EPIGN - Definition

The EPIGN (Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is the parachutist intervention squadron of the French Gendarmerie.

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 reinforcements to the security of French diplomatic missions abroad.

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:

• the assault on the Ouvéa cave;
• the attempted arrest, and shooting, of Khaled Kelkal.

The competencies of its personnel are:

• alpinism (taught by the high-mountain gendarmerie group of Chamonix);
• parachutism;
• diving;
• first aid;
• marksmanship;
• explosive neutralization;
• close security;
• close combat.

See also

• GIGN

Related links

• unofficial site (http://www.gign.org/unites/epign.php)