US EditionFrance wants to bring voluntary military service back
France will start a 10-month voluntary military service for mainly 18-19-year-olds with an initial target of 3,000 volunteers in 2026, aiming to reach 10,000 by 2030, to strengthen national defense.
- During a speech at Varces, Macron announced a voluntary national military service to begin in summer 2026, emphasizing it is not a return to the old draft.
- Macron framed the plan as a response to growing Russian threats and hybrid pressures in Europe, citing recent military warnings from Gen Fabien Mandon about preparedness.
- The scheme targets recruitment numbers with 3,000 in 2026, rising to 10,000 by 2030 and 50,000 by 2035.
- The announcement effectively ends the Universal National Service, with Emmanuel Macron, President of France, reassuring it does not involve deployments to Ukraine, while funding questions remain amid tight budgets, according to the High Commissioner for Planning.
- Three decades after conscription ended, France gains 73% public support in an Elabe survey and aligns with European countries reviving military service, reversing Jacques Chirac's 1996 decision.
259 Articles
259 Articles
France will introduce a voluntary ten-month military service next summer, aimed primarily at young people aged 18 to 19. Participants in the program will receive at least 800 euros (19,300 CZK), French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday. Belgium has already begun attracting those interested in volunteering in the army this month.
After more than 25 years, when conscription was abolished, Emmanuel Macron announces limited military service.
France will gradually introduce a voluntary military service system starting next summer, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. The program aims to include up to 50,000 volunteers per year by 2035.
This is a voluntary military service for French youth, primarily those aged 18 and 19. Young people up to 25 with specific skills, such as engineers, are also invited.
Macron Reveals 10-Month Army Service for Young Volunteers
Since President Jacques Chirac abolished compulsory military service almost thirty years ago, in 1997, many people in France have been calling for its return, in one form or another. Emmanuel Macron seems determined to take this path and made the announcement on Thursday, November 27th, during a visit to the Varces military base in Isère. According to him, the deteriorating international situation and the fear of a Russian attack justify the ret…
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