Mobile Gendarmerie
Encyclopedia
The Mobile Gendarmerie (GM) is a subdivision of the French Gendarmerie. The Mobile Gendarmerie is the inheritor of the traditions of the gendarmerie's historic infantry component. Specific anti-riot units of the Gendarmerie date back to the beginning of the 19th century. The Mobile Gendarmerie was given its modern name in 1921.
The GM's main missions include:
Mobile gendarmes are frequently used to reinforce Departmental Gendarmerie
and National Police units.
It is nicknamed la jaune (the yellow) because, unlike the departmental Gendarmerie, it uses golden rank insignia, which in France traditionally indicates military branches on foot (as opposed to the silver or white insignia of traditionally horse-mounted branches).
The territorial organisation of the GM is as follows:
There are two types of GM squadrons: motorised squadrons carried in trucks or buses, and armoured squadrons in VBRG
(Véhicule Blindé de Reconnaissance de la Gendarmerie). The VBC-90
(light armoured vehicles with 90mm guns) were adapted for this purpose.
.
The reservists of the GM police are gathered in reserve squadrons of anti-riot police (ERGM) whose denomination and organization are based on those of the regular squadrons, for example: ERGM 124/1 at Maisons-Alfort.
The reservists of the GM are not authorised to be deployed for riot control, but are rather employed on missions of service and order (presence at the time of large events for example), or in reinforcement of units of the departmental Gendarmerie.
In the past the fact that the reservists could not be involved in riot control limited their usage to providing support to the Gendarmerie Départementale. However in recent times the reservists have been employed under contract to complete full regular squadrons.
Although there are some female officers in the GM, the role of non-commissioned officer is still reserved for men only. In France, it is one of the few trades, along with that of submariner, still prohibited to women.
The GM's main missions include:
- riot control and ensuring the return to order
- monitoring the territory and its dependencies
- guarding significant points (embassies, stations, etc.)
- defending the territory, providing reinforcements to the departmental Gendarmerie, and, in the last few years,
- conducting external operations (Opex).
Mobile gendarmes are frequently used to reinforce Departmental Gendarmerie
Departmental Gendarmerie
The Departmental Gendarmerie is the territorial police branch of the French Gendarmerie. The departmental gendarmerie has regular contact with the population and conducts local policing functions throughout the French territory....
and National Police units.
It is nicknamed la jaune (the yellow) because, unlike the departmental Gendarmerie, it uses golden rank insignia, which in France traditionally indicates military branches on foot (as opposed to the silver or white insignia of traditionally horse-mounted branches).
Organisation
- 7 Gendarmerie Areas in Metropolitan FranceMetropolitan FranceMetropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
. - 25 Legions of Mobile Gendarmes including 1 armoured grouping of Anti-riot police in Versailles Satory
- 123 squadrons, each one led by a captain.
- 1 National Gendarmes Intervention Group (GSIGN) which gathers the GIGN, the EPIGN and the GSPR, an integral part of the Anti-riot police.
- 7 special security groups.
- 17.350 personnel.
GM squadrons
A mobile squadron of gendarmes (EGM) is composed of:- 121 personnel members.
- Four ranked platoons including one Intervention Platoon and three regular platoons.
- The Intervention Platoon (Peloton d'Intervention) unit is an organ by itself, independent of the three other groups of a squadron. It takes part in riot control and also reinforces the departmental Gendarmerie. It is formed of 18 soldiers, whose particular missions (arrest, escort…) require specialised training.
- Some GM squadrons form part of the new Second Generation Intervention Group (Peloton d’intervention de deuxième génération) (PI2G), a structure constituting an intermediate force between the Intervention Group and the GIGN. It must be operational and able to intervene within very short notice. The PI2G intervenes to help resolve particularly serious problems, or to assist the GIGN. The first PI2G was created in ToulouseToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, other units of this type are to be created soon.
- One Platoon "Hors rang" (logistics and administration).
There are two types of GM squadrons: motorised squadrons carried in trucks or buses, and armoured squadrons in VBRG
VBRG
VBRG is an initialism for Véhicule Blindé a roue de la Gendarmerie or Gendarmerie Armored wheeled Vehicle.The VBRG was built by Berliet and Saviem and is used by the French Gendarmerie for riot control .The vehicle is equipped with an AANF1 7,62 mm machine gun VBRG is an initialism for...
(Véhicule Blindé de Reconnaissance de la Gendarmerie). The VBC-90
VBC-90
The VBC-90 is a 6x6 armoured car equipped with a 90 mm high velocity gun in a GIAT TS 90 rotating turret.It equips the armoured squadron of the Mobile Gendarmerie, with 32 units built....
(light armoured vehicles with 90mm guns) were adapted for this purpose.
Squadron numbers
Each squadron is differentiated according to a number, e.g.: 15/6 in NîmesNîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
.
- 1st digit = number of the mobile squad of Gendarmes of membership.
- 2nd digit = number of the squadron in the grouping.
- 3rd digit = number of the historic legion it belonged to (now replaced by the GM régional division). It is not planned to renumber these EGM in the immediate future.
Reserves
- 1st digit = always "1" for the squadrons of reserve
- 2nd digit = number of the Mobile Gendarmes group
- 3rd digit = number of the squadron in the grouping
- 4th figure = number of the legion of membership.
The reservists of the GM are not authorised to be deployed for riot control, but are rather employed on missions of service and order (presence at the time of large events for example), or in reinforcement of units of the departmental Gendarmerie.
In the past the fact that the reservists could not be involved in riot control limited their usage to providing support to the Gendarmerie Départementale. However in recent times the reservists have been employed under contract to complete full regular squadrons.
Although there are some female officers in the GM, the role of non-commissioned officer is still reserved for men only. In France, it is one of the few trades, along with that of submariner, still prohibited to women.
See also
- Compagnies Républicaines de SécuritéCompagnies Républicaines de SécuritéThe Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité are the riot control forces and general reserve of the French National Police. The CRS were created on 8 December 1944 and the first units were organised by 31 January 1945. The CRS were reorganized in 1948...
- Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie NationaleGroupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie NationaleThe National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, commonly abbreviated GIGN , is a special operations unit of the French Armed Forces. It is part of the National Gendarmerie and is trained to perform counter-terrorist and hostage rescue missions in France or anywhere else in the world.The GIGN was...
- OMONOMONOMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
- Internal TroopsInternal TroopsThe Internal Troops, full name Internal Troops of the Ministry for Internal Affairs ; alternatively translated as "Interior " is a paramilitary gendarmerie-like force in the now-defunct Soviet Union and its successor countries, particularly, in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan...