It is distinct from the Republican Guard, which is in charge of the security of official buildings.

In the past, the group was composed of 30 members of the National Gendarmerie and 30 members of the National Police, commanded by a lieutenant colonel of the Gendarmerie or a Commissaire divisionnaire de Police, alternately in charge.

No Gendarmerie officers were selected to be in the unit as Sarkozy believed he should not be protected by the military.

[3] Gendarmerie officers came back to the unit after the election of François Hollande in 2012.

In addition to an extensive fleet, GSPR members are armed with the following weapons: