Job profile: how to become a mobile gendarme?

The Mobile Gendarmerie (GM) was created in 1921 to meet law enforcement needs. The Mobile Gendarmerie Squadrons (EGM) constitute mobile units distributed throughout France. They each have approximately 110 personnel subdivided into five platoons.

Table of contents:

• Uniform and equipment

• Missions

• Female personnel

• Recruitment and access conditions

• Working conditions

• Career advancement prospects

• Salary

The equipment of Mobile Gendarmerie Squadrons (EGM) is very diverse due to the wide spectrum of missions that can be assigned to them. In terms of the vehicle fleet, we find military vehicles, light vehicles, as well as armored vehicles. The classic blue uniform of the gendarme is supplemented with light or heavy protective equipment for crowd control and high-risk missions. This uniform includes : a helmet with visor, leg and arm protection, a shield, a gas mask, gloves, a bulletproof vest...

In terms of armament, the mobile gendarme can be equipped, depending on their missions, with an automatic pistol, an assault rifle, a defense baton, a taser, tear gas, a grenade launcher, or a defense ball launcher (LBD).

The missions assigned to the Mobile Gendarmerie are varied. Indeed, their mobility can lead them to support a brigade throughout French territory and overseas, or even abroad (OPEX), at an embassy for example.

The missions of a mobile gendarme mainly include :

• Public order maintenance : demonstrations, sporting events, attacks, ZAD evacuations, etc.

• Prevention and control of road safety.

• Support for departmental gendarmerie units : fight against crime, patrols, search and sweep operations, etc.

• Protection of property or persons : guarding buildings, escort, etc.

Mobile gendarmes regularly conduct situational training exercises in barracks or at the National Training Center for Gendarmerie Forces (CNEFG) in Saint-Astier, in Dordogne.

When they are not traveling, mobile gendarmes benefit from continuous professional training and train to stay in shape (see our article : 5 tips to run 3 km in less than 15 minutes). They are also in charge of equipment maintenance (vehicle washing, weapon maintenance, …), their squadron (barracks), and can take guard duty at the police station located at the entrance of each Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron (EGM).

It wasn't until 2015 that we saw the integration of female personnel into the Mobile Gendarmerie. The experiment was definitively validated in 2016 and women, although still a minority, are increasingly joining the ranks of "the Yellow," another name given to the Mobile Gendarmerie due to the color of its stripes.

To join the Mobile Gendarmerie, you must have passed the gendarmerie non-commissioned officer exam (SOG) or the gendarmerie officer exam (OG). Places are limited for Volunteer Assistant Gendarmes (GAV). The choice of assignment is made based on available positions and the gendarme's ranking upon graduation from school.

It's all in the name, the Mobile Gendarme must be ... mobile ! Generally performing more than 200 days per year of travel, they must know how to manage distance from their family and loved ones. The mobile gendarme also regularly goes overseas for missions that last three consecutive months. They must also know how to adapt to change (accommodation, work schedules, missions...) and be ready to leave at any moment.

Team cohesion is essential in mobile gendarmerie, whether to stand together in a violent demonstration or for community life. Indeed, when traveling, gendarmes share accommodation, meals, and often even rest periods.

Finally, the mobile gendarme profession is physically and mentally demanding, particularly due to work schedules, carrying heavy equipment, or the pressure felt in a conflict situation.

After passing the non-commissioned officer exam, the gendarme must first obtain, after two years of service, their Professional Aptitude Certificate (CAT) to advance in their career.

The career mobile gendarme can then choose to specialize in the Mobile Gendarmerie by obtaining the weapon diploma (DA) and advancing through the ranks. They can also remain in the Mobile Gendarmerie by specializing. If they do not train, the career mobile gendarme will automatically be transferred to departmental gendarmerie after 5 years.

The beginning career mobile gendarme receives a salary between 1800 and 2000 € net per month. In addition to being housed free of charge for service necessity, they receive allowances for distance during their travels. The salary evolves as they gain seniority and/or rank.

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