The Air Transport Gendarmerie is a specialized military detachment with a strength of about 1,000 soldiers, drawn from the Regional Gendarmerie (gendarmerie départementale), the Mobile Gendarmerie (gendarmerie mobile) and the Republican Guard (garde républicaine).
This detachment, with headquarters at the DGAC head office in Paris, is distributed all over the national territory, notably at civilian airports, including those of French overseas regions and territories. It comprises 2 units, 11 companies, about 50 brigades, several sections and search squads, as well as surveillance and action platoons.
The missions of the Air Transport Gendarmerie revolve essentially around civil aviation, and the protection of civilian airports and aircrafts. More specifically, these soldiers actively participate in the fight against terrorism, maintain public order, and play the role of a military police force as well as perform administrative and judicial functions.