Military Reservists

The military reserve is composed of volunteers, from civilian or military backgrounds. Reservists participate in preparing the Nation for potential serious crises that could disrupt citizens' daily lives.

Summary:

• Becoming a military reservist
•  Obligations and rights of the military reservist

The military reserve consists of two branches: the operational reserve and the citizen reserve. Within the operational reserve, the reservist can enlist in the gendarmerie, army, air force and navy. The citizen reserve consists of volunteers, with no age requirement, whose role is to communicate and raise awareness among the public on subjects related to national defense.

The conditions to become a reservist are:

• Be a volunteer and at least 17 years old

• Be of French nationality

• Be in compliance with national service obligations

• Possess all required aptitudes

• Not have been convicted either of loss of civil rights or prohibition from exercising public employment, or of a criminal sentence, or of dismissal or loss of rank under the conditions provided by the military justice code.

• Have completed national service or the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC)

Enlisted for a period of 1 to 5 years renewable, the reservist performs the same missions as active military personnel and can participate in external operations.

The missions that reservists carry out consist of:

• Provide temporary reinforcement to the armed forces, particularly for the protection of national territory (Sentinelle, Vigipirate) and in operations conducted abroad;

• Participate in the daily service of units (surveillance patrols, search operations, public security missions or anti-crime operations...);

• Assist disaster-stricken populations during natural, accidental or man-made catastrophes;

•  Provide expertise in areas where the army has specific needs.

He can be absent up to 60 days from his job for periods when he serves in the reserve. He must obtain the employer's agreement if activities exceed five days per year. The reservist's absence cannot be deducted from paid leave and he cannot be dismissed for this reason.

He must serve:

• 30 days per calendar year minimum and up to 60 days maximum to meet the needs of the armed forces

• 150 days in case of necessity related to force deployment

• 210 days for positions of national or international significance.

The reservist receives, under the same conditions as active military personnel, pay and allowances. He may also receive a loyalty bonus as well as potentially other incentive measures.

The military reserve is part of a continuous pathway that begins with defense education, continues with participation in registration and the defense and citizenship day (JDC) and culminates in a potential commitment to serve in the reserve.

Training and instruction vary according to the branch chosen.

If you are interested, you can register here: Military Reserve