Emmanuel Macron Unveils New Voluntary Military National Service for French Youth

On November 27, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a new voluntary military national service aimed at French youth aged 18 to 19. The program, launching in summer 2026, is designed to bolster national defense and strengthen ties between the military and young citizens. Initially, 3,000 volunteers will participate, with the goal of reaching 10,000 annually by 2030 and up to 50,000 by 2035.

The service will last ten months, consisting of one month of initial training followed by nine months serving within military units. Participants will receive a monthly stipend of at least 800 euros, including housing, meals, and equipment. Importantly, the service is strictly national, with no deployments abroad or in conflict zones such as Ukraine. In exceptional circumstances of major crisis, Parliament may authorize compulsory service, but the initiative is primarily voluntary.

This new military national service replaces the previous universal national service (SNU) targeting younger teens, which lacked broad uptake since its 2019 introduction. The shift to a purely military and voluntary model reflects evolving strategic priorities after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The program's budget is estimated at 2.3 billion euros for 2026 to 2030, funded through an updated military programming law.

Macron emphasized that this initiative contributes to developing a "new model army" by integrating youth into national defense efforts, reinforcing resilience amid rising security threats. The service is managed by the Ministry of Armed Forces, with recruitment numbers guided by military leadership needs. Macron highlighted the importance of preparedness in "a world where strength prevails over law."