the Gendarmerie. The cavalry and infantry of the Republican Guard retain historic ceremonial uniforms dating from the 19th century. Gallery Ranks Personnel As of 31 December 2018, the National Gendarmerie consisted of approx. 98,000 personnel units. Career gendarmes are either commissioned or non-commissioned officers. The lower ranks consist of auxiliary gendarmes on limited-time/term contracts. The 102,269 personnel of the National Gendarmerie is divided into: 6,203 officers and 74,105 NCOs of gendarmerie; 595 officers and 4,592 NCOs of the technical and administrative body; 12,602 section volunteers, from voluntary gendarmes (AGIV) and voluntary assistant gendarmes (GAV); 4,424 civilian personnel are divided into civil servants, state workers and contracted workers; 66,425 reserve personnel. This reserve force had not yet reached the authorised size limit. Only 25,000 men and women were signed up for reserve engagements (E.S.R.). This personnel mans the following units: Départemental Gendarmerie 1,055 Community brigades; 697 autonomous brigades ; 370 Surveillance and Intervention Platoons (PSIG); 271 Dog-handling Teams; 17 Mountain Platoons; 92 Departmental Brigades for Investigations and Judicial Services; 383 Research sections and brigades; 14 Air Sections; 7 River Brigades; 26 Coastal brigades; 93 departmental squadrons for roadway security; 136 Highway Platoons; 37 brigades for the prevention of juvenile delinquency; 21 Centers for Information and Recruitment. Gendarmerie Mobile 108 squadrons 6 Special Security Platoons. Special formations 5 squadrons and 10 companies of Republican Guard; 40 brigades of gendarmerie for air transports and research sections (BGTA); 8 Protection Units; 19 Air sections and detachments; 18 gendarmerie armament units. Other units 3 673 personnel overseas posts; 74 brigades and postes of the maritime gendarmerie; 54 brigades of Air Gendarmerie; 23 schools and Instruction Centers. Prospective Centre The Gendarmerie nationale's Prospective Centre (CPGN), which was created in 1998 by an ordinance of the Minister for Defence, is one of the gendarmerie's answers to officials' willingness to modernise the State. Under the direct authority of the general director of the gendarmerie, it is located in Penthièvre barracks on Avenue Delcassé in Paris and managed by Mr Frédéric LENICA, (assisted by a general secretary, Colonel LAPPRAND) "maître des requêtes" in the Conseil d'Etat. Equipment Cars The gendarmerie uses many different French cars, like Renault Megane and Peugeot Partner. Helicopters The Gendarmerie has used helicopters since 1954. They are part of the Gendarmerie air forces ( or FAG—not to be confused with the Air Gendarmerie or the Air Transport Gendarmerie). FAG units are attached to each of