President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Orange on Tuesday, September 15, to meet the first group of volunteers participating in the new national military service, a program that replaces the previous universal national service (SNU). This change comes amid growing concerns about external threats and aims to make military service more appealing. Macron will visit the 115th Air Base in Orange (Vaucluse) to greet the first volunteers, who are expected to number 3,000 by November, with the goal of reaching 10,000 by 2030 and 42,500 by 2035. Unlike the previous civilian-focused SNU, the new program involves military training for ten months. While it is based on voluntary participation, it resembles the military service that was abolished by former President Jacques Chirac in 1997. Macron emphasized the need for a purely military service in response to increasing global challenges, stating in November that such a program could engage an entire generation. The new service is open to individuals aged 18 to 25, regardless of gender or educational background, and is supported by a budget of 2.3 billion euros under the military programming law passed this summer. The air force will recruit 600 individuals from the first 3,000 volunteers, who will live at an air base for ten months. Volunteers can apply online directly to the Armed Forces, through a Center for Information and Recruitment of the Armed Forces (Cirfa), or during the Mobilization Day, previously known as the Day of Defense and Citizenship. After a month of training, participants will serve for nine months either in France or overseas. They will not be deployed to conflict zones or abroad, but will support the army in its daily operations. Volunteers may bring specialized skills to their roles. Recruits receive a gross monthly salary of 800 euros, which is non-taxable, and are provided with food, housing, and a military SNCF card offering a 75% discount on train travel. Additionally, scholarship recipients are exempt from taxes during their service. This new national military service aims to strengthen France's defense capabilities while offering young people an alternative path to contribute to national security.