The Military Vocational Training Center (CMFP), unique in France, not only guards the 137th infantry regiment flag but also serves as a transition hub for the reintegration of military personnel from all three branches of the armed forces and the gendarmerie into civilian life. Colonel Pozzer, commander of the Fontenay garrison and military delegate of the Vendée department, emphasized that the CMFP has been operating as the national unit for military reconversion since 1958 under the “Defense Mobility” program.
Covering an impressive 19-hectare area, with 13 hectares dedicated to technical platforms and workshops run by the Afpa (Association for Adult Vocational Training) and Turpeau Formation, the center offers 52 training programs in 9 leading sectors, leading to professional qualifications equivalent to a CAP-BEP to Bac +2. The goal is to support military personnel transitioning to civilian life, starting from the sixth year of service, with fully funded training programs supervised by the military to ensure a successful transition to employment.
In 2025, Colonel Pozzer reported a 98% success rate in professional qualifications and an 80% immediate return to work among participants. Each year, the CMFP trains 1,600 military personnel in Fontenay-le-Comte, creating a military community within the city famed for its wartime history and valor, particularly in battles like Verdun and Dunkirk in 1940.
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