Volunteering in the military
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You are French and you want to introduce yourself to the profession of arms and defense? Volunteering in the military allows you to commit for a period of 1 year. You can serve in the Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Gendarmerie or Army Health Service. You receive a monthly balance and benefits in kind (meals, transport).
Volunteering in the armed forces allows young French people to learn the profession of arms and defense.
You will join one of the following armies:
- Army
- National Navy
- National Gendarmerie
- Air Force
- Army Health Service
The duration of the commitment is 1 year.
As a volunteer, you receive a monthly salary (i.e. remuneration) and you can advance in grade, subject to conditions.
Access to volunteering in the military is selective.
It depends on the following:
- Number of posts proposed
- Physical tests
- Academic competencies (depending on the position proposed) for aspirants
If you are unsure about your military vocation, you can ask to go through a period of volunteering before signing a contract Voluntary Service in the Armed Forces.
Only the engagement contract will make you a professional soldier.
Please note
if you are under 25 years of age, the Voluntary Military Service (VMS) provides you with training or work experience.
To volunteer in the military, you must meet the following 5 conditions:
- Have the French nationality
- Have at least 17 years and not more than 26 years on the date of the application
- Be recognized as physically and medically fit
- To have made the defense and citizenship day
- Have no convictions on the criminal record bulletin no. 2
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Army
You must register by contacting the Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (AFRIC).
Who shall I contact
National Navy
To register, you must contact an Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (AFRIC).
Who shall I contact
Air Force
To register, you must contact an Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (AFRIC).
Who shall I contact
National Gendarmerie
To register, you must contact the National Gendarmerie.
You must meet conditions and to take part in selection tests.
Who shall I contact
- Recruitment in the gendarmerie
The application must be submitted to the reserve cell of the department concerned.
By E-mail
Access to contact form
On the spot
To a gendarme unit or a gendarmerie information and recruitment centre
Army Health Service
To apply, you must contact the Military Reserve Outreach and Training Section (SeRFRéM) of the Army Health Service closest to you.
Who shall I contact
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Army
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for a period of 1 year.
You are subject to a trial period of 3 months (renewable once).
The military authority or you can terminate your contract without notice during the trial period.
If you want to renew your contract, you must make a written request 1 month before the end of the contract with the service where the registration was made.
National Navy
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for a period of 1 year.
You are subject to a trial period of 3 months (renewable once).
The military authority or you can terminate your contract without notice during the trial period.
If you want to renew your contract, you must make a written request 1 month before the end of the contract with the service where the registration was made.
Air Force
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for a period of 1 year.
You are subject to a trial period of 3 months (renewable once).
The military authority or you can terminate your contract without notice during the trial period.
If you want to renew your contract, you must make a written request 1 month before the end of the contract with the service where the registration was made.
National Gendarmerie
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Interior.
This contract is for a period of 1 year.
You are subject to a trial period of 3 months (renewable once).
The military authority or you can terminate your contract without notice during the trial period.
If you want to renew your contract, you must make a written request 1 month before the end of the contract with the service where the registration was made.
Army Health Service
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for a period of 1 year.
You are subject to a trial period of 3 months, renewable once.
The military authority or you can terminate your contract without notice during the trial period.
If you want to renew your contract, you must make a written request 1 month before the end of the contract with the service where the registration was made.
Military Volunteering Scheme
As a volunteer, you are subject to the general discipline regulations in the military.
These regulations set out the common discipline rights and duties of all military personnel.
You are also subject to military leave.
You receive a monthly balance.
Grades | Monthly balance |
|---|---|
Soldier | €743.54 |
Corporal | €771.81 |
Master Corporal | €814.09 |
Sergeant | €856.52 |
Aspirant | €880.04 |
FYI
As a volunteer with the force, you also receive a special allowance.
As a volunteer, you also benefit from various benefits in kind (meals, transport).
Advancement of the Army Volunteer
As a volunteer, you initially enlist as a soldier.
You can then be promoted to the rank of sergeant.
You can be appointed to the rank of aspirant if you have taken training.
Please note
As a volunteer, you can get the validation of experience (VAE) for your experience during volunteering.
Early termination of contract
Your volunteering contract ends before its end in the following cases:
- Professional Engagement in the Armies
- Reason for health
- Disciplinary grounds
- Loss of French nationality
FYI
you can request the early termination of your contract in writing.
Integration of the operational reserve
If you volunteer until the end of your contract, you can then join the operational reserve.
FAQ
- Army Operational ReserveService-Public.fr
- Volunteering in the National GendarmerieMinistry of the Interior
- Decree of 19 April 2022 on the recruitment of volunteers in the armies serving in the national gendarmerieMinistry of the Interior
- Volunteering in the National NavyMinistry of Defense
- Discover the Air ForceMinistry of Defense
- Volunteering in the Army Health ServiceMinistry of Defense
- Recruiting into the militaryMinistry of Defense