{"id":112175,"date":"2025-04-22T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/service-militaire-renove-une-perspective-credible\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T09:48:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T08:48:28","slug":"service-militaire-renove-une-perspective-credible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/service-militaire-renove-une-perspective-credible\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewed military service: a credible prospect?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Faced with the challenge to the international order, Germany has reintroduced a form of military service[1]<\/a><\/sup> and the UK is considering following suit. This subject has become a major political issue in France. How credible would a comeback to military service be today, and in what form?<\/h6>\n

The return of the idea of military service in political circles presents an opportunity for the armed forces. Conscription may seem outdated, but a renewed, innovative military service could help meet new operational needs. The real challenge is to make it credible among young people. Breaking with the conscription model that France experienced in the 20th<\/sup> century is a necessary condition.<\/p>\n

The myth of compulsory military service: an image that needs to be overcome to make the return of a form of conscription credible<\/h2>\n

National service: between myth and reality<\/h3>\n

Faced with the challenge of defending the nation, the Jourdan law of 1798 instituted conscription, which was soon based on the principle of drawing lots. Under the First Empire, Napoleon drew nearly three million conscripts from the nation, permanently weakening French demographics. Throughout the 19th<\/sup> century, only a small number of citizens were selected by lot for military service. It was then possible for the wealthiest to pay for a replacement. As a result, conscription became unequal. It was not until 1905 that the Third Republic established national service for all, with no exceptions.<\/p>\n

In its report on the 1996 Finance Bill<\/a>, the French Senate pointed out the inequalities and called for a reform of national service. In 1994, there were only 262,226 conscripts, 22,365 of whom did civilian service, out of an age group of almost 800,000 young people. Little by little, military service lost its meaning. In 1914, it enabled an army of almost 3.8 million men to be raised. A turning point came after the contingent was sent to Algeria. The conscription of soldiers outside France became a taboo subject for the French. The refusal to send conscripts to the Gulf War in 1991 signalled the end of the usefulness of conscription. So there was a shift from the operational usefulness of military service to an educational dimension that made it possible to justify conscription. But in 1996, a Senate report <\/a>showed that 81% of illiterate people in a given age group were exempt from military service. The educational virtues attributed to military service seem to belong more to the national novel than to reality.<\/p>\n

Service to the nation is still present today<\/h3>\n

Today, the armed forces employ and train a significant proportion of France\u2019s young people through a wide range of schemes. For example, 41,000 young people[2]<\/a><\/sup> are recruited each year, representing around 5% of a given age group. In addition to these figures, there is also recruitment by the gendarmerie and the police. In all, 60,000 young people[3]<\/a><\/sup> serve the nation in uniform every year. Add to this the 88,000 civic service volunteers<\/a>[4]<\/a><\/sup> and there are almost 148,000 young people serving the nation every year. While this figure is lower than that for national service in 1995, it still represents almost 20% of an age group. The development of the second phase of the universal national service (SNU), which is a \u201ctime of service to the nation\u201d, will probably increase the commitment of young French people.<\/p>\n

Generation Z, a resourceful generation<\/h3>\n

Implementing a change always requires acceptance by the decision-makers, but it also has to be acceptable and credible to the men and women affected by the reform. The young people concerned do not have a strong sense of national belonging (29%),[5]<\/a><\/sup> but they do have strong territorial roots. The main concerns of Generation Z are collective issues.[6]<\/a><\/sup> These young people are more altruistic than their elders, which raises questions about their low level of support for the idea of belonging to the national community. This paradox can be explained by the confusion that sometimes exists between patriotism and nationalism. This does not mean that young people are opposed to the idea of \u201cnationhood\u201d, quite the contrary. In fact, a large majority of this generation (63%),[7]<\/a><\/sup>, say they would fight for their country if it came under attack. While generation Z is not opposed to a new form of military service, the idea now needs to be accepted by the armed forces.<\/p>\n

The need for mass and depth: is conscription a coherent and credible solution? On what model?<\/h2>\n

Models to watch<\/h3>\n

In the two decades following the Cold War, most of European countries stopped using conscription to meet their defence needs. Only Finland, Greece and Estonia retained military service, which was compulsory for men and voluntary for women. Switzerland and Austria have also maintained compulsory military or civic service, but their neutrality gives them a special status.<\/p>\n

The return of a realistic vision of international relations, generating contestation and the uninhibited use of force to settle disputes, has changed the European geopolitical paradigm. Latvia and Poland have decided to reintroduce military service in 2022. In the first year of its introduction, almost 16,000 young Poles have answered the call. This \u201cbasic voluntary military service\u201d is based on 28 days\u2019 initial training, after which the conscript chooses to continue with 11 months\u2019 specialised training or to join the reserves directly. Latvia, which wishes to re-establish compulsory military service, is going through a transition phase based on voluntary service in order to make the idea of conscription acceptable to young people. In 2028, every young Latvian man will be obliged to perform military service for a period of one year, with pay of 400 euros per month. In Finland, nearly 75% of men do 6 to 12 months\u2019 military service before joining the reserves. Sweden and Denmark adjust their numbers of conscripts according to the needs of their armies. Nearly 10% of young Danes do 4 to 12 months\u2019 military service. In the vast majority of European countries, the emphasis is on voluntary service. Outside Europe, faced with the threat from China, Taiwan has extended the length of its compulsory military service from 4 to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

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\n
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Something to think about<\/h3>\n

The Swedish model is particularly interesting <\/a>to study. It is a selective conscription that meets the needs of the armed forces, rather than a universal system. It is based on identifying talent and volunteering. For both the armed forces and the conscripts, it is a \u201cchosen conscription\u201d. Out of an age group of 106,000 young people, 8,000 Swedes will be doing military service <\/a>in 2025, representing almost 7.5% of the age group. For France, this would represent around 60,000 young people a year. Depending on the length of service chosen, this type of conscription seems feasible for the armed forces. Sweden has opted for a flexible model, with service lasting between 9 and 15 months. In this way, the Swedish army selects talent that is useful to its operational capability. It\u2019s more a case of \u201craising skills than raising numbers\u201d.[8]<\/a><\/sup> Initial figures show that this type of military service is very popular with young people.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n

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\n Voir aussi<\/span>\n
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\n \n International Arms Transfers<\/a>\n \n \n \n <\/use>\n<\/svg>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n
\n
25 August 2023<\/div>\n ANQUEZ Matthieu<\/a>\n
\n 5 p.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n <\/use>\n<\/svg>\n\n Signposts\n <\/a>\n Geopolitics<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n

What are the procedures for military service in France?<\/h3>\n

The introduction of a military service in France, rather than its re-creation, seems possible and will perhaps be necessary. Of course, this is a political decision that must take into account two key parameters. If it is to be accepted and acceptable, military service must meet an operational need of the armed forces[9]<\/a><\/sup> and it must be based on voluntary service.<\/p>\n

What format could be envisaged for France? A soldier\u2019s initial operational training lasts a minimum of two months,[10]<\/a><\/sup> to which must be added a period of mission in order for this service to be useful. For example, young conscripts could be assigned to a sovereignty mission for four months. For example, young French nationals carrying out military service could be sent to in French Guiana, New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Polynesia or the Spars Islands. They could also be deployed on Operation Sentinel.<\/p>\n

How many young French people should be called up? A first realistic target would be around 20,000 conscripts per year.[11]<\/a><\/sup> This would make it possible to meet the need to build up a substantial operational reserve and achieve the target of 100,000 reservists by 2030 set by the 2024-2030 military programming law<\/a>. It would then be up to the armed forces to assess their needs each year to determine the number of conscripts to be called up.<\/p>\n

At the end of their six-month service, each conscript would be obliged to serve in the reserves for a minimum of five years. With the adoption of this format, almost 7.5% of an age group would serve in the armed forces.[12]<\/a><\/sup> Of course, the introduction of such a military service would require a build-up phase lasting several years. For this new conscription to be sustainable, society would need to give conscripts social and financial recognition, the details of which would need to be defined.[13]<\/a><\/sup> The \u201cArmy Discovery Volunteer\u201d experiment could be a source of inspiration for an innovative military service. In 2024, 117 young volunteers completed a four-month period in the army, during which they were deployed on a mission to provide security for the Olympic Games. Given the success of this experiment, the aim is to recruit 300 new volunteers by 2025.<\/p>\n

The need to strengthen national cohesion is now a consensus within French society, and the SNU is an institutional response designed to try to provide a solution. Beyond this ambition, the return of military service to the forefront of the political scene is due to the virtues that are attributed to it in solving the problems associated with young people. However, this perception is based more on a form of republican myth that idealises compulsory conscription. If it is to be accepted and acceptable, renewed military service must meet an operational need and be based on voluntary service. Geopolitical developments in recent years have prompted many European countries to strengthen their conscription systems or to reintroduce them. A study of these new models shows that it is possible to create a renewed military service in France, and that this is a credible prospect for young people. However, the defence and security of the nation are not solely military issues; in a more global vision, this new conscription could form part of a national service inspired by civic service.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 <\/span>
N.B.:<\/em> this article has been translated from French by DeepL, and revised by the author and Futuribles.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. \n

    The new German military service model is based on a compulsory questionnaire (subject to a fine) to be completed by young men on their 18th<\/sup> birthday. Only those born after December 31, 2006 are affected. This document, covering their ability and willingness to serve, as well as their qualifications, is designed to identify the most motivated profiles. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    It is possible to sign an enlistment contract up to the age of 32. Every year, the armed forces recruit 26,000 young people into the active service, around 8,000 into the reserves and almost 7,000 into the adapted or voluntary military service. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The gendarmerie<\/em> and the national police recruited 12,000 and 7,000 young people respectively in 2023. Added to the 41,000 young people recruited into the armed forces that same year, 60,000 young people will have chosen the uniform in 2023. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Voluntary service lasting an average of seven months within the government or an association. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Muxel<\/span> Anne, \u201cObservatoire de la g\u00e9n\u00e9ration Z<\/a>\u201d, \u00c9tudes de l\u2019IRSEM (Institut de recherche strat\u00e9gique de l\u2019\u00c9cole militaire),<\/em> no.\u00a089, October 2021, p. 27. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Ibid,<\/em> p. 115. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Muxel<\/span> Anne, \u201cLes jeunes et la guerre. Repr\u00e9sentations et dispositions \u00e0 l\u2019engagement<\/a>\u201d, \u00c9tudes de l\u2019IRSEM,<\/em> no.\u00a0116, April 2024, p. 73. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    Remarks by Prefect Nicolas de Maistre during his hearing at the French National Assembly on the Orion 3 exercise<\/a>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    According to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces<\/a>, more than 30,000 French servicemen are engaged in operations. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    The initial general training (IGT) for professional soldiers in the army lasts 12 weeks. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    This would mean a 50% increase in the volume of initial training provided each year in the armed forces. To go beyond this would require structural reform of the armed forces, which is not desirable at the moment. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    That\u2019s 61,000 young people, recruits plus conscripts, every year. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    Conscripts would receive pay during their service. Reservists who are up to date with their service could receive an additional half-tax credit. French nationals who have done their military service could be authorised to wear their uniform for the 11 November and 8 May ceremonies. ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits could also be awarded. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Faced with the challenge to the international order, Germany has reintroduced a form of military service[1] and the UK is considering following suit. This subject has become a major political issue in France. How credible would a comeback to military service be today, and in what form? The return of the idea of military service … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":110282,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[203,212],"keyword":[952,2548,884,859,906,880],"class_list":["post-112175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswatch","tag-geopolitique-en","tag-societe-en","keyword-forces-armees-en","keyword-army","keyword-politique-de-defense-en","keyword-france-en","keyword-guerre-en","keyword-jeunesse-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112175"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121694,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112175\/revisions\/121694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112175"},{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=112175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}