France Launches New Voluntary Military Service Named After Resistance Hero Henri Fertet

On September 15, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron officially inaugurated the country’s new voluntary national military service, marking a significant shift in France's approach to national service. The first class of volunteers was baptized in honor of Henri Fertet, a resistance fighter executed by the Nazis in 1943, symbolizing a tribute to “those heroes who contributed to saving France.”

This new voluntary military service replaces the universal national service (SNU) that had been one of the major initiatives of Macron’s presidency. According to Jean-Marc Vigilant, an associate researcher at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) and a former air force general, the transition represents a strategic evolution in France’s national defense policy.

The voluntary service aims to foster a renewed spirit of patriotism and civic engagement among young French citizens, while honoring the legacy of heroic figures from France’s resistance history. By naming the first group after Henri Fertet, the government underlines the importance of dedication and sacrifice that defined such resistance fighters during World War II.

President Macron's decision to end the universal national service and launch this new program reflects a realignment towards a more specialized and voluntary commitment to national defense. The inauguration event was marked by a symbolic ceremony that highlighted both remembrance and the future of France’s military engagement through its youth.

This initiative is expected to impact the lives of many young French volunteers by providing them with military training as well as a strong sense of national identity and responsibility. It also represents a landmark moment in France's ongoing efforts to modernize its military and civic institutions.