[1] The mission of the group is responsible for research and experimentation in controlling extreme physical and climatic conditions.

[3][4] The French Armed Forces are pioneer in the domain of exploration and adventure, especially in mountain area.

[6] The selection of the first men to join the unit took place in September 1976, its number of members is fixed to ten.

[6] The group already performed an expedition in Greenland in 1978[7] but the period of exploration outside of the Alps really started in 1981 with the ascension of the Tibetan side of the Everest, this expedition failed although they reached 8400 m. The following years, they accomplish many successes, in the Baffin Island, the Thalay Sagar, in Alaska, on the Kamet and on the south face of the Gyachung Kang.

[6] In 1993, after ascending the Everest, Alain Estève decided to continue with the exploration of the North and South poles.

[9] In October 2011, six members of the group became the firsts to cross the 180 kilometres (110 mi) of the Cordillera Darwin and in 29 days.

That year, bad weather and differences in motivation within the team force the group to retreat.