Downed helicopter pilot equipped with the latest MSA-Gallet flight helmet, an Eagle Industries CIACS vest and a FN P90 as a self-defense weapon.

And the last one is for a team I have worked with a couple of times also, PI2G from Toulouse.

This one was for Bordeaux's GIPN.

"Old" pics because I didn't get the chance to work with them lately. Hopefully I will in 2012 ;-)

Another one for GIGG snipers team this time.

Happy new year !

Stay safe in 2012, especially if you are a law enforcement officer or if you are in the military.

As usual during this period of the year, I have been designing a couple of greetings cards for some units. Nothing too fancy because we were a bit in a hurry, but here you go.

 

Back side :

Special forces in Multicam with FNH SCAR and Minimi.

Swiss Police DPR hand to hand / self defense training in their Dojo.

After being published is German magazine "Kommando", my story and pics about Swiss Police DPR team (close protection detail) is now featured in French "Police Pro".

Ready to ride !

Rappelling looks much cooler than fast roping, but tactically it is far less efficient...

A bit too slow and too complicated with all the equipment, so in a real world situation, they would rather use the fast rope. 

But still, it looks a bit like "blackhawk down" to ride like this ;-)

GIGG operators gathered for a briefing in front of the EC 635 helicopter, prior to the exercise.

Second day of fast rope training with GIGG.

Geneva's lake looked and felt a bit like the north sea and I was soaking wet after 5mn on the RIB boat...

The Swiss Air Force pilot did his job and nobody ended in the water ;-)

As usual with those guys, everything was smooth and professional.

I have spent another nice day with the guys from swiss GIGG.

They had a Swiss Air Force EC 635 helicopter to train with all day, but unfortunately it was a rather poor weather with rain and wind... Well, the helicopter could still fly and we had good fun anyway.

We'll do it again tomorrow but on the lake this time, so more to come later ;-)

French Gendarmerie "PI2G" (Peloton d'intervention de seconde génération) operator with B&T 40mm grenade launcher and Aimpoint Micro T1 red dot.

 

Multicam combat diver with FNH SCAR, AIMPOINT Comp M4 and 3X MAG.

French special forces 1er RPIMA INVEX squadron training for CQB in their kill house.

Multicam sniper and spotter with FNH SCAR and Schmidt Bender scope.

This blog is one year old today !

If you like it, please, take 5mn and share it with your friends, on forums, etc...

The more readers I have around the world, the more credibility I have when I knock on a unit's door and ask for permission to "shoot" them.

There will be some nice development in 2012, so stay tuned !

Like GIGN, RAID operators can now use military Puma helicopters. They belong and are operated by "COS" (Commandement des opérations spéciales), the french "SOCOM".

That is a great tactical advantage for them, and that day they were particularly training for air assault by rope.

Ready for the morning revue with those legionnaires from 2e REP second (mountain) company.

This would make a nice advertising for the Audi Q7  ;-)

GIPN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Police Nationale) officers. The first one is armed with a Brugger & Thomet MP9 submachine gun + Aimpoint Micro T1 red dot.

French Foreign Legion 2e REP "combat diver", on a coast near Calvi, Corsica.

Very simple equipment for this training mission : FAMAS and Aqualung FROG re-breather.

Armed with a Glock 19, this GIGG operator is checking the Airbus A320 seats for any hidden "Tango".

Up in the mountains with legionnaires from 2e REP.

The surrounding is beautiful, but training is taken very seriously because the men know that soon they'll be in Afghanistan again, sometimes for a second or 3rd tour.
No fancy equipment here, just the "old" FAMAS and a backpack for some basic infantry tactics movements. The Legion is a very "rustic" troop and is internationally respected for that.

In July, I was also allowed to spend 48 H with French Army combat divers during their qualification course. They were coming from different special forces and foreign legion regiments and will be back to their units once qualified.

The story is featured in this month's RAIDS with one of my pics on the cover.