Get his book now:. Philippe B. The GIGN National Gendarmerie Intervention Group , created on March 1, , is an elite group specialized in several fields: counter-terrorism and major crime, hostage rescue, surveillance, negotiation, close protection, and all other extreme situations, whether on French territory or abroad.
While the creation date may seem short compared to the age of traditional military units, it is among the longest when discussing units specialized in counter-terrorism.
It is also worth noting that the death rate in training is higher than in missions, proof that GIGN gendarmes are trained to respond to the most difficult crises. Their training is pushed to the maximum, aiming to closely match the realities of the field but also to anticipate future threats. However, it is interesting to note that, unlike some foreign special forces units, the GIGN has a total and ultimate respect for life: the vocation of its members is above all to preserve human lives and to use lethal force as a last resort.
With the emergence of a new kind of terrorism, and individuals no longer hesitating to engage in direct confrontation, the GIGN had to adapt to counter this "militarization" of terrorism and has even become a leader in this field in Europe. The unit is also regularly consulted to provide both technical and tactical training on the use of new weapons or equipment such as the configuration of a tactical vest or a holster, for example. GIGN members are military personnel and intervene worldwide.
The group frequently, and discreetly, participates in various external operations, within the framework of embassy protection missions, or for personalities. Unfortunately for our curiosity and fortunately for our security, these missions are very secret and rarely disclosed to the general public. For example, some operators have been deployed to carry out actions directly in Libya, Iraq, Ivory Coast, and especially in Afghanistan where they have completed several missions in the Kapisa Valley, as well as in the Wardak province.
