Unit Profile
The Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale is France police parachute unit. The unit is used in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
The unit was raised in 1971 as the Escadron Parachutiste de Gendarmerie Mobile in order to give the Gendarmerie and airborne and special operations capability. The initial cadre of the unit was drawn from the Mobile Gendarmerie units stationed though out France. In 1984 the name was changed to Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale or EPIGN.
The unit is currently commanded by a Captain, and is composed of approximately 140 men. The unit is divided into a command section , and four specialized platoons. One EPIGN platoon is permanently stationed in the French territory of New Caledonia.
The unit is part of the Groupe de Securite et d'Intervention de La Gendarmerie Nationale or GSIGN. The is the French Gendarmeries special operations and rapid intervention command.
Mission
- Primary mission: Counter terrorism and organised crime
- Secondary mission: Support of the Groupe de Securite Presidence de la Republique
Raised and Disbanded
- Raised: Escadron Parachutiste de Gendarmerie Mobile, 1971
- Raised: Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale or EPIGN, 1984
Raised and Disbanded
- Commandement
- The first platoon is the Operational Support section, and is composed of seventeen men.
- The second and third platoons are the units Security and Protection platoons. Each is composed of two officers and forty NCO's and enlisted troops and specialize in conducting rapid reaction operations, such as NEOs, and VIP protection. They routinely operate alongside of the Groupe de Securite du President de la Republique (GSPR- the French Secret Service). They are responsible for providing the protection dEPIGNils to the French Minister of Defense, and the military's Chief of Staff. Each platoon also contains a small canine and EOD section. One platoon is always on standby for immediate deployment to crisis spots, or terrorist incidents.
- The fourth platoon is composed of one officer and thirty-five NCO's and enlisted personnel. It is known as the Groupe d'Observation et de Research (GOR), and specializes in conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering missions for the unit. The GOR also contains the units combat swimmer trained personnel.
Headquarters
- Satory, South of Versailles, France