In November 2025, President Emmanuel Macron introduced the service national, a voluntary military service for French citizens aimed at strengthening national unity, enhancing resilience, and improving the skills of young people. The program selects participants based on their age, qualifications, and needs of the armed forces. After a thorough review process—including a file check, interview, medical exam, and security screening—the recruits are assigned to serve for ten months, which counts as a year of study break. About 80% of participants are aged 18 to 19, while the remaining 20% have specialized skills such as engineering, data analysis, or nursing and may serve until age 25 with the rank of aspirant, the lowest officer rank. This year, the Ministry of the Armed Forces selected 3,000 young recruits, with training beginning in September. These recruits are divided among the Army (1,800), Navy (600), and Air and Space Force (600). The long-term goal is to reach 10,000 recruits annually by 2030, and 42,500 by 2035. This includes those already participating in existing voluntary military service programs. However, due to the sale of many barracks after the end of mandatory conscription, the service is currently limited to 70 training sites, with future investments planned to expand capacity. The cost for the program from 2026 to 2030 is estimated at 2.3 billion euros, with 1.4 billion allocated for infrastructure and 100 million euros planned for 2026 alone. Participants in the service national will not be deployed on foreign missions. Instead, they will serve exclusively on French soil, supporting military operations such as the Sentinel mission, protecting military installations, or monitoring maritime approaches along the coast. Based on their skills—such as logistics, cooking, engineering, or translation—recruits will assist in various military support roles. During their service, they receive a monthly salary of 800 euros, along with food, housing, and a 75% discount on train travel. They can also defer university applications through Parcoursup, and university admissions committees are encouraged to consider their experience. Additionally, they may earn around 15 European credit points (ECTS) for their training, which can be applied toward higher education. However, their salary will not count toward scholarship eligibility. After completing their service, participants are automatically placed in the second-level operational reserve, which requires them to be available for five days a year for five years if needed. They can also choose to join the first-level operational reserve, which the government aims to expand to 80,000 people by 2030, up from the current 47,000. Importantly, individuals can still join the active military without participating in the service national or the reserve. This new initiative represents a significant shift in France’s approach to military engagement and youth development, integrating national service into both civilian and military life.