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What is Voluntary Military Service?

Verified 09 November 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Voluntary Military Service (VMS) allows unemployed youth aged 18-25 to learn a trade or gain work experience.

It is a military scheme aimed at young foreigners (from France or France) aged 18 to 25 who are excluded from the labor force.

FYI  

Adaptive Military Service (ADM) is a vocational integration scheme reserved for unemployed young people from overseas.

  • You must meet the following conditions:
  • You are between the ages of 18 and 25
  • You are a French national
  • You reside in the metropolis or abroad
  • You're in good standing with the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC)
  • You're physically fit

No diploma is required to enter the device.

However, your situation varies depending on your degree level:

  • No degree: you are trainee volunteer
  • CAP degree or more: you are expert volunteer

FYI  

the content of the training and the level of remuneration vary depending on whether you are a volunteer trainee or an expert.

Military training

You receive basic military training and sports activities.

Driving licenses and additional training

The following courses are offered:

  • Driving license
  • First aid training

You can also benefit from a school upgrade.

Vocational training

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Trainee Volunteer

You receive training in the trade you choose.

Many jobs are offered, including:

  • Personal services
  • Restore
  • CONSTRUCTION
  • Transport/logistics
  • Security
  • Agriculture
  • Agri-food
  • Electricity
  • Metallurgy

Training lasts up to 400 hours.

Expert Volunteer

You benefit from a 1re professional experience, for example in the following fields:

  • Supervision of a team of trainee volunteers
  • Driving monitor

Please note

you benefit from intensive job-search preparation.

You must complete an application by one of the following means:

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Online application

You can choose one of the 7 centers present in the metropolis.

You must apply to the center for which you wish to apply.

You can use the following online service:

Online Volunteer Military Service Application

Paper file

You can choose one of the centers present in the metropolis.

You must send your application to the center for which you wish to apply:

Montigny-lès-Metz (Moselle)

You can download the application package:

SMV application - Centers de Montigny-lès-Metz and Châlons-en-Champagne

Center of Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne)

You can download the application package:

SMV application - Centers de Montigny-lès-Metz and Châlons-en-Champagne

Brétigny-sur-Orge (Essonne)

You can download the application package:

SMV application file - Center de Brétigny-sur-Orge

Center de La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)

You can download the application package:

SMV application file - Center de La Rochelle

Ambérieu-en-Bugey (Ain)

You can download the application package:

SMV application file - Center d'Ambérieu-en-Bugey

Center of Brest (Finistère)

You can download the application package:

SMV application file - Center de Brest

Center of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)

You can download the application package:

SMV application file - Center de Marseille

You can also contact Pôle emploi or the local mission near your home.

Who shall I contact

The selection of volunteers is based on the following criteria:

  • Medical visit
  • Motivation
  • Route chosen by the applicant

FYI  

if you are pre-selected, you must take an aptitude test and an interview.

You are taken care of throughout the SMV (accommodation, food, uniform).

You receive a salary (balance) based on your situation:

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Trainee Volunteer

Your balance is at least €345 gross per month.

Expert Volunteer

Your balance is €745 per month.

Please note

you benefit from the SNCF military discount card.

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Trainee Volunteer

8 to 12 months

Expert Volunteer

The contract lasts 1 year.

It is renewable 4 times.

Online Volunteer Military Service Application

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