The Russian threat in the East and the deterioration of the international context are pushing the capitals of “old Europe” to increasingly review defense strategies, making them consistent with current and future threats. After being abolished in 1997, under the presidency of Jacques Chirac, military service returns to France, on a voluntary basis. Italy, for its part, is considering the possibility of a reserve, also voluntary. And it is seeking resources to promote this reform. The next Budget Law will be decisive in this matter.
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Paris’s strategy
In September 2026, the new voluntary military service started in France. It is a voluntary draft (not mandatory) open to young men and women aged 18 and 19 who have French citizenship. The program lasts a total of 10 months. It includes a first month of initial military training followed by 9 months of operational mission alongside the armed forces. The service takes place exclusively on national soil (missions abroad are therefore excluded).
The program is gradual. The initiative initially starts with a first contingent of about 3,000 young people, with the gradual goal of recruiting up to 50,000 volunteers per year by 2035. At the end of the 10 months, participants become part of the operational reserve for a period of 5 years. Volunteers receive a net monthly allowance of about 800 euros, in addition to accommodation, meals, and transportation (including 75% discounts on the national SNCF railway network) covered by the State.
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The volunteers’ tasks
Volunteers are tasked with supporting career military personnel in defensive and logistical activities at the national level. In terms of internal security support, they are involved in patrols of the Sentinelle mission for the protection of critical infrastructure and sensitive sites. Regarding logistical and technical support, they can be employed in activities such as managing depots, maintaining light vehicles, communications, and administrative support at barracks and air/naval bases. Finally, within civil protection and emergency response, they can be involved in interventions on the territory in case of natural disasters or civil security emergencies.
The restructuring of the French armed forces
The voluntary military service announced in the previous months by French President Emmanuel Macron fits into the context of the restructuring of the French armed forces to respond to the current European security framework. Unlike the Universal National Service (SNU), which has a predominant civic education vocation, this new program is managed directly and solely by the Armed Forces.
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