French Military Struggles to Attract Young Recruits Amid Low Interest

Pascal Liénard, from the Information and Recruitment Center of the Armed Forces, and other representatives of the various corps are watching for applicants in Mantes-la-Jolie but they are very few on Saturday, October 19, reports Le Parisien.

Yet the operation is taking place just a stone’s throw from the imposing Val-Fourré district, where the unemployment rate exceeds 25%. "It’s sometimes difficult, we had few people during a similar operation organized in Sartrouville," confides a soldier.

This state of affairs is explained by the lack of interest that more young people have for the army.

"Killing people, shooting at men, even terrorists, doesn’t appeal to me. And then I’d be too afraid of being the pawn of a political strategy that goes beyond me," says Mohamed, a French high school student met on the spot.

He prefers to go to a grande école next year. Same tune from a 17-year-old young man.

Faced with this lack of interest, the Ministry of Defense is banking on partnerships with AFPA training centers. The aim for these centers will be to help enlist the youngest in the army by providing them with technical skills.