This unit directly depends on the head of the gendarmerie, making it an important and reliable unit and a responsive one as well.

Under the orders of a general officer and working with two headquarters (operational and support), the GIGN comprises 5 competences :

- 3 operational forces, different and additional : Intervention, Observation, Protection ;

- 1 supportive force : providing the equipment and the abilities necessary for the 3 previous ones ,

- 1 training center.

Highly skilled, its staff is recruited according to very selective criteria. The main training is based on intervention. They specialize in other domains after 2 to 3 years.

The GIGN is always adapting itself to new ways of actions, new equipment and techniques. It has to keep itself fit to new forms of threat.

The capability to put 280 personnel on the field is quite impressive and is acknowledged by many police forces.