Gendarmerie Nationale facts for kids
The National Gendarmerie is a special part of France's Armed Forces. Think of them as the military police force in France. Their main job is to keep people safe and make sure laws are followed. They work like police officers for the citizens of France. They also have a special unit called the GIGN, which is trained for very difficult situations. In 2011, over 98,000 people were part of the National Gendarmerie in France.
Contents
What Does the Gendarmerie Do?
The Gendarmerie works closely with another police group in France called the Police Nationale. Even though the Gendarmerie is part of the armed forces, it has been working under the Ministry of the Interior since 2009. This means they help with national safety and use money from that ministry.
They are also in charge of patrolling roads. Gendarmes can stop drivers at any time to check their identification and car papers. This is called a "contrôle."
Their motto is "Gendarmerie, une force humaine." This means "Gendarmerie, a human armed force." It shows they are a strong force that also cares about people.
Uniforms and Protective Gear
The word "Gendarmerie" comes from "gens d’arme," which means "armed people." Their logo is an exploding grenade. Instead of metal medals, Gendarmes wear special ribbons called bâtons. They get these ribbons for different achievements, like serving in other countries.
For many years, Gendarmes wore a flat hat called a képi. Now, they only wear it for special events.
In the past, French soldiers didn't always have uniforms. By the late 17th century, some groups started wearing specific colors like light grey, red, or blue. Back then, French fashion was very fancy, with lots of bows and ribbons. Guard Gendarmes likely wore red coats. Many guards also wore the royal badge on their chest and back. In the 16th century, a white cross was a national sign worn on their clothes. This changed to a white sash in the 17th century.
Today, Gendarmes use modern protective gear. This includes bulletproof vests and tactical vests. They also use body armour to protect themselves. During big protests, they use large anti-riot shields. They wear a special "spectra" helmet with a visor to protect their face. If tear gas is used, they put on a special gas mask to stay safe from the dangerous fumes. They also have equipment to launch tear gas canisters and carry FAMAS rifles, which are a type of weapon. All this gear helps keep Gendarmes safe while they do their important jobs.
Different Branches of the Gendarmerie
The National Gendarmerie has several different branches, each with its own special tasks.
Departmental Gendarmerie
This is the most common branch of the Gendarmerie. They are like the regular police force in France. They work closely with local communities and help citizens every day. The Departmental Gendarmerie is divided into smaller groups called Brigades. Each brigade has between 6 and 40 officers. They patrol areas and help people both day and night.
Mobile Gendarmerie
The Mobile Gendarmerie has many important jobs. They help control riots and keep important places safe, like embassies. They also take part in operations in other countries (called OPEX). They often support the Departmental Gendarmerie when needed. This branch has 25 groups, including one with armored vehicles for riot control. The Mobile Gendarmerie also oversees the GIGN, which is the special counter-terrorism unit.
GIGN (National Gendarmerie Intervention Group)
The GIGN members are highly trained for very difficult and dangerous missions. They are experts in special operations, like rescuing hostages. They also train for anti-terrorism operations at sea. Their goal is to complete these missions with no risk to the public or the hostages.
Republican Guard
This is a special unit that performs in ceremonies and parades. They also guard important places in a formal way, often wearing special uniforms.
Maritime Gendarmerie
This branch works with both the Gendarmerie and the French Navy. The Maritime Gendarmerie patrols the sea, helps with rescues, and provides police security at naval bases. They do these jobs not only around France but also in places like French Guiana and Guadeloupe.
Air Transport Gendarmerie
The Air Transport Gendarmerie is similar to the Gendarmerie de L’air. They keep air force bases safe and investigate accidents involving military aircraft. Their missions include securing civilian airports, watching over important airport equipment like control towers, managing traffic near airports, and making sure important visitors are safe at airports.
Vehicles and Equipment
The Gendarmerie uses many different types of vehicles and equipment for their various tasks.
Departmental Gendarmerie Vehicles
They use cars like the Renault Megane RS and vans such as the IVECO Daily and Renault Trafic. They also use BMW motorcycles for patrols.
Mobile Gendarmerie Vehicles
This branch uses armored vehicles like the VXB VBRG Armored Personnel Carrier and the VBC-90 Armoured Combat Vehicle for riot control and other operations.
Air Transport Gendarmerie Helicopters
They use Eurocopter EC145 helicopters for their air operations.
Maritime Gendarmerie Boats
The Maritime Gendarmerie has various patrol boats, including Trident class, Géranium class, and Jonquille class boats. They also have many smaller patrol crafts.
GIGN Vehicles and Helicopters
The GIGN uses a special vehicle called the Height Adjustable Rescue Assault System (HARAS), which is built on a Chevrolet Suburban. They also use helicopters from the French Air Force, such as the Aérospatiale AS532 Cougar, Sud-Aviation SA330 Puma, Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, and Eurocopter EC665 Tigre.
Republican Guard Transport
The Republican Guard is famous for using horses in their parades and ceremonial duties.
Weapons Used by the Gendarmerie
Gendarmes are trained to use various weapons to protect themselves and others.
Departmental Gendarmerie Weapons
They commonly use the SIG Sauer P226 pistol.
Mobile Gendarmerie Weapons
This branch uses the FAMAS Bullpup Assault Rifle, the Sig-Sauer P226 pistol, tear gas launchers, and T-Style batons.
GIGN Weapons
The GIGN, being a special operations unit, has a wide range of weapons.
- Pistols: Manurhin MR 73, Glock 19, S&W 686, Sig-Sauer P228, FN Five-Seven, Giat PAMAS G1, Sig-Sauer Pro SP 2022, and the X26 Taser.
- Shotguns: Remington 870, Benelli M3 Super 90, and Franchi SPAS 12.
- Sub-machine Guns: HK MP5 and FN P90.
- Assault Rifles: HK G3 TGS, SIG-550, SIG-551, HK33, FAMAS F1, HK G36, and HK 416.
- Marksman Weapons: MR-73, AW .338, and PGM Hecate II.
Republican Guard Weapons
For their duties, the Republican Guard uses the FAMAS F1 rifle and ceremonial swords.
