A 30mn documentary that follows some people from the GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale), where you see them training, on the job, in infiltration and in action. All in French though.
The GIGN is part of the French Army, but is a specialized group operating in special situation, locally or internationally, and wears occasionally many hats like Spec Ops, DEA, police, hostage situations, Embassy protection and military operations. They usually take over the dedicated forces when the latter are lacking because of regulations or need of expertise.
It's all in French, but nevertheless interesting, you see them training for the protection of the French Embassy/Ambassador in Baghdad and arresting some drug kingpin close to the border in France.
http://videos.tf1.fr/reportages/en-immer...79973.html
Oh, and btw, the first intervention you see, the guy arrested gets almost a heart attack when the GIGN comes in because of the surprise lol, that's why they calm down and the paramedics come in.
Very interesting! specially the Ambassador protection training, didn't know french army was also using G36
Yeah, and they look pretty badass too. GIGN is kinda spec ops though, so can probably take whatever they want as long as the budget allows it (French Army ain't really the richest). Those G36K look pretty front heavy though with grenade launcher added to it.
Yeah they do look bad ass ! Thinking of getting one as my backup
I imagine I cannot read this topic without posting something !
Well I didn't know about this documentary, but I know a few others, more interesting I think. I can give you the links, if you are interested of course...
Also, as you cannot understand anything, if you wish some translations of a precise scene of the documentary, juste ask me !
Actually, the Gendarmerie Nationale, which is kind of Police mainly for rural areas is, since a few years, no more belonging to the army, but ministry of interior as for normal cops. Quite normal as their missions are about the same...
The Gign, and the Raid (police's unit) are just a SWAT equivalent. Still, the difference from the Raid is that one of the Gign units, EPIGN (paratroopers) is a component of COS (French SOCOM), if I remember well... And Gign has taken part into hostage situation abroad, like on some boats near Somalia
(25-07-2010 12:15 AM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]Also, as you cannot understand anything, if you wish some translations of a precise scene of the documentary, juste ask me !
Yup, I'm interested!
(25-07-2010 12:15 AM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]Actually, the Gendarmerie Nationale, which is kind of Police mainly for rural areas is, since a few years, no more belonging to the army, but ministry of interior as for normal cops. Quite normal as their missions are about the same...
Not Army anymore? When did that happen?! They are still a military corporation though technically, and even though the main part of the GN is indeed to act as police/DEA in districts and regions without local police, the GIGN meanwhile operates sometimes out of the territory too, which isn't really "police" nor "SWAT" like.
(25-07-2010 12:15 AM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]The Gign, and the Raid (police's unit) are just a SWAT equivalent. Still, the difference from the Raid is that one of the Gign units, EPIGN (paratroopers) is a component of COS (French SOCOM), if I remember well... And Gign has taken part into hostage situation abroad, like on some boats near Somalia
Ah, ok, so there are different parts in the GIGN, I didn't know that. I guess one part might act as SWAT on French territory, while the "SOCOM" part is often taken abroad.
I heard from Q you're french as well ! So Hi guy ! But then I don't get why you want a translation... Anyway, if you want, just tell me which one...
"Le 1er janvier 2009, la Gendarmerie nationale a été budgétairement intégrée au ministère de l'Intérieur. La Loi n° 2009-971 du 3 août 2009 relative à la Gendarmerie nationale consacre, outre l'exercice de l'ensemble de ses missions, le statut militaire de la gendarmerie, en la qualifiant de « force armée »."
It says that on the January the 1st of 2009, the Gendarmerie Nationale now belongs to ministry of interior, but is still a kind of "armed force", an army... so they are still kind of soldiers...
But it's very ambiguous, and except GIGN operating sometimes abroad for COS (always as official mission), they don't do more than normal cops. Maybe there is to notice Gendarmes are instructing in Afghanistan some local police guys, but it was easier to send them, because they are "military". If France had not Gendarme, it would have sent normal cops, so... (I think)
(25-07-2010 07:33 PM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]I heard from Q you're french as well ! So Hi guy ! But then I don't get why you want a translation... Anyway, if you want, just tell me which one...
Haha, very sorry, I meant to say "Yes! Interested!" to that quotation instead of the other one:
(25-07-2010 12:15 AM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]Well I didn't know about this documentary, but I know a few others, more interesting I think. I can give you the links, if you are interested of course...
So yes, if you have other documentaries, let us know! I don't really need translation though
(25-07-2010 07:33 PM)Blod Wrote: [ -> ]But it's very ambiguous, and except GIGN operating sometimes abroad for COS (always as official mission), they don't do more than normal cops. Maybe there is to notice Gendarmes are instructing in Afghanistan some local police guys, but it was easier to send them, because they are "military". If France had not Gendarme, it would have sent normal cops, so... (I think)
I don't think they can send cops no, that's just not in the contract of a local policeman, so you'd need to change all the contracts first, and then, by law, I think it's not even allowed either.
Gendarmerie on the other hand always had this status of military, so even if they act most of the time "like" local policemen, they can actually be completely something else if the State needs them to. See what I mean? It's in their contract basically.