What is Voluntary Military Service?

Verified 05 June 2024 - 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.

The SMV is a military device intended for young foreigners in France.

FYI  

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

You must meet all of 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

FYI  

You can also benefit from a school upgrade.

Vocational training

Training depends on your situation:

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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

The training lasts an average of 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:

Apply online for volunteer military 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:

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 France Travail (formerly 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

If you are preselected, you must complete the following 2 steps:

  • Proficiency test
  • Interview

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

You're touching a remuneration (balance) depending 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

The contract lasts for 8 to 12 months.

Expert Volunteer

The contract lasts 1 year.

It is renewable 4 times.

Depending on your situation, you can acquire, in successive stages, the following qualifications:

  • Certificate of citizenship training
  • General training certificate (recognized by the National Education)
  • Key Certificate
  • Military Driving License (converted to B license)
  • Labor Rescuer Certificate
  • Certificate of vocational training
  • Certificate of personal employability

Apply online for volunteer military service

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