Military: National recruitment campaign launched

On Monday, January 12, the national service recruitment campaign was officially launched. The President of the Republic, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, announced the introduction of national service starting in September 2026. The Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs is responsible for implementing this program. The aim of the project is to encourage young citizens to "serve in uniform" and to "strengthen the bond between the armed forces and the nation, contribute to the resilience of the nation, and consolidate the training of young French people by directly responding to the operational needs of the armed forces."
This national service is exclusively military. It is aimed at young people aged 18 to 25 who volunteer to serve in the armed forces on national territory. It is selective because it is designed to meet the needs of the armed forces; applications will therefore be assessed in terms of employment opportunities. It will last ten months, including one month of initial military training, followed, for Martinique, by nine months of service in the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment (33rd RIMa) for 2026. The Fort-de-France naval base will welcome its first volunteers from 2027.
Guadeloupe will not receive any national service conscripts in 2026, as no employment opportunities have been identified.
Each young volunteer will be provided with accommodation and meals and will receive a salary of around €800 per month for the duration of their service.
The "entry points" for applying are the mobilization day (formerly known as Defense and Citizenship Day or JDC), the army information and recruitment centers (CIRFA), the army recruitment sites, and the "Défense +" app.