In the army now ... Evaluating an intensive training program for youth

We assess the impacts of one of the most intensive youth support and training programs in France: the Voluntary Military Service (VMS), piloted by the army since 2015. Our evaluation allows us to compare the cohort of young people entering the VMS with a cohort of unincorporated young volunteers. Our results indicates that a passage through the VMS increases chances of getting a job, especially for youth under 21 years of age. It also highlights other positive impacts of this pilot scheme and explores the means by which this effect is expressed: improved mobility and the obtention of a qualification.