Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
Encyclopedia
The Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie (EPIGN) was the parachute-trained intervention squadron of the French Gendarmerie. The unit was formed in 1984 and absorbed into the newly reorganized GIGN in September 2007.
and organized crime
. It was also been used for maintaining public order, for searches for persons in difficult environments, and for reinforcing the security of French diplomatic mission
s abroad. One of the unit's platoons specialised in VIP protection.
It was based in Satory
, west of Paris
. Along with the GIGN it formed the GSIGN (Groupe de Sécurité et d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Group of Security and Intervention of the National Gendarmerie).
Past missions included:
Known operations
Its missions were generally large-scale operations against terrorismTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. It was also been used for maintaining public order, for searches for persons in difficult environments, and for reinforcing the security of French diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
s abroad. One of the unit's platoons specialised in VIP protection.
It was based in Satory
Satory
Satory is an area south of Versailles in France. It is mostly known for its military camp, housing:* Weapon-testing facilities of GIAT Industries* Barracks and facilities for gendarmerie including the GIGN headquarters and the gendarmerie armored squadron...
, west of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Along with the GIGN it formed 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 caveOuvéa cave hostage takingThe Ouvéa cave hostage taking was an event occurring from April 22, 1988 to May 5, 1988 in which members of the separatist group the National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front took 27 including a French gendarme and a judge hostage in the island of Ouvéa, New...
. - Attempted arrest, and shooting, of terrorist Khaled KelkalKhaled KelkalKhaled Kelkal was an Algerian terrorist affiliated with the GIA. He was involved in the 1995 terror bombings in France.-Biography :...
.
Skills
The competencies of its personnel are:- Alpinism (taught by the high-mountain gendarmerie group of ChamonixChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
) - Parachutism
- DivingDivingDiving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
- First aidFirst aidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
- Marksmanship
- Explosive neutralisation
- Close security
- Close combatClose combat*Close combat is a generic term for both Close Quarters Battle and Hand to hand combat.*Mêlée generally refers to disorganized close combat.*CQB is an acronym for Close Quarters Battle, such as that which occurs in urban warfare....
See also
- Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
- 11th Shock Parachutist Regiment11e régiment parachutiste de chocThe 11e régiment parachutiste de choc , often called 11e choc, was a parachute elite regiment of the French Army. It used to serve as the armed branch of the SDECE. Its insignia, designed by lieutenant Dupas, features Bagheera in the moonlight and a golden wing...
- Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania" a similar unit of CarabinieriCarabinieriThe Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...