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:
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:
Center de La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
You can download the application package:
Ambérieu-en-Bugey (Ain)
You can download the application package:
Center of Brest (Finistère)
You can download the application package:
Center of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
You can download the application package:
You can also contact Pôle emploi or the local mission near your home.
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.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Online service
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Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense