France to Reintroduce Voluntary Military Service with Initial 3,000 Volunteers
Paris, France – France is set to reintroduce a form of military service, begining next year with an initial intake of 3,000 volunteers, as public support for bolstering national defense grows. Recent polls indicate strong backing for the initiative, with an Elabe survey this week revealing 73% public support. Even among young adults aged 25-34, the least supportive demographic, a 60% majority expressed approval.
The move comes as france seeks to address concerns about it’s military capabilities and foster national cohesion. President Macron‘s plan focuses on voluntary participation, a departure from the compulsory conscription that defined French national life for centuries.
Military conscription, rooted in the French Revolution and formalized by a 1798 law declaring “Every Frenchman is a soldier and is bound to the defence of the homeland,” was a cornerstone of French society. Republican leader Léon Gambetta famously stated in 1871, “When in France a citizen is born, he is born a soldier.” The practice continued through conflicts like the Algerian war of independence, where over 12,000 conscripts were killed.
However,the end of the Cold War led to a gradual reduction in service requirements. In 1996, President Jacques Chirac abolished compulsory military service, marking the end of an era. By the late 1990s, service had been reduced to 10 months, with options for civilian alternatives. The last conscript completed training in 2001.
subsequent attempts to maintain a sense of national service, such as the Universal National Service introduced by macron during his first term – a four-week course in civic responsibilities - proved unsuccessful and was discontinued earlier this year after being criticized as an expensive and poorly attended program.
While the new voluntary scheme enjoys broad public support, questions remain regarding its funding, particularly given France’s current economic challenges and ongoing parliamentary debates over the 2026 budget.
“It’s a good thing,” said Louis, a 22-year-old student, in a BBC street interview. “It can help make the army bigger,but it’s also a way to love yoru nation more.” Another student, Eilan, added, “In military service you meet people from everywhere.You learn new ways of seeing things… You learn to talk and trust and co-exist with other people.”
Though, some express reservations. Lalie, a 21-year-old shop assistant, stated, “I think there are more important issues. It’s a pity the president is not really interested in young people – their mental health, their financial situation, and rather is focusing on this military service.”
Brigitte,a set-designer,expressed a pragmatic view: “From what I read in the newspapers,our army is not that powerful – so if we have to prepare for the future,maybe it’s a good idea.”
