The troops are situated in the Cayenne district on the River Maroni, in the town of Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, the site of a former penal colony.

The regiment recruits from rural Creole, Bush-country Nengue and Amerindian locations in Guiana, as well as in the neighboring countries of Suriname and Brazil.

The regiment has a permanent contingent, consisting mainly of marine troops, but also containing forces from all military branches.

Due to its environment, the regiment experts have developed a school to instruct the 1380 short-term mission personnel who serve in its ranks each year, in the tactics specific to the equatorial jungle and river in which it operates.

In the summer of 1999, the infantry was reinforced by a permanent company created specifically for the missions of Operation "Harp".