This rapprochement between the Venaissin local mission and the gendarmerie allows young people to familiarize themselves with the world of gendarmes and to discover their professions, but also, as Colonel Cédric Garence, head of the Vaucluse military group, points out, « it can arouse interest, arouse vocations et strengthen the attractiveness of the gendarmerie ».
The project is divided into discovery sessions, led by the Carpentras gendarmes, but also in brigade visits and three-day immersions at the heart of the daily life of soldiers in the sector. In addition, workshops on certain issues such as addictions are on the program.
1 500 young people per year supported by the local mission
For Sandrine Raymond, president of the local mission of Venaissin county, it is a new tool for the structure which supports 1 500 young people per year, receives 700 in first contact mode and is already organizing 130 workshops.
For the gendarmerie, which is part of a global approach towards young people, this partnership carries an important message of living well together.
« We welcome interns from 3eor universal national service and cadets, it's normal that we contribute to the work of local missions and I will only see advantages in the multiplication of these actions throughout the department », underlines Colonel Cédric Garence.
Finally, the sub-prefecture of Carpentras, represented by its secretary general Philippe de Brion, highlights the tremendous dynamism of a local Mission which went through difficult years before bouncing back with a new team, « we also rely on the local Mission for the recruitment of young people into civic service ».
At the genesis of an association that promotes citizenship
It is on the occasion of a treasure hunt organized jointly by the Local Mission of Comtat Venaissin and the ALAN association 84, chaired by Jean-Louis Tartevet, that the young people went to meet firefighters, local elected officials and gendarmes. Following this day, the commander of the Carpentras company, Guillaume Bourez, and the president of the local mission Sandrine Raymond began a dialogue which led several months later to the formalization of this partnership.
The challenge of recruitment for the gendarmerie
France has around 12 000 personnel, including 10 % of volunteer assistant police officers. The staff allocated to the departmental group is 708 positions, including 5 Approximately % are not provided at present.
Vaucluse is also an inter-regional examination center which organizes two non-commissioned officer competitions per year, with 1 500 candidates per session.
« The gendarmerie is suffering a vocations crisis partly due to military statusrestrictive and demanding and the fact that joining the gendarmerie means agreeing to apply for a national pool, without knowing your future assignment. » Colonel Cédric Garence
