Summary
What does the job of police officer consist of?
Road safety
The non-commissioned officers and officers of the departmental gendarmerie provide security on the roads. They carry out preventive actions with users and crack down on violations of the highway code.
In the event of an accident, the gendarme intervenes to secure the area and regulate traffic.
Federal police
40% of the missions of the departmental gendarmerie brigades come under the judicial police. The gendarmes conduct investigations, particularly in rural areas. They cover all types of crimes and offences: theft, financial affairs, delinquency, drug trafficking, murder…
Public order
The gendarme, in particular the mobile gendarme who moves in squadron, ensures the maintenance of public order. He secures the events and channels the crowd. It sometimes intervenes in reinforcement of the departmental gendarmerie.
Missions abroad
The career opportunities abroad are numerous and the missions more or less long. Support for the armed forces in theaters of operation, cooperation missions in African or Asian countries, protection of embassies all over the world, participation in the reconstruction of disaster areas… The profession of gendarme is definitely a profession that moves!
Qualifications required to become a constable
Order and rigor
A policeman is a soldier. He must have a sense of hierarchy and love order.
Team spirit
The policeman is at the service of others.
He is part of a team and must have a strong team spirit.
Field man
Perfect physical condition is required. The gendarme undergoes many trainings.
High availability
As a soldier, the gendarme must be available at all hours of the day and night, every day of the year.
What training to become a policeman?
Baccalaureate level: non-commissioned officer
Since January 1, 2012, the baccalaureate is mandatory to take the NCO competition.
Candidates for training must pass tests known to be difficult. When they are eligible, an oral interview and physical tests are still required. The selection is tough: only 1 candidate out of 10 is accepted.
Non-commissioned officer training is remunerated. It lasts 1 year and is provided in 3 gendarmerie schools: Châteaulin, Chaumont, Montluçon.
Bac + 6 or 7: officer
Candidates for the profession of officer must pass a competitive examination after a license or a scientific or technical master’s degree or leave a military school.
After the validation of the various tests and physical tests, they follow a 2-year training at the school of officers of the national gendarmerie, located in Melun.
General conditions of access
The gendarme is a civil servant under the Ministry of Defence.
To access the profession, you must therefore meet the conditions for access to the public service:
Additional Terms
Applicants must also:
- be between 18 and 36 years old on the day of signing the contract for the profession of non-commissioned officer;
- be at least 26 years old for the profession of officer;
- (very) good physical condition and good eyesight;
- measure at least 1.60 m for women and 1.70 m for men (except for the National Guard where the minimum height required is higher);
- know how to swim.
Please note: recruitment is permanent. After filing the file, you have to wait 1 month before being called for the selection tests.
Salary and development prospects
3 possible assignments
On leaving school, the gendarme receives his assignment according to his classification.
There are 3 “families” of gendarmes:
- the departmental gendarmerie: the brigades are mainly responsible for the judicial police and road safety;
- the mobile gendarmerie: the squadrons move as needed to ensure public order;
- the Republican Guard: in Paris, 2 infantry regiments and 1 cavalry regiment provide services of honor and protection of the authorities of the Republic.
A comfortable salary
The gendarme’s salary depends on his rank: €1,300 net for a junior non-commissioned officer, €1,900 for a young officer. The family situation is also decisive.
Please note: company accommodation, 9 weeks of paid vacation, retirement at age 56 are benefits which are added to the remuneration.
Possibilities of evolution
The gendarmerie offers attractive career prospects.
To move up in rank, the gendarme has the possibility of passing professional examinations or competitions.
He can also turn to special units:
- GIGN: national gendarmerie intervention group, made up of snipers;
- PGHM: high mountain gendarmerie platoon;
- Maritime Gendarmerie;
- Canine unit (dog handlers)…
Tips and tricks
To find out more, inquire at the information and recruitment centers or on the website of the Ministry of Defence.
Content updated on 08/07/2012