Second edition of the National Service despite the controversies

As of 8 am this morning, the 18,000 volunteers of the 2021 National Universal Service (SNU) were in line.

Coming from all over France, they leave for a

two-week “

cohesion stay

” in one of the 143 centers located throughout France.

It aims "

to transmit a republican base based on collective life, responsibility and the spirit of defense

".

On the program: awakening at 7 a.m. with raising the colors and Marseillaise in uniform, sports sessions, courses on discrimination, the climate, media education, first aid actions, but also evenings in bivouacs, climbing or cycling.

To read also: Michel Goya: "Putting teenagers to sleep in a dormitory will not strengthen national cohesion!"

On site, 3,000 soldiers, members of the security forces, specialized educators or national education volunteers supervise these young people aged 15 to 17.

They are housed in groups of 10 to 15 in single-

sex

“

households

”.

A PCR test before the stay is mandatory as the wearing of the mask, and the gauges of the centers have been reduced.

The 2020 edition having been canceled due to the Covid, the measures will be strictly observed.

Generalization by 2024

This cohesion stay is the first step in the national universal service.

The young volunteer participants will then have to carry out a general interest mission of 84 hours.

Finally, it will be possible for them to enlist before their 25 years for three months under the uniform of the firefighters, the Army reserve but also for civic service or in an association.

Read also: Universal national service: the government is looking for 25,000 young volunteers

“The national service that we know today [will] be abolished as of January 1, 1997”.

Since this announcement by Jacques Chirac in 1996, the return of military service has stirred political debates.

To meet this expectation, Emmanuel Macron launched the Universal National Service.

Its first edition in 2019 brought together 2,000 young people from 13 departments.

In order to enhance this experience, they were able to parade on July 14.

Today, on a voluntary basis, the universal national service should be generalized to an entire age group in 2024.

National service under fire from critics

Nevertheless, it gives rise to many controversies.

On its form first, considered too military by some, not enough by others, associations denounce the lack of continuity, a single stay of two weeks not being long enough to create a feeling of belonging.

To read also: SNU: in Vaucluse, supervisors "amazed by the uniform effect"

On its cost then, 61 million euros this year, an increase of 31 million compared to 2020. An increase criticized by Senator Jacques-Bernard Magner, draftsman of the 2021 budget appropriations for Youth and Associative Life: "

I ask myself the question - and I think everyone is asking it here, why add another 31 million?

". Finally, the religious aspect. All ceremonies are prohibited, meals are not changed, and the law on religious symbols is not applied in public schools. In the short term, the Government is seeking to increase the number of national service.