Overview
- The programme begins in mid-2026 with an initial intake of about 3,000 volunteers drawn mainly from 18- and 19-year-olds.
- Volunteers will earn at least €800 per month with room and board and a 75% rail discount, and they will serve only on French territory.
- A smaller, skills-based track allows sign-ups up to age 25, creating a third tier alongside roughly 200,000 active personnel and 47,000 reservists.
- Officials outline a gradual scale-up targeting 10,000 volunteers per year by 2030 with ambitions to reach tens of thousands over the decade.
- The Observer reports a €2bn rollout as Macron and military leaders cite the Russian threat, with polling showing broad support for service but far lower willingness among eligible young men.