Facing “high recruitment needs” but also, and above all, to introduce the “young citizens” to the army, the Rodez haras was the stage, this Thursday, April 16, 2026, of a seduction operation that seems to have fulfilled its mission.
Coming from Foch, Monteil, Louis-Querbes, and François-d’Estaing, nearly 80 young people were able to enjoy a meeting with soldiers from the three branches of the army, under the leadership of the military delegation of the department to which Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Destefanis belongs. “The idea is for them to come to meet the armies, to understand what it is. For them, it will be a bit like ‘a day in the life of a soldier,’ and at lunchtime, they will eat a combat ration with us,” details the soldier.
The agenda for the day included ten workshops to shed light on the different facets of the army but also to raise, if needed, awareness among the youth about citizenship.
La 13e DBLE from La Cavelerie in the spotlight
The stars of the day, the legionnaires of the 13th DBLE from La Cavalerie, presented their equipment to the young people: the famous Griffon, the latest generation armored vehicle, as well as various automatic weapons including the HK416, the replacement for the Famas assault rifle.
Laser shooting, crossing exercise…
Next, the high school students were able to try laser shooting and participate in a crossing exercise, lying on their stomach on a rope, with cascades and laughter as the outcome. The firefighters were also present to provide an introduction to first aid techniques, as were the gendarmes who addressed road safety.
Orientation race, stretcher initiation…
Throughout the day, the youth participated in an orientation race, an introduction to stretcher carrying (transporting an injured person) under the guidance of the legionnaires, and a discovery of transmission techniques. Of course, the soldiers answered all questions about the career paths offered by the army.
“There are significant recruitment needs in the armies… 22,000 positions in total, including 16,000 for the army alone,” explains Olivier Destefanis. For him, the day did not only aim to inspire vocations but above all to facilitate the meeting between the military world and that of the high school students.
[Context: Event organized to introduce young people to the military and potential career paths in the army.]
[Fact Check: No specific details provided about the recruitment needs mentioned.]
