GIGN is not part of the Police Nationale. GIGN stands for Groupement d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale. These guys are Gendarmes, part of the army. And yes, basassed dudes. The brits SAS consider that GIGN has the “Best firearm training in the world” . (hundreds of shots every day, 24/7).
I apparently was misinformed, thinking that Gendarmerie would be the Police.
eh bien!