Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
Patch of the Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
Active	1984 - Present
Country	France
Branch	French Gendarmerie
Type	Special Forces
Role	Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Size	139 operators
Garrison/HQ	Satory, France
Nickname	EPIGN
Battles/wars	Ouvéa cave crisis Attempted apprehension of Khaled Kelkal

The EPIGN (Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is the parachute-trained intervention squadron of the French Gendarmerie. The unit was formed in 1984, and is currently 139-men strong. These are divided between four platoons of 30-35 men each, plus a HALO/HAHO-qualified platoon.

Contents 1 Known Operations 2 Skills 3 See also 4 Related links

[edit] Known Operations

Its missions are generally large-scale operations against terrorism and organised crime. It has also been used for maintaining public order, for searches for persons in difficult environments, and for reinforcing the security of French diplomatic missions abroad. One of the unit's platoons specialises in VIP protection.

It is based in Satory, west of Paris. Along with the GIGN it forms the GSIGN (Groupe de Sécurité et d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Group of Security and Intervention of the National Gendarmerie).

Past missions included:

• Assault on the Ouvéa cave.
• Attempted arrest, and shooting, of terrorist Khaled Kelkal.

[edit] Skills

The competencies of its personnel are:

• Alpinism (taught by the high-mountain gendarmerie group of Chamonix).
• Parachutism.
• Diving.
• First aid.
• Marksmanship.
• Explosive neutralisation.
• Close security.
• Close combat.

[edit] See also

• Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
• 11th Shock Parachutist Regiment

[edit] Related links

• (French) Unofficial website
• (Spanish) Specwarnet.com report