Par
Jade Lacroix
Published on
; Updated on August 3, 2025 at 8:20 am
Defense and citizenship day will get a facelift. Last January, Emmanuel Macron announced that he wanted to “renovate” this compulsory day for the youngest. It is done with a new organization which will be gradually implemented until 2026.
A day followed by nearly a million young people each year
As the Service-Public.fr site recalls, 800,000 young people are called to make their defense and citizenship day (JDC) each year.
Formerly appointed day of defense preparation call (JAPD), this meeting was established in 1997 to replace military service. It allows young people to discover the trades of the army and “to develop the spirit of citizenship”.
This day is compulsory for all young people aged 16 to 25, which are summoned once their census has been carried out. The certificate of participation in the JDC is also necessary to register for an examination such as the permit.
News implemented gradually
Instead of taking place over half a day as currently, the JDC will now extend to 8:30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., for seven hours.
This will include seven highlights:
- Ceremony of colors, La Marseillaise, reading of the Charter of Rights and Duties of the French citizen.
- Roal game workshop to understand the defense.
- Tests workshop to discern talents and skills.
- Laser sports shooting workshop.
- Meal served in the form of a military ration.
- Trades Forum: presence of defense and national gendarmerie, virtual reality immersion.
- Goodbye republican.
And it is now 100 young people who will be able to participate in each session, against 30 to 40 currently.
This new version of the JDC will gradually become widespread Between 2025 and 2026. The government has a target of 20,000 JDC organized in 2026. To organize them, the government wants to gradually hire 1,000 reservists until 2028.
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