The National Guard

The National Guard was created in 1789 and has been, since 2016, the sum of operational reserves. It is composed of reservists from the Interior and Armed Forces ministries. In total, there are 76,000 French citizens who protect the French and strengthen national cohesion. Volunteers, they decide, alongside their civilian lives, to act in service of Nation protection by committing themselves. There are nearly 7,000 reservists present in the field daily.

The National Guard  has become an essential actor in the protection of our country and above all allows responding to a thirst for commitment. It is composed of 10 different operational reserves that we will present below.

  

Summary:

• The Army
• The Air Force
• The French Navy
• The National Gendarmerie
• The National Police
• The armed forces health service
• The General Directorate of Armament (DGA)
• The Defense Infrastructure Service (DIS)
• The armed forces commissariat service
• The armed forces fuel service
• A news update

  

 

The operational reservists of the Army are trained, drilled and equipped to fulfill the same missions as active military personnel in order to provide operational reinforcement. Their employment allows for regaining a certain room for maneuver by providing additional personnel during peak activity periods. Furthermore, reservists also bring personal knowledge that can be valuable assistance to active military personnel (legal, computer skills, etc.). For more than 5 years, the number of reservists engaged on national territory for defense and security missions has more than doubled.

  

The operational reservists of the Air Force are trained to contribute to missions as part-time military personnel. They can be assigned various missions within the framework of national territory protection. The permanent protection of national airspace, but also that of combat systems and military and civilian sites. Additionally, they can also participate in the VIGIPIRATE plan for example. 

They can also be mobilized in civil emergency and population rescue plans.

 

  

Operational reservists contribute to the protection of facilities and naval units, to coastal surveillance and to naval control of commercial traffic. According to their individual skills, reservists can be assigned to specific areas: diver, cyber defense, etc.

Navy reservists can be assigned throughout metropolitan and overseas territories, and may even be called upon to join external operations.

  

Gendarmerie reservists contribute directly, alongside their active colleagues, to security production (ensuring the protection of people and property, providing intelligence, alerting, providing assistance). Generally, they are called upon to temporarily reinforce gendarmerie units close to their homes. National Gendarmerie reservists fully participate in missions serving the population.

   

  

The voluntary civilian reserve of the National Police has evolved considerably in recent years. From its creation, it was only intended for Police retirees. Since March 2011, the reserve has become accessible to all volunteer citizens from 18 years old.

  

The reservists present in this organization are mainly from the healthcare field. They are called upon to work either within one of the 17 armed forces medical centers in France, within the 8 armed forces teaching hospitals, in a medical supply establishment or at the biomedical research institute.

   

  

They provide their scientific and technical expertise, in support or as reinforcement primarily to DGA teams, but also to other armed forces or attached formations.

  

Whether they are advisors or experts, the 200 reservists provide support and adaptation of armed forces infrastructure, directorates and services on French territory, in the overseas departments and territories and abroad, as well as support for the stationing of forces in external operations.

   

  

This service aims to provide its skills in purchasing, auditing, law, financial law, management, supply chain, etc., in military missions within a unit, staff or service.

  

Their role is the supply of all petroleum products essential to force support. Responsible for terminal distribution, they operate at all times and in all circumstances.

   

  

The 2020 edition of reservists' days takes place from October 10 to November 12 on the following themes: Proud to be reservists and Proud of our reservists. The objective of these days is to foster meetings between the general public and the operational reservists of the national guard to facilitate exchanges and understanding of their field engagement. Throughout the territory, businesses, educational institutions as well as certain local administrations will set up activities to understand the role of the National Guard. The program includes sports activities, meetings, testimonials, but also military ceremonies to highlight the commitment of reservists. If you want to know the exact locations and dates of scheduled meetings and activities, don't hesitate to contact your local units! 

  

Photo credit garde-national.gouv