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The alliance of two worlds of excellence… this is what the partnership between IÉSEG School of Management and the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan Military Academy (AMSCC) embodies. This innovative program allows final-year master’s students at IÉSEG to complement their academic training with an immersion in the military world, offering a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and service to the nation. Each year, some IÉSEG students have the honor of being selected to participate in this rigorous program, which prepares them to become empowered leaders capable of juggling the demands of the business world with the strong values of the military. We have met one of them: Raphaël PASCAL.

Raphaël, can you tell us about your academic career at IÉSEG?

Raphaël : I have pursued a classic academic path at IÉSEG, joining the Grande Ecole Program directly after high school through the Accès exam. It was towards the end of my Bachelor’s degree that I began considering a military career. The military world has always attracted me, particularly for its values. I’m very interested in geopolitics and philosophy, and the more I delved into these subjects, the more the military became an obvious choice for me. That’s when I discovered the partnership between the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan Military Academy (AMSCC).

Can you explain how this Grande École partnership works?

Raphaël : To join the program, you must have completed your first year of master’s cycle but not yet finished your second year. I applied in September 2023 and received the final acceptance on December 15th, confirming my selection. After completing and validating my thesis and earning all the credits from my Bachelor’s and first year of Master, I was able to join as an officer cadet through this partnership, which grants the rank of “Aspirant”. 

The selection process consists of several steps. The first response is a preliminary agreement that comes in October. Then, there are physical, psychotechnical, and psychological tests in October and November. After these exams, the results are communicated, and the final answer comes in mid-December. To get ready for these selection steps, it’s crucial to quickly adopt the military culture, whether in the motivation letter or in your overall attitude. The physical tests include a Luc Léger cardio-respiratory endurance test, squats, and pull-ups, which require good physical condition. There are also psychotechnical tests, which assess logic and spatial orientation, as well as language tests. Lastly, there’s a very in-depth psychological interview with a military psychologist to assess all dimensions of your profile. Nothing is left to chance in this interview: your motivation, personality, and various aspects of your private life are thoroughly examined. The aim is to determine whether your profile matches what the military is looking for and whether you can handle real-life situations.

You’ve long been drawn to the military, especially for its values. Can you tell us more?

Raphaël : In my opinion, the values of the Land Forces are essential. They include a spirit of cohesion, rigor, and discipline. In the army, you need to put aside individualism in favor of the group. You don’t join the military to go solo—survival without solidarity is impossible. You also have to like working hard, it is essential. You join the army to push yourself, to test your limits, and to discover yourself. It’s a service-driven mindset, a commitment to something bigger than oneself. The mantra of the École militaire des Aspirants de Coëtquidan, where we are trained under this partnership, is “the courage to serve.” This perfectly sums up the spirit and the mission we are entrusted with. Patriotism is obviously required, as you commit yourself fully to France, to its history, and to the values embodied.

There’s a strong emphasis on tradition, which is central to our training. We are part of the lineage of the 27,000 reserve officers who gave their lives during World War I. This history is at the core of the Grande École partnership, and it’s felt in everyday life. For example, we participate in traditional marches and even attend history lessons, sometimes informal, between two night marches at 2 a.m., adding intensity and depth to the experience.

This historical dimension makes us realize that we aren’t just students on an internship. This program is definitely not a standard internship—it’s a profound commitment that honors us but also requires us to live up to this history and these traditions. It pushes us to be worthy of this responsibility.

What does it look like on a daily basis?

Raphaël PASCAL : Daily life is intense and varied. The program is divided into three phases: three weeks at the EMAC (École Militaire des Aspirants de Coëtquidan), four weeks in the application division, and then three months in a regiment. On my side, I will spend my three-month deployment with a regiment at the 1st Infantry Regiment of Sarrebourg, following the infantry application division in Draguignan, which I chose after a ranking at EMAC.
 
At EMAC, we learn the basics of military life, such as drill orders, military codes, and life in a regiment. Then, we receive technical training to become a section leader. A section is composed of 30 people. We start by learning how to do our own tasks as soldiers, then we learn to command a team, then a group of 10 people, and finally an entire section.

A typical day starts around 5:30 a.m. with community service, which essentially involves cleaning and tidying up. Then, activities vary between tactical courses, weapons handling, and practical exercises. We eat around 11:30 a.m. and again around 6 p.m., with activities continuing often late into the night, sometimes until 2 a.m.

What has impressed you the most about this experience?

Raphaël PASCAL : I’d say the human side of it. In the Army, social relations are plain and simple, so they’re frank but profoundly human. There’s no room for political correctness—everything is authentic. I’d even say there’s no more human experience than the army. You develop empathy and a sense of exemplarity, because to lead others, you must first be flawless yourself. It’s an experience that transforms you, not just as a leader, but also as a person. In the end, it makes you a better human being. I think the qualities we develop in the army are invaluable, whether for a managerial career or for starting your own business. It teaches us the very essence of leadership and respect: leading men and women by focusing above all on the human being in front of you.

Have you learned more about yourself through this experience?

Yes, definitely, both in positive and negative ways. You discover yourself through fatigue, effort, and exhaustion… you push yourself and accomplish things you didn’t think you were capable of.
But you also sometimes disappoint yourself! We aren’t superheroes… and that’s precisely what teaches us humility. You learn to need others, to respect others, and to be profoundly humble.

What are your plans after this program?

Raphaël PASCAL : or now, I’m still reflecting. I love the military, but I haven’t yet had professional experience in the private sector that would allow me to compare and make a decision. I’ll be doing my final internship abroad, and after that, I’ll decide. This partnership gave me a unique experience to discover the military from the inside, and it opens doors to a contract as a reserve section leader after the program. This would allow me to combine a civilian career with a commitment in the reserves. But after such a rich experience, the call to full-time military service is never far away!