France to roll out "voluntary" military service for marginalized youthsFrance's President François Hollande has announced a new voluntary service for marginalized youths, in a bid to help them to increase their employment potential. Participants will learn basic skills such as puntuality and politeness.
With France still healing after the Paris terror attacks in January and with unemployment levels continuing to rise, President Hollande has gone on the offensive in a bid to give French youths a fresh start to life while potentially expanding the armed forces. He announced a plan to introduce three volunteer service locations for young adults, aged between 18 and 25, who have either dropped out of school or who come from troubled families.
The service, which will run for either six months or one year, would involve training in civilian industries like hospitality and the building trade, as well as the more basic skills, all while living under military discipline. The concept has been developped in France's overseas territories in recent decades.
President Hollande has pledged not to seek reelection in 2017 if he does not succeed to reverse the ever-increasing rate of unemployment. Other French politicians have called for the reintroduction of compulsory military national service, prompted by the January terror attacks which left 17 dead.