In the Aftermath of the Nice Attack, France Calls on Youth to Join Reserve Forces

Following the Nice attack that left 84 dead, the French Minister of the Interior has urged young people and 'patriots' to join the 'operational reserve forces' to help enhance security in the country. Bernard Cazeneuve, the Minister of the Interior, stated on July 26, in response to recent criticisms of the French government's security performance, 'I ask French patriots, those who are willing, to join the operational reserves.' According to Agence France-Presse, the operational reserve forces in the country include individuals with or without military experience as well as former soldiers. Cazeneuve's statements came after a truck attack on a crowd in Nice that has so far resulted in 84 deaths. The group known as the Islamic State claims that the assailant was 'one of the soldiers of the Islamic State' and that this act was in response to a call to attack citizens of countries that are part of the coalition against the Islamic State. The Nice attack is the third deadly attack of this kind in France in the past 18 months. The President of France has also stated that more military reserve forces will be called upon to increase the capabilities of the police and gendarmerie. The French National Gendarmerie has published details on its website regarding how to join these forces. Cazeneuve mentioned that the reserves are only needed for the summer period, when the leave of active military personnel increases. He added that currently, the operational reserves consist of 12,000 volunteers, of whom 9,000 are members of the gendarmerie and 3,000 are in the police. The French Minister of the Interior stated that the government is increasing the presence of security forces across the country. According to Cazeneuve, currently, 100,000 personnel, from gendarmerie to police and soldiers of the French army, are being used to protect citizens.