The French government is launching this Monday the new voluntary military service, a national engagement scheme for young French people aged 18 to 25 who wish to undertake ten months of military and professional training, including one month of initial military training.
Applications must open in January 2026, for enrollments planned between September and November 2026, coinciding with the Parcoursup calendar in order to allow young people to combine or redirect their study plans.
A voluntary and strictly national commitment
This service, under military status and based on volunteering, does not lead young people on external operations or in conflict zones; their missions will take place exclusively on national territory, in metropolitan France and overseas.
The Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin has explained : "We offer young people who want to get involved, who have a thirst for ideals, the opportunity to contribute their talents to the country."emphasizing that the volunteers "will undergo one month of training, followed by nine months of useful service"with missions exclusively within the national territory. This declaration is part of the government's roadmap aimed at strengthening the link between youth and defense.
Remuneration, benefits and working conditions
Military service volunteers will receive a monthly salary of at least 800 euros gross, tax-free and excluding any bonuses, for the duration of their service. Accommodation and food expenses will be covered by the state, and they will also be issued a military SNCF railcard offering a 75% discount on national lines.
The pay and benefits granted are part of a stated desire to value the commitment of young people, while facilitating their mobility and their professional or civic integration.
One month of initial military training
The volunteer's journey begins with a one-month initial military training course focused on basic military activities, excluding shooting or combat exercises. During this course, participants learn close-order drill, marches, field life, and other fundamental elements of military life. This phase aims to "to develop interpersonal skills"including diligence, respect for rules and team spirit.
This is followed by additional training of approximately four months, which includes modules for academic refresher courses, CV and cover letter writing, job search techniques, first aid and workplace safety courses, learning the highway code and preparing for the driving licence.
The final phase consists of vocational training determined by the volunteer's choice from among some sixty different fields offered by the regiments and centers of the Voluntary Military Service. This training takes place in local apprenticeship training centers and aims to promote professional integration.
What objectives?
For its first year of implementation, the government is counting on 3,000 young volunteers, with a target of 10,000 per year by 2030 and up to 50,000 by 2035.
This new national service responds to a strategy of strengthening resilience and mobilization capacities at the national level, in an international context deemed uncertain, without returning to a general obligation of conscription.
The reform is also part of the transformation of the Voluntary Military Service, a system that has existed since 2015 to support the professional integration of young people, which until now has been focused on mixed military and professional training.
