Macron Announces Plan to Revive Voluntary National Service in France
VARCES, ISÈRE – French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled plans Thursday to reintroduce a voluntary national service program, aiming to bolster France’s defense preparedness and offer young citizens a pathway to military engagement. The announcement, made at a military site in Varces, comes amid heightened security concerns in Europe following the war in Ukraine.
Macron framed the initiative as a response to both growing geopolitical threats and a demonstrated desire for civic commitment among French youth. The program, a modernized version of past national service models, will offer 18-year-old French men and women a ten-month, paid opportunity to serve within the armed forces. According to La Tribune Sunday, the government anticipates recruiting between 2,000 and 3,000 volunteers in the first year, scaling up to a target of 50,000 participants by 2035.
The initiative builds on Macron’s earlier statements to the armed forces at the start of the year and a July 13th speech at the Hôtel de Brienne. He described the program as a “voluntary national service,” a “new framework for serving in the armed forces,” and a way to address “the desire for commitment,” as he explained Tuesday on RTL. Participants will receive a monthly stipend of between 900 and 1,000 euros.
The president’s announcement,made alongside Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu during the 107th anniversary commemoration of the 1918 Armistice,signals a renewed focus on national resilience and military readiness. The Elysée stated Macron will use the occasion to “reaffirm the importance of preparing the nation and its moral forces in the face of growing threats.” The program is slated to begin accepting volunteers in 2026.
