ALSACE, France — In the shadow of the Alps near France’s northeastern borders, young soldiers of the Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) are training for high-intensity conflicts reminiscent of World War I trench warfare.
The exercise, conducted in the desolate Alsatian countryside, aims to prepare infantry recruits for the complexities of modern ground combat.
The recruits, aged 18 to 22, advance cautiously through trenches with blank ammunition and light blue training grenades. Under the sharp eyes of Lieutenant Melchior, a 28-year-old squad leader, the soldiers practice essential tactics, including bunker assaults and grenade deployment.
“The use of grenades is crucial,” Melchior explained. “The noise and smoke force the enemy to lower their heads, creating an opening for us to advance and neutralize them. These movements must become instinctive, requiring repetitive drills.”
The trenches at the RMT base, constructed last autumn, are a training ground for situations where urban and woodland warfare intersect. Soldiers learn to maneuver in half-buried tunnels, navigating blind spots and maintaining constant vigilance to avoid disorientation or ambushes.
Preparing for a Transparent Battlefield
The training reflects lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine war, where advanced technology, such as drones and artillery, dominates the battlefield.
“Fighting an enemy with similar capabilities means they can constantly observe us with drones, strike rear bases, and target command posts if we’re not mobile enough,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Paul, head of the RMT’s training operations office.
To adapt, the French army has integrated drone operators into combat groups of 8 to 15 soldiers, enabling better reconnaissance and early detection of potential ambushes. Camouflage and mobility have also become critical to survival in what Paul describes as an increasingly “transparent battlefield.”
However, the training lacks certain elements seen in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, such as simulated artillery strikes and drone surveillance. This underscores the disparity between current preparation and the realities of high-intensity warfare.
Challenges in Sustained Combat Readiness
Despite France’s efforts to modernize its military training and tactics, experts warn of a significant shortfall in ammunition supplies. Decades of prioritizing cutting-edge technology over stockpiling artillery shells and rocket-propelled grenades have left the army ill-equipped for prolonged conflicts.
“There has been a shift in mentality, but we’re coming from a long way behind,” said Elie Tenenbaum, director of the Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI) Security Studies Centre.
He noted resistance within procurement agencies and manufacturers to shift focus from advanced technology to basic military readiness.
France’s new Military Planning Law aims to address these gaps by increasing training and replenishing ammunition reserves. However, it stops short of overhauling the country’s strategic reliance on high-tech equipment and its nuclear deterrent.
For now, France’s combat readiness hinges on collaboration with Western allies and its technological and nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, the young recruits at the RMT base continue their rigorous drills, honing skills for a battlefield that demands both resilience and adaptability.
