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The initial training of leaders reveals much more than a technical method of preparation for the first job. The institution also expresses its profound nature, the meaning of its social function and the political framework for the use of legitimate force. Beyond the practical aspects of the profession, this initial training also lays down the ethical foundations of the profession—in different forms depending on the level. The values that bind units together, motivate and justify the engagement, are juxtaposed with the military virtues that set the framework for the modalities of engagement. The Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan Military Academy and the Saint-Maixent National School for active Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) reveal how the French Army integrates this dimension into its training programmes.