Volunteering in the military
Verified 02 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You are a French national and you want to learn 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). We present you with the information you need to know.
Volunteering in the armed forces allows young people of French nationality 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
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
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
Marine - APER (antennae for reservist employment)
APER
Toulon
dpmm-pm3-aper-toulon.accueil.fct@def.gouv.fr
Brest
dpmm-pm3-aper-brest.contact.fct@def.gouv.fr
Paris
aper-paris.cmi.fct@intradef.gouv.fr
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
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Army
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for one minimum duration of 3 months.
You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to the duration of your contract.
The length of your trial period is one of the following:
- 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
- 1 month for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 3 months for a 1-year contract
- 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year
The trial period is renewable once, for health reasons or lack of training.
The trial period may also be extended if defense security so requires. In this case, the test period may not exceed one of the following periods:
- 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
- 3 months for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 9 months for a 1-year contract
- 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year
FYI
The military authority or you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.
National Navy
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for one minimum duration of 3 months.
You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to the duration of your contract.
The length of your trial period is one of the following:
- 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
- 1 month for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 3 months for a 1-year contract
- 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year
The trial period is renewable once, for health reasons or lack of training.
The trial period may also be extended if defense security so requires. In this case, the test period may not exceed one of the following periods:
- 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
- 3 months for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 9 months for a 1-year contract
- 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year
FYI
The military authority or you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.
Air Force
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for one minimum duration of 3 months.
You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to the duration of your contract.
The length of your trial period is one of the following:
- 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
- 1 month for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 3 months for a 1-year contract
- 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year
The trial period is renewable once, for health reasons or lack of training.
The trial period may also be extended if defense security so requires. In this case, the test period may not exceed one of the following periods:
- 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
- 3 months for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 9 months for a 1-year contract
- 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year
FYI
The military authority or you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.
National Gendarmerie
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for one minimum duration of 3 months.
You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to the duration of your contract.
The length of your trial period is one of the following:
- 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
- 1 month for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 3 months for a 1-year contract
- 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year
The trial period is renewable once, for health reasons or lack of training.
The trial period may also be extended if defense security so requires. In this case, the test period may not exceed one of the following periods:
- 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
- 3 months for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 9 months for a 1-year contract
- 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year
FYI
The military authority or you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.
Army Health Service
As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This contract is for one minimum duration of 3 months.
You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to the duration of your contract.
The length of your trial period is one of the following:
- 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
- 1 month for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 3 months for a 1-year contract
- 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year
The trial period is renewable once, for health reasons or lack of training.
The trial period may also be extended if defense security so requires. In this case, the test period may not exceed one of the following periods:
- 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
- 3 months for a contract of 4 months or more but less than 1 year
- 9 months for a 1-year contract
- 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year
FYI
The military authority or you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.
Military Volunteer Scheme and Balances
As a volunteer, you are subject to the general discipline regulations in the military.
These regulations set out the common disciplinary rights and duties of all military personnel.
You are also subject to military leave.
You receive a monthly balance.
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.
If you want to renew your contract, you must renew it written request.
You must contact the service with which the registration was made.
You must meet a deadline which depends on the duration of your contract.
This period is one of the following:
- at least 1 month before the end if your contract is less than 1 year
- at least 3 months before the end if your contract is for 1 year or more
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.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Army - Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (Cirfa)
Marine - APER (antennae for reservist employment)
APER
Toulon
dpmm-pm3-aper-toulon.accueil.fct@def.gouv.fr
Brest
dpmm-pm3-aper-brest.contact.fct@def.gouv.fr
Paris
aper-paris.cmi.fct@intradef.gouv.fr
- Air Force - Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (AFRIC)
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
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense