FRANCE National Gendarmerie Parachute Intervention Squadron (EPIGN) Sniper cloth badge

(French: Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale - EPIGN)

Embroidered on olive green cloth base with merrowed edging and velcro backing.

The EPIGN was the parachute-trained intervention squadron of the French Gendarmerie. The unit was formed in 1984 and absorbed into the newly reorganized GIGN in September 2007. Its missions were generally large-scale operations against terrorism and organized crime. It was 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 specialized in VIP protection.