The Military Professional Training Center (CMFP), unique in France, not only guards the flag of the 137th infantry regiment but also serves as a transition gateway for military personnel from all three branches of the armed forces and the gendarmerie, helping them transition to civilian life. “We also support soldiers, including those who have been injured, in their journey of rebuilding,” emphasizes Colonel Pozzer, the commander of the Fontenay garrison and military deputy delegate (DMD) for Vendée. Established in Fontenay-le-Comte since 1958, the CMFP has evolved into the national unit for Army reconversion, overseen by “Defense Mobility.”
Spread across an impressive 19-hectare facility, including 13 hectares of technical platforms and workshops run by Afpa (Association for Adult Vocational Training) and Turpeau Formation, the CMFP offers 52 training programs in 9 cutting-edge sectors leading to professional certifications equivalent to CAP-BEP and up to Bac +2. “The army does not abandon its soldiers on the wayside! With professionalization, we needed to be attractive so that military personnel returning to civilian life could be supported. From the sixth year of service, soldiers are eligible for fully-funded training, supervised by the military until completion, ensuring its benefits both personally and professionally. It is reassuring!” adds Colonel Pozzer, who boasts a 98% success rate in professional certifications and an 80% immediate job placement rate in 2025.
1,600 military personnel are trained annually at the CMFP in Fontenay-le-Comte, which is like a city within a city, with a military history in war zones that commands respect. The “137th Regiment” (1813-1963) distinguished itself at Verdun (Regiment of the Trench of Bayonets) and in the battle of Dunkirk in late May 1940. The 80 permanent soldiers stationed in Fontenay always salute the regiment’s flag before their commanding officer.
[Context: CMFP is a unique military training center in France providing transition support for military personnel returning to civilian life. Fact Check: The Fontenay-le-Comte facility offers a wide range of professional training programs and has a high success rate in certifications and job placement.]
