Saint-Dizier: a new defense class at the start of the school year – La Voix de la Haute-Marne

Created in 2005, the Defense and Global Security Classes (CDSG) developed spontaneously and progressively to strengthen the link between armies and young people, weakened following the suspension of conscription in 1997. Saint-Dizier, the Saint Exupéry and Estic high schools have Defense classes. For its third year classes, the private high school has formed a partnership with BA113, and thus introduces the professions of defense and security to students in the general and professional sectors.

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“The students are quite aware of the issues, the goal is also to create vocations”, explains Maxime Belgrand, teacher and driving force behind the project. This is the 3^e year that this defense class has been operating at Estic. Little by little, the group saw its numbers swell. From five participants at the start, it now constitutes a group of 23 students, girls and boys, coordinated by two teachers, one of physics and chemistry, the other teaches French.

Renewed agreement

“Some want to be in the military or work in security, others participate out of curiosity”specifies the teacher who is also president of Souvenir français in Saint-Dizier and municipal councilor. An option which counts in the student’s course, at the rate of two hours of lessons per week, and which is the subject of an oral examination.

With the BA113, visits take place regularly, the defense class being linked more particularly with the protection squadron and the minesweepers. On June 18, the agreement with BA113 will be renewed. The defense class also participates in ceremonies, such as recently, that of May 8, and also visited the Bragard police station and the fire station. But the big news is the opening of a new group in second year planned for the next school year.