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Salim Alaoui Abdelmalek, X 2008
Salim Alaoui Abdelmalek; In the RSMA in Guadeloupe: “I had the impression of doing a “social work” placement. Honestly, it was the ideal placement!”
RSMA is an adapted military service regiment. SMA is military service carried out overseas, where there are high levels of unemployment among young people. SMA offers them training so that they can find a job at the end of their one-year contract. They are all volunteers, with an average age of 18 to 20.
In return, they agree to undertake certain duties: a first month of military instruction (FGI) during which they learn discipline and rigour. It's the equivalent of Barcelonnette for Polytechnique students! They then spend 11 months learning a trade (agriculture, joinery, mechanics, catering, etc.). They come out of this with a CAPI (Personal vocational training certificate), which includes a first aid diploma, a general training certificate and an AFP (Vocational training certificate).
I spent a month on initial general training (FGI). This was the busiest and most interesting part of my placement. Then, as the SMA is currently being restructured, I worked on projects linked to new trades, closely monitoring young people's integration into work.
It's the only military experience that I'll have at X, and I had the impression of being on a social work placement in contact with young people of my own age who had failed at school. It's amazing how they develop over a month's instruction. Honestly, it was the ideal placement!