The CMA CGM Foundation supports youth from the Adapted Military Service: First awardees announced in Martinique

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Martinique Regiment of the Adapted Military Service (RSMA) announced the first cohort of awardees under the partnership between the SMA Foundation and the CMA CGM Foundation, launched in October 2024. 70 young recruits from Martinique SMA will be supported by the CMA CGM Foundation over the next three years to lead their ambitious projects.

During the event, three standout awardees—Mr. Dereck Longfort, Mr. Rony Regy, and Mr. Lucas Futol—shared their stories, ambitions, and commitment to creating value for their communities. Their paths reflect the spirit of this partnership: fostering expertise, entrepreneurship, and long-term empowerment.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the RSMA Commanding Officer, representatives from CMA CGM Martinique, and the SMA Foundation’s delegate in Martinique, and emphasized the values of commitment and mentorship.

Through this initiative, the CMA CGM Foundation will award 400 scholarships over three years to support youth from Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion Island, Mayotte, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia.

Since the launch of the partnership in October 2024, 42 scholarships have been awarded.

This tailored financial support complements the training offered within the SMA. The main objective is to facilitate and secure the transition to professional life. These funds will be used to finance targeted actions, such as obtaining specialized driving licenses (e.g. for HGV drivers), attending training courses outside of SMA, housing support for work-related relocation, and support for local entrepreneurship.

Leveraging the CMA CGM Group’s expertise in maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions, the Foundation aims to open pathways for young people into careers in logistics, warehousing, multimodal transport, and related fields.

This initiative seeks to significantly boost employability in the French overseas territories by enhancing local youth’s qualifications in high-potential sectors.

Finally, the CMA CGM Foundation will explore the development of a container transformation sector, building on the skills taught within the SMA regiments. This initiative aims to stimulate local job creation in a high-potential industry.

Since 1961, the SMA has welcomed 6,000 young people aged 16 to 25 from the French overseas territories, 30% of whom are women. Thanks to the SMA, these volunteers participate in a complete program: an initial military training phase of 2 months, a vocational training phase of 4 to 10 months, depending on the field, and an integration phase.

More than 84% of the beneficiaries leave the 118 SMA training courses with a job or further training. Of these young people, 10% enter the transport and logistics sector.

Created in July 2023, the SMA Foundation brings together public, private and associative actors in the fight against exclusion, discrimination and poverty. Its goal is to respond to targeted projects to ensure the socio-professional integration of former volunteers and, more generally, young people in the French Overseas Territories. Since its creation, the Foundation has supported more than 150 projects.

The SMA Foundation aims to integrate 40% of its beneficiaries who are women and to professionally integrate 90% of the young people it supports in 7 overseas territories.