ORION 26: Military and Education Partnership Strengthened in Tarn-et-Garonne

As part of the ORION 26 joint exercise, the Departmental Military Delegation (DMD) of Tarn-et-Garonne organized a day dedicated to the link between the military and the nation, focusing on youth and the educational world. Dubbed “ORION Youth,” the event brought together 23 secondary school principals, most of whom are involved in defense classes, a twinning program between schools and military units. This partnership, particularly developed in the department, includes 25 defense classes, in connection with a strong military presence of over 5,000 personnel. The program included a presentation of the ORION 26 exercise, focused on high-intensity preparations, as well as a concrete immersion into the missions of the DMD. Participants engaged in a “resilience game” on crisis management and experienced a Tactical Decision Game based on real-life scenarios.

Three workshops addressed current geopolitical challenges and introduced educational tools, such as a board game used with high school students to better understand the functioning of the armed forces, in addition to history and geography programs. According to Lieutenant Colonel Christophe Masse, “this day strengthens the partnership between the military and the education system. It helps create connections, maintain the network. A few years ago, these two worlds didn’t really communicate. These types of meetings also help break down the stereotypes that exist on both sides.”