The President of France Announces Voluntary Military Service for the Upcoming Year

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced a new voluntary youth military service program, calling it a crucial step to strengthen national readiness amid what he described as accelerating threats” on the world stage.

Speaking at a military base in the French Alps, Macron unveiled plans for a 10-month paid military service for young men and women aged 18 to 19, set to begin next year. The initiative aims to foster nationwide mobilisation without reinstating compulsory conscription. We cannot return to the time of conscription. But we need the nation mobilized to defend itself. Not against a particular enemy, but to be ready and respected,” Macron said.

The program will start with 3,000 participants in 2026 and is expected to expand to 50,000 by 2035. Volunteers will serve only on France’s mainland and in its overseas territories, and will not be deployed to foreign military operations. Macron also noted that, in case of a significant crisis, parliament could authorise a wider call-up, making national service mandatory for those with relevant skills.

French military leaders have largely welcomed the proposal, aligning France with several European countries that have recently introduced similar service programs in response to regional security concerns, particularly those posed by Russia.

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