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
Engagements	Ouvéa cave crisis Attempted apprehension of Khaled Kelkal

The Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie (French: 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.

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 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.

[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

v • d • e Law enforcement in France National Gendarmerie Air Gendarmerie · Air Transport Gendarmerie · Departmental Gendarmerie · Maritime Gendarmerie · Republican Guard · Mobile Gendarmerie (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale · Groupe de sécurité de la présidence de la République · Escadron parachutiste d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale) National Police Brigade de recherche et d'intervention · Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité · Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire · Direction Centrale de la Sécurité Publique (Groupes d'Intervention de la Police Nationale) · Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur · Préfecture de Police (Brigade de répression du banditisme) · Unité de coordination de la lutte anti-terroriste (Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion) Other Directorate-general of customs and indirect taxes · Municipal Police · Garde champêtre

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