Montauban. Orion Youth Day at the Military Delegation

As part of the ORION 26 inter-arm exercise, the departmental military delegation (DMD) of Tarn-et-Garonne organized a day dedicated to the link between the military and the Nation, with a particular focus on youth and the education sector. Dubbed “ORION Youth,” the event brought together 23 heads of secondary schools, most of whom are involved in defense classes, a twinning program between schools and military units. This partnership is particularly developed in the department, which has 25 defense classes, linked to a strong military presence of over 5,000 personnel. The program included a presentation of the ORION 26 exercise, focused on preparing for high-intensity engagements, as well as a hands-on experience in the missions of the DMD. Participants also took part in a “resilience game” on crisis management and explored a Tactical Decision Game inspired by real-life situations.

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 to create connections, to maintain the network. A few years ago, these two worlds didn’t really communicate. These types of meetings also help to break down stereotypes that each side may have.”