Since the end of the Algerian War in 1962, France, as a nation, has never again been involved in any major conflict, be it on the French territory itself or overseas.

However, whenever it comes to protecting civilians, especially French citizens, during armed conflicts, French troops have always participated, either directly or under the banner of the United Nations.

Some of the soldiers, who served France within this framework, were killed at the war front, sustained injuries, or have had to be cited for their bravery.
These combatants make up what is termed : The Fourth Fire Generation.

They include volunteers like conscripts and reservists, who participated in military operations, within semi-professional units, not because they were under any service-related obligation, but rather because they wilfully opted to.
The National Federation of Volunteer Ex-servicemen/women (FNCV), realizing how unfair conditions for awarding the volunteer combatant cross were towards these ex-servicemen/women, embarked on an awareness campaign aimed at bringing the "powers that be" to see the necessity of recognizing their voluntary service.

Thus, during the Senate session of January 13, 2004, senator Jean-Jacques Hyest, with reference to the petition filed by the FNCV, pointed out that there was inequality in the way various fire generations were treated.

Reward volunteer service...

Madam Michèle Alliot-Marie, French Minister of Defence, reacting to this issue, made it clear that the volunteer combatant cross was instituted to reward those who wilfully opted to join troops at the battle front, and that this honour reflects the generosity, solidarity and abnegation, which during the gloomiest period of our history, made it possible for the integrity of our Fatherland to be preserved.

Talking about conscripts and reservists who served as volunteers, Michèle Alliot-Marie crystallized the keen attention she had been showing towards the fourth fire generation, an integral part of the great family of ex-servicemen/women.

The Minister expressed how well the logic ensuing from the debate on the National Federation of Volunteer Ex-servicemen/women petition, chimed with her resolve to reward conscripts and reservists who volunteered to serve in overseas campaigns and who, based on this, have been issued an ex-servicemen/women card.

You will find some useful texts here

• • Award of volunteer combatant cross marked « Mission Extérieure » (overseas campaign), on the agenda of the Senate session of January 13, 2004.
• • FNCV downloadable membership form.