Escadron parachutiste d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale


caption= Patch of the Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
country= France
type= Special Forces
branch= French Gendarmerie
dates= 1984 - Present
specialization= Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
command_structure=
size= 139 operators
current_commander=
garrison= Satory, France
ceremonial_chief=
nickname= EPIGN
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Ouvéa cave crisis
Attempted apprehension of Khaled Kelkal
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie ( _fr. Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) (EPIGN) 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.

Known operations

Its missions are generally large-scale operations against terrorism and organized 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.

kills

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

ee also

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

Related links

*fr icon [http://www.forces-speciales.org/armees,defense,gendarmerie-nationale,page,epign,mod,france-gendarmerie.fr.html Unofficial website]
*es icon [http://www.specwarnet.com/europe/epign.htm Specwarnet.com report]