Macron honors WWII resistance fighter to lead military service cohorts
Macron honors WWII resistance martyr by naming first military service cohort after him.
Event / Politics
France National Military Service
Emmanuel Macron announces the launch of France's new voluntary national military service program, starting with 3,000 young people aged 18-25 in 2025. The program includes one month of initial training followed by nine months of military assignment, with plans to expand to 10,000 volunteers by 2030.
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2026-09-15 to 2026-11-05 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 15 Sept, 15:16 UTC
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What happened
French military service achieves approximately 30% female participation rate
The Élysée reports that candidates responded in large numbers for the first year of the national military service, allowing for satisfactory selection levels. The feminization rate reached approximately 30%, which is slightly above the average rate across French armed forces.
New French national military service launched with 3,000 volunteers in 2026
Emmanuel Macron launched a new voluntary national military service in November 2025. The first year targets 3,000 volunteers aged 18-25 who will receive approximately 800 euros per month if selected. The service consists of one month of initial training covering discipline, weapons handling, and formation, followed by nine months of assignment within the three military branches and support services.
French national military service targets progressive increase to 10,000 volunteers by 2030
According to the Élysée, the national military service will gradually expand from 3,000 volunteers in 2026 to 4,000 in 2027, 5,000 in 2028, 7,500 in 2029, and 10,000 in 2030. This progressive increase is explained by the need to develop infrastructure to accommodate the volunteers. A dedicated budget of 2.3 billion euros was allocated in the military programming law adopted in summer 2025.
Emmanuel Macron names Henri Fertet, WWII resistance fighter, to first national military service cohort
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the first cohort of the new national military service will be named after Henri Fertet, a French resistance fighter who was executed by Germans at age 16 in 1943. Macron made the announcement on Tuesday at Air Base 115 in Orange, Vaucluse, while addressing the first group of military service volunteers.
Henri Fertet executed by Nazis after 87 days of torture in 1943
Henri Fertet was born on October 27, 1926, and was a high school student in Besançon described as an intelligent and diligent pupil with passion for history and archaeology. He joined the French Resistance in summer 1942 and participated in three operations, including an attack on a German customs commissioner. He was arrested, tortured for 87 days, sentenced to death, and executed by firing squad on September 26, 1943.
Future national military service cohorts to be named after Companions of the Liberation
Emmanuel Macron announced that each future cohort of the national military service will be named after a Companion of the Liberation, members of the order created by Charles de Gaulle to honor French resistance heroes during World War II. The order has 1,038 members, approximately 100 of whom were under 20 years old at the start of World War II.
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2 alternative perspectives
France launches military service with 3,000 volunteers, targeting 10,000 by 2030
France launches military service in 2026 with 3,000 volunteers, scaling to 10,000 by 2030, with 30% female participation.