The Mobile Gendarmerie, known as “la jaune” (the yellow) due to the colour of its insignia, had its first units created at the beginning of the XIX century. Its current structure was adopted shortly after the end of the First World War.
With its over 17000-man strength, the Mobile Gendarmerie comprises 24 groups, 123 motorized or armoured squadrons. The latter are equipped with VBRGs, armoured vehicles with special wheels.
Each squadron has about 120 soldiers and is divided into 5 platoons: one intervention platoon, 3 patrol platoons, and one platoon in charge of administration and logistics.
The soldiers serving in the Mobile Gendarmerie always have to be ready to move at anytime due to the nature of the missions they are called upon to execute, which include:
Maintaining or restoring order, ensuring general public security, keeping watch on the national territory, guarding some strategic points, like train stations and diplomatic representations.
When the need arises, the Mobile Gendarmerie can also be called up to provide reinforcement to the National Guard. Nowadays, it also participates in overseas campaigns (OPEX) in countries where French military intervention is required.
It should be noted that several specialized detachments are integrated into the Mobile Gendarmerie such as:
The GIGN (the intervention unit of the National Guard)
The EPIGN (the parachutist intervention squadron of the National Guard)
The GSPR (the security unit of the presidency of the republic)