Imported Article – 2026-05-04 08:57:10

They are 19 years old, with clear eyes and a determination that unravels some persistent clichés about “generation Z.” On May 5, Tom Goemaere and Diego Berthe will leave their homes in Châteaulin to join the ranks of the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMa) in Vannes. An engagement of at least five years for these two friends who have been following each other since the first grade at Marie-Curie school and on the football field.

The call to serve deeply ingrained

For Tom, a military adventure is almost a given. Son of a former helicopter diver in the French Navy, he grew up with a deeply ingrained sense of service. After obtaining his general baccalaureate last year, he didn’t hesitate: while waiting for the recruitment of the 3rd RIMa to open, he worked in a supermarket in Châteaulin. “I wanted to do something that makes sense to me, travel, move around,” he says. His five-day military preparation in Castres, at the 8th RPIMa, convinced him. Despite the twelve-hour train journey across France, he returned with stars in his eyes. The choice of Vannes then became obvious, only an hour and a half away from home.

There are so many trades in the military field that you can always find your place.

“They are ambitious young people, the future is bright”

On his side, Diego shows the same thirst for action. Born in Papeete amidst his military father’s assignments, he saw his father end his career as an instructor at the gendarmerie school in Châteaulin. Diego followed a more technical path, obtaining a CAP in hotel and catering in order to quickly enter the workforce, knowing that his future would be under the flags. His own immersion at the 17th RGP in Montauban was a revelation: “It was pure pleasure,” he says with the enthusiasm of his youth.

Their bond is also a sports story. Like their comrade Lenny Ollivier, already engaged in the 3rd RIMa, Tom and Diego have worn the colors of FC Châteaulin. For the chief warrant officer of the SIRFA in Quimper, a recruitment advisor, this cohesion is a strength: “We see this team bond. They are ambitious young people, the future is bright.”

A desire for action and camaraderie

Far from the image of a disconnected youth, these two recruits are driven by the international context. “National security is important to me,” says Tom, marked by the terrorist events that strengthened his desire to be useful. They do not see themselves in an office, preferring action and camaraderie.

Their daily lives will change drastically from May 5 onwards. After an initial administrative week in Vannes, the training will be progressive: issuing of equipment, 2 to 15-kilometer marches, shooting practice, and learning forest life. In the end, they could be deployed on Sentinel missions or in Guyana to combat illegal gold mining.

While admitting a slight fear of “disappointing,” excitement takes over. They are not looking for fame, but a career. As Tom puts it: “There are so many trades in the military field that you can always find your place.” For these children from Châteaulin, the adventure is just beginning.