Special Operations Command (France)
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2013) |
| France's Special Operations Command (COS) | |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 1992, 24 |
| Country |  France |
| Type | Functional Combatant Command Special operations |
| Role | Provide fully capable special operations forces to defend France and its interests and plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks |
| Part of | Ministry of Defence |
| Headquarters | Balard, Paris, France |
| Nickname(s) | COS |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Counter admiral Laurent Isnard, French Navy |
The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS; "Special Operations Command") is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches (Army, Navy, and Air Force). Similar to USSOCOM or UKSF, COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War. Its role is to direct and coordinate missions for special forces units; these are permanently under its direct command and immediately available for action.The command is led by a Général de brigade or Contre-Amiral, a NATO OF-6 post.
Organisation
The COS consists of 2 known “circles”. COS does not officially recognise the 2nd circle but it’s a well known term used by members and units. The 1st circle is under permanent COS command and the 2nd circle being called in for reinforcement. In the end, the COS can commandeer any members of the armed forces for special operations if necessary. There is no official documentation confirming the term “2nd circle".
1st Circle
Armée de Terre (Army)
- Army Special Forces Command
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa)
- 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP)
- 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS)
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
- Air Parachute Commando n° 10, CPA 10 (French: Commando parachutiste de l'air n° 10) (CPA 10; "No. 10 Air Parachute Commando")
- Division des Opérations Spéciales (DOS; "Special Operations Division")
- Division des Opérations Spéciales/Transport (DOS/T; "Special Operations Division, Transport section") today, the Escadron de transport 3/61 "Poitou" – Uses C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall.
- Division des Opérations Spéciales / Hélicoptères (DOS/H; "Special Operations Division, Helicopter section"). Integrated into the 4th RHFS.
2nd Circle
Armée de Terre (Army)
- Commando Parachute Group (Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes, GCP)
- Commando Mountain Group (Groupement de commandos de montagne, GCM)
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
- Air Parachute Commando n° 20, CPA 20 (French: Commando parachutiste de l'air n° 20) (CPA 20; "No. 20 Air Parachute Commando")
- Air Parachute Commando n° 30, CPA 30 (French: Commando parachutiste de l'air n° 30) (CPA 30; "No. 30 Air Parachute Commando")
Gendarmerie nationale
- National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale, GIGN)
Other special operations forces under the command of DGSE's Action Division
The COS is not in charge of all special military units within the French Armed Forces. Action Division of France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) is responsible for planning and performing clandestine and covert operations including black operations. The core specialisations of the Action Division are sabotage, destruction of materiel, assassination, detaining/kidnapping, and infiltration/exfiltration of persons into/from hostile territory.
DGSE operatives are based in three so-called "training centres", officially not combat units then, which compose the Centre d'Instruction des Réservistes Parachutistes (CIRP, "Paratrooper Reservist Instruction Centre"):
- The Centre Parachutiste d'Entraînement Spécialisé (CPES, "Paratrooper Specialised Training Centre") in Cercottes for clandestine operations
- The Centre Parachutiste d'Instruction Spécialisée (CPIS, "Paratrooper Specialised Instruction Centre") in Perpignan for special commandos. The CPIS is the successor of the Centre d'entraînement à la Guerre Spéciale (CEGS, "Training Centre for Special Warfare")
- The Centre Parachutiste d'Entraînement aux Opérations Maritimes (CPEOM, "Paratrooper Training Centre for Maritime Operations") in Quelern, which instructs combat divers. The CPEOM is the successor of the Centre d'Instruction des Nageurs de Combat d'Aspretto.