French army sees enrolment triple since Paris attacks

Since the deadly attacks in Paris, the number of young French people hoping to enlist in the armed forces has tripled to levels that have never been seen before, according to official army statistics.

The organization is currently dealing with an average 1,500 applications a day compared to 500 a day before the attacks, according to the statistics on the French army's official website.

At a recruitment center in Vincennes in Paris's eastern suburbs, a group of 30 prospective recruits were taking part in the physical evaluation test on Wednesday (November 2).

Army candidates in the region of Paris and Ile-de-France spend a gruelling 48 hours at the army barracks undergoing physical, psychological and medical tests before being sorted into training programmes best suited to their skills and profiles.

Colonel Bert, head of the recruitment process at the barracks, said that young people had reacted to the threat of attack and wished to serve their country.

"I think it is a reaction from young French people who felt threatened, who felt that they were being attacked because of the attacks on November 13. It is a reaction which in some ways is totally natural, it is the reaction when one is faced with a threat. Furthermore, this reaction makes me happy as a French soldier, to see that French youngsters are wishing to serve their country and their fellow citizens, by helping to establish peace when their country is in need," he said.

The attacks, both those of Charlie Hebdo in January and those in November, have resulted in greatly increased security throughout the capital with French President Francois Hollande declaring a state of emergency and deploying over 1,500 troops.

One Parisian, Alice Van Praet, who went to the barracks in Vincennes on Wednesday to fill in her application form to enrol, said that the attacks had only served to reinforce her desire to participate in army efforts.

"I applied (for the army) before the attacks in Paris on the internet, I have to say that the events only reinforced my wish to apply. I would like to promote French values through the army. I think that all missions which help in the safeguarding of French citizens are very important, the army just as much as police and security services. Therefore, the army is a great way of investing in something as a citizen," she said.

One of the soldiers evaluating the candidates undergoing their fitness tests, Sergeant Jean Jacques, emphasised the importance of being physically in shape to succeed in combat zones.

"The importance of the fitness evaluation is like being sent to a war zone, we are preparing soldiers to be sent into combat, to know how to run, to know how to hold a weapon, to shoot, to jump and climb up and down. All the exercises are meant to draw a parallel with a war zone. If you have to jump the candidate has to be ready to do so, the importance of being in good condition physically in a professional army is very very important," he said.

One candidate undergoing the gruelling evaluation, 23-year-old Christian from Corsica, said that it was the values that the army is based on which greatly appealed to him.

"I have applied to be in the navy, as I have always sailed since I was a teenager, I have always done a lot of sailing. The army has always appealed to me because of its values, the defence of great virtues, discipline and other things. It is something that stimulates me and motivates me. I started to think about it around a year and a half ago, I finally made the leap seven months ago," he said.

According to local media 15,000 new soldiers will be recruited this year into the French army with most taking part in the new defence mission on home soil.  — Reuters