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France to launch new voluntary military service amid security concerns
Paris, November 27, 2025 – French President Emmanuel Macron is set to unveil a new voluntary military service in the Alps on Thursday, designed to strengthen the armed forces and respond to heightened security concerns, particularly related to Russia.
The program will replace the Universal National Service (SNU), launched in 2019 for 15-to-17-year-olds, which never reached nationwide implementation and is now considered unsuitable given current geopolitical threats. The new initiative will target adult volunteers, both men and women, and will be more militarized and longer in duration than the SNU’s 12-day cohesion stays.
Macron emphasized that the program is voluntary, stating that it is not intended to send French youth to Ukraine, following controversial remarks by Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon. The new service aims to create a reservoir of personnel who can be mobilized in case of crisis, contributing to national defense while promoting youth engagement.
The rollout will be gradual, with initial cohorts of 2,000–3,000 participants, eventually expanding to 50,000 annually. The service is expected to last around ten months, with participants receiving a modest stipend. Existing voluntary programs, including the Voluntary Military Service (SMV) and the Adapted Military Service (SMA) in overseas territories, will continue alongside the new initiative.
While some parties argue the program addresses genuine strategic risks, others, including France Insoumise, criticize the focus on uncertain threats, advocating instead for initiatives addressing climate change and social priorities. Comparisons have been drawn to models in Norway and other European countries that have maintained or reinstated conscription or voluntary military services to ensure national preparedness.