Special Operations.Com

France

Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (EPIGN)

This unit was created by ministerial decree in 1984 and soon thereafter saw service in Spain in support of regular police units operating against Basque ETA terrorists. A permanent detachment was assigned to New Caledonia where they have operated in conjunction with French Special Forces in hostage rescue missions. The EPIGN is commonly mid-identified as serving a solely anti-hijacking mission, however, as stated above, this is not the case. The Gendarmeries are trained to work with GIGN and regularly undertake similar missions. For example, EPIGN commandos assisted GIGN in July 1987 with riot suppressor at the Fleury-Merogis prison near Paris, and later took part in the assault on the hijacked Air France airliner at Marseilles Airport. Manpower stands at approximately 140 officers and NCOs, subdivided into four platoons of 30-35 men each and a HALO/HAHO-qualified platoon. One of the four platoons specializes in VIP protection. EPIGN training classes are very small, averaging 10 students per session (conducted twice yearly). EPIGN is subordinate to the Groupe de Securite et d'Intervention de La Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGS).

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