National Service: Pay, Duration, Age… What You Need to Know About the New Voluntary Military Service

France is launching a 10-month voluntary military service open to young French adults selected by the armies, with a target of 3,000 recruits in 2026, then 50,000 in 2035, at a cost of 2.3 billion euros over the period 2026- 2030

The military service volunteer, called “National Service”, announced Thursday by the President Emmanuel Macron, will start next summer. Who will participate? Under what conditions? What missions for the young people who will take part? We take stock.

Who is affected?

National service is open to French adult volunteers who will be selected by the armies according to their needs.

Around 80% of those selected will be between 18 and 19 years old and will be incorporated in uniform in the summer. The period of service will be ten months and will be considered a gap year in studies. The remaining 20% will have more specialized profiles (engineer, data analyst, nurse, etc.) and will be able to serve up to the age of 25 with the rank of midshipman, the first rank of officer.

During the service, the first month will be devoted to initial training (classes). Volunteers will then be inserted into the three armies and support services.

How many recruits?

In 2026, the Ministry of the Armed Forces will select 3,000 young people from mid-January, who will begin their service in the summer. This is presented as a transition phase to take into account limited accommodation capacities, many barracks having been sold following compulsory conscription in 1997.

The objective is to integrate 10,000 young people per year in 2030, following the current military programming law and 50,000 in 2035, taking into account some 7,500 young people from adapted military service and voluntary military service, integration which will continue.

The expected cost of the “National Service” (payroll, equipment, clothing, accommodation) for the period 2026-2030 is 2.3 billion euros, including 1.4 billion for infrastructure.

What missions?

There is no question of “sending our young people to Ukraine”, recalled President Emmanuel Macron. The service will take place exclusively on the national territory.

At the end of their month of classes, “they will carry out the same missions as the active army on the national territory”. They will be able to participate in Operation Sentinel, ensure the protection of military sites or even monitor maritime approaches in the semaphores located along the coast.

Depending on their qualification, recruits will also participate in supporting units and services.

What advantages?

Young people will receive a minimum monthly pay of 800 euros, will be fed and accommodated. For their travel, they will benefit from the military traffic card allowing a 75% reduction on trains.

With this gap year, they will be able to transfer their wishes to Parcoursup and higher education juries will be “encouraged” to promote their experience. They will also be able to validate certain acquired knowledge, in the form of around 15 European ECTS training credits.

The balance received will not be included in the evaluation of resources for obtaining scholarships.

After the service

At the end of the service, the young people are automatically transferred to the so-called second level operational reserve. This provides for the provision of five days per year for five years if necessary.

They will also be able to commit to the first level operational reserve which should reach 80,000 people in 2030, compared to 47,000 currently.

It will always be possible to join the active army without going through national service or the reserves.