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French Military Uniform - 1 / 4 Show caption + Hide caption - Brig. French Gen. Hubert Cottereau, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, stands in the Marne Gardens at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Oct. 2. Cottereau has served as the Marne Division DCG since summer 2019 as part of the US Military Personnel Exchange. Program (US photo by Dean Gannon) (Photo credit: Sergeant Dean Gannon) View original

2 / 4 Show caption + Hide caption - Brig. Gen. Hubert Cottereau with soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in an undated photo at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Cottereau serves as deputy to the future commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division and is the first French officer to hold this role. (Photo credit: Sergeant 1st Class Justin A. Naylor) View original

French Military Uniform

3 / 4 Show caption + Hide caption - Brig. French General Hubert Cottereau addresses a crowd at Fort Stewart's Newman Fitness Center on Aug. 15, 2019. (Photo credit: Master Sergeant Shelia Cooper) View original

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4 / 4 Show caption + Hide caption - Brig. General Hubert Cottereau, deputy commanding general of the French Third Infantry Division, stands next to a monument in Marne Gardens at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Program from summer 2019. (US photo by Sergeant Dean Gannon) (Photo credit: Sergeant Dean Gannon) View Original

Fort Stewart, Ga. — A senior French officer at Fort Stewart, Ga. Ma is making history with the 3rd Infantry Division, the first to serve as commanding general of U.S. troops.

Brigadier General Hubert Cottereau began serving with the 3rd ID in July 2019. After serving as deputy commanding general for maneuvers for a year, he now serves as deputy commanding general of the future where he is responsible for long-range planning. In this position he oversees more than 21,000 soldiers in the United States' most respected division.

Cottereau's role as DCG is part of the US Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP). The program is designed to strengthen bonds of friendship, understanding and interoperability between countries and their respective military organizations.

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These partnerships allow foreign officers to serve in the U.S. and experience U.S. customs and etiquette, missions, and day-to-day operations. While 3ID benefited from Cottereau's expertise, US Brig. Gen. Todd Wasmund is currently the deputy commander of the French 3rd Armored Division in Marseille.

"Having Brigadier Cotero here strengthens relationships, enhances cooperation and expands our knowledge sharing on how we manage and fight. Many lessons have already been learned," said Maj. Gen. Antonio Aguto, Cmdr. General of the 3rd Infantry Division.

"He's done more than I ever expected to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. He's been the brains behind the lines of assessment, analysis and action on how we look after ourselves and protect ourselves. He knows it from behind. From his hands," Aguto said.

"As our de facto DCG, he oversees all future operations and plans for this division - modernization, our training areas - he is responsible for bringing it all together. It is a great advantage to have a senior officer like him as our Deputy Commanding General."

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"It's an honor because it's a big sign of confidence," Kotero said of the opportunity to drive here. "I have to meet that expectation. It's an honor because it's a really lethal division, with great esprit de corps. Honored because I have the greatest respect for the people I've crossed paths with and worked with. They're very talented, dedicated and professional. They have a very positive mindset ... very humble and approachable too."

Cottereau plays a key role in many division initiatives, but perhaps none as important as his role in the division's response to COVID-19.

Kotero said his first step is to help start the fight against the virus at the division and at Fort Stewart. That means working with commanders, garrison teams and medical professionals to standardize response measures and ensure Soldiers and families have access to the measures and care they need.

"It was a holistic approach," Kotero said. "It wasn't just about treating a physical problem, it was a delivery readiness, it was ethical, it was familial and it was a piece of communication."

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"We have a large, holistic team," Kotero said of the people involved in the virus response. "A methodical approach, very specific, very reactive and when tough decisions had to be made, they were made. He did the division very, very well. It's very impressive."

As the pandemic response continues, Cottereau will continue to lead the division's response and help prepare for the division's future training and modernization initiatives.

Cotero said foreign officers serving in the U.S. risk living parallel lives from their American counterparts without truly integrating into the local community.

"It got to a point where we were like every other family on base in terms of safety with COVID," Cotero said. "I think this pandemic brought me closer to the United States than I thought. We were not only fighting for ourselves, we were also fighting for our families."

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Kotero said the division's response to COVID-19 has been unlike any operation it has ever been a part of. His role served as liaison between the division, tenant units, garrison and civilian officials, as well as medical professionals at Winn Community Hospital. To ensure the readiness of the division, he took the safety of soldiers and their families very seriously.

Cottereau brings a fresh perspective based on his experience gained within the French armed forces. The award follows a long history of awards in military challenges, including last year's deployment to Mali.

Brigadier General Benoît Chavnat, Chief International Officer, said, "Brigadier Cottereau was selected to open this partnership between our two countries because of his great abilities, his extensive professional and operational experience, as well as his people skills." Along with the excellent reception he received, allowed Brigadier General Kotero to quickly integrate into the 3rd ID and assume his role effectively and fully."

When the French Chief of Staff selected him for this position, he told him: "Hubert, I think this is the job of the year."

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France is one of the oldest allies of the United States. The selection of the 3rd ID for this particular partnership is appropriate as the division is nicknamed the "Rock of the Marne" for its involvement in France in 1917.

"The exchange of general officers with major responsibilities testifies to the mutual trust and strong cooperation between our two armies," said Thierry Burkhardt, chief of the French General Staff. "This exchange is a direct part of improving operational interoperability between U.S. and French forces. The goal is to strengthen our joint training to be increasingly ready for high-intensity engagement."

While serving in this role is the first for a French general, it is not Cottereau's first time serving in the United States. Seven years ago, he served with NATO in Norfolk, Virginia. His wife Brigitte and their five children love the opportunity to live in America.

"You don't send someone on an adventure like this: 'Are you ready?' Is your family okay?'

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"My whole family was excited to come back to America," Kotero said. Her children ask her every week when they can return to America.

Cottereau looks forward to the future in his role as DCG and believes the role will help him grow as a leader.

"It's a challenge and a humbling thing for me," Kotero said. "This is probably one of the most interesting and learning roles I've had in my 33-year career."