Voluntary military service returns

FRANCE is experimenting with the return of voluntary military service, in a new project aimed at young people aged 18-25 who lack qualifications and job prospects.

The experiment runs for two years, starting this month. Three special centres will be set up for training in the Moselle, Essonne and Charente-Maritime.

Participants will receive between six and 12 months of civic and military training, including first aid, physical exercise and learning to drive.

Professional training will also be offered, to improve the volunteers' chances of finding a job afterwards. They will receive €313 per month plus food, clothing and accommodation.

Compulsory military service was scrapped in France 19 years ago.

An opinion poll in January found four in five French people are in favour of bringing back some form of national service following the Paris terror attacks.

Among the key reasons given in the poll were "the need for a more powerful integration tool", "bringing together people from different social backgrounds" and "transmitting French republican values".