-Dong in North of Vietnam.
Repatriated at the end of deployment, he disembarked in Marseille on May 27, 1955. Following his end of tour leave, he joined the 2nd battalion of the 13e DBLE at Zeralda in Algeria, on August 9 to occupy the functions of ordinary officer, transmission officer and security assistant officer, a duty in assignment in which he distinguished himself Touount in the Nemencha, on February 15, 1957.
He then followed the courses at the subversive war center of Philippeville.
Furthering his savoire-faire, he passed the candidacy entry at the general staff headquarters, on June 22, 1958, and served in the military institution in quality as a commandant of students company. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on April 1, 1959. He integrated the 20th promotion of the general staff headquarters in July.
Following, he was brevetted as a paratrooper, then assigned to the 2nd company of the 51st Infantry Regiment which he received the commandment on April 13, 1960. In quality as a Recon Commando Chief or unit Commandant, he distinguished himself at mechtas Krelif, Si Halal, in the sector of Mila in December 1960, at mechta Bailloul in 1961, at mechta Sanita, at mechta El Massa in the sector of Mila in 1962.
Following the independence, he was repatriated with his unit to the camp Sissone on September 6, 1962 and followed the courses at the center of Germanic studies from October 1, 1962 until August 3, 1963.
He was then assigned to the general staff headquarters of the French Forces in Germany FFA on September 1963, the integrated the 80th promotion of the Superior War School and the general staff headquarters school, on June 1, 1966.
He was promoted to Chef de bataillon on October 1.
In June 1968, he was assigned to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1e RCP at Pau Idron in quality as an Instructor Director.
He then served in the infantry inspection, as an officer of the general staff headquarters, from July 1, 1970. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-colonel on December 1, 1972.
Designated to command a troop corps, he received the regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP, on June 29, 1974. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on October 1, 1975. During this calm operational period, he dedicated himself to decorate camp Raffali, notably by conducting a campaign of planting trees and vegetation around the regiment.
In February 1976, one of his turning units at TFAI, intervened with success in the Children Hostage Rescue Affair of Loyada.
Following his commandment tenure, he was assigned to the general staff headquarters of the 3rd Armored Division of the French Forces in Germany, FFA at Fribourg on July 1, 1976.
In 1978, he was auditor at the 28th session of the Institute of High Studies of National Defense at the Center of High Military Studies.
Designated as land assistant of the Commandant of the 15e DI and the 43e DMT, he was assigned to administration at the 15e RCS, on July 1, 1979.
He was admitted to the 1st section of officers generals on March 1, 1980.
He received the commandment of the 64e DMT on August 1, 1981, then the commandment of the 11th Parachute Division 11e DP and the commandment of the 44e DMT on May 1, 1983. He was accordingly promoted to the rank of Général de division on November 1.
He participated to two exterior assistant missions, in Lebanon from December 30, 1983 until January 5, 1984, and in Tchad from August 21 to August 29, 1984.
Deputy Chief of the general staff headquarters of the Armies on June 1, 1985, he was elevated to the rank designation of Général de corps d'armée on March 1, 1987.
He was then nominated at the Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces in Germany, FFA and the 2nd Army Corps on May 13.
Attained by the age limit, he was admitted to the 2nd section of officers generals on June 24, 1989.

Recognitions and Honors