The mystery conscription offer
About six years ago, I was going to be sent to the french army for my
conscription time. This was just one year before conscription was
ended and the French army turned professional. Anyway, one day I got a
strange phone call. The woman identified herself as a military
recruiter. That was not surprising since I was expecting a call from
them.
However, she said "We reviewed your case, you have a political science
background (I was a political science student at the time), and that's
of some interest to us for the Air Elysée military service."
"What is the Air Elysée service?" I replied.
"I can't tell you" she said, "are you interested?".
"Hm, how can I be interested in something I know nothing about? Can't
oyu tell mr something?"
"No, I'm sorry."
"Oh... well, I guess I'm not interested then." That sounded too much like a trap.
She hung up, and I was a little confused. I did not push the issue at
the time and only recently did I remember that strange offer. I
performed some googling, with no success. All I can tell you is that
the Elysée is the french presidential palace, and Air could also have
been "ère" (french for "era").
In my wildest fantasies, it was an offer to assist the French
president inside the presidential plane. Even though it's probably
something more mundane (like dull administrative work at a ministry),
it still makes me think I might have missed an opportunity...
So my question really is: what is the Air Elysée service? |
