France Prepares Voluntary Military Service Program To Strengthen Defense
- 21.09.2025, 11:25
- 1,356
This is not about bringing back conscription, abolished by Jacques Chirac in 1997.
The French government is considering the creation of a new program of voluntary military service, which could be a step toward strengthening the army amid the threat from Russia, writes Politico (translated by Charter97.org).
The office of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu made a statement that as part of the reform of state structures, the unit responsible for the so-called "universal national service" will be eliminated. It will be used to create a new format of voluntary military training.
It is not about bringing back the draft abolished by Jacques Chirac in 1997, but the new program involves serious military training and should become a channel for attracting young people to the army and reserve.
President Emmanuel Macron announced plans back in July to offer young Frenchmen a "new form of service." The government's announcement was confirmation that work on the project is progressing.
France already has experience of a civilian national service, created in 2019. It was designed for volunteers aged 15-17 and aimed to instill the values of the republic, but provided little or no actual military training. Low interest in the program and the army's growing need for replenishment, including for NATO commitments, led to discussions of a more paramilitary option.
Now, the country also has a voluntary service focused on gaining civilian skills, such as a driver's license. But France's new strategic review, published over the summer, calls for a shift in focus to defense and military recruitment.
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