The EPIGN (Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) 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. Special forces (colloquially, sometimes incorrectly) or special operations forces (general term) are military units which are formed and trained to conduct missions involving unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, direct action and foreign internal defense. ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... For the band, see The Police. ... Gendarmes Gendarmes guarding the Paris Hall of Justice Gendarmerie motorcyclists police the roads and autoroutes of rural France. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... See also Platoon (movie) and platoon (automobile) for the concept for reducing traffic congestion. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Its missions are generally large-scale operations against terrorism and organised 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. This article is becoming very long. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... In urban planning, the notion of public order refers a city containing relatively empty (and orderly) spaces; which allow for flexibility in redesiging the citys layout; such perceptions played an important role in the establishments of suburbs. ... Seal on the building of German Embassies. ... See also Platoon (movie) and platoon (automobile) for the concept for reducing traffic congestion. ...

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). Satory is a village south of Versailles in France. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) Administration Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Département Paris (75) Région ÃŽle-de-France Mayor Bertrand Delanoë (PS) City (commune) Characteristics Land Area 86. ... GIGN Official Seal The GIGN (Groupe dIntervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is the French Gendarmeries elite counterterrorism and hostage rescue unit. ...

Past missions included:

• Assault on the Ouvéa cave.
• Attempted arrest, and shooting, of Khaled Kelkal.

The competencies of its personnel are: From April 22, 1988 to May 5, 1988, independence fighters took 27 French gendarmes as hostages in the island of Ouvéa, New Caledonia, requesting instant independence of New Caledonia from France. ... Khaled Kelkal Khaled Kelkal (April 28, 1971 - September 29, 1995) was an Algerian terrorist affiliated with the GIA. He was involved in several gunfights and was one of the men behind the islamist bombing campaign in France in 1995. ...

• Alpinism (taught by the high-mountain gendarmerie group of Chamonix).
• Parachutism.
• Diving.
• First aid.
• Marksmanship.
• Explosive neutralisation.
• Close security.
• Close combat.

Mountaineering is an umbrella term that can variously be used to describe the actions of climbing, hillwalking and scrambling. ... Panorama of Chamonix valley Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a town and commune in eastern France, in the Haute-Savoie département, at the foot of Mont Blanc. ... The Apollo 15 capsule landed safely despite a parachute failure. ... Diving refers to the sport of acrobatically jumping or falling into water. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... Shooting is the act of causing a gun to fire at a target. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Close Combat is the name of a series of tactical real-time (RTT) computer games by Atomic Games, as well as a first-person shooter by Destineer Games. ...

See also

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

GIGN Official Seal The GIGN (Groupe dIntervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is the French Gendarmeries elite counterterrorism and hostage rescue unit. ...

Related links

• (French) Unofficial website
• (Spanish) Specwarnet.com report