The last 1,000 conscripts are leaving armed forces
Around 1,000 young men were being demobbed after their 10-month stint in the armed forces.
The ending of military service marks France's move to a purely professional armed forces. Several other European countries, like Spain, Italy and Portugal, are also phasing it out.
Among those coming to an end of their enforced army life were the last 24 men to be conscripted into the 16th Rennes Artillery Unit, based in western France.
The conscripts had contrasting views on their time in the army.
At a ceremony to mark the occasion, Emmanuel Lepine told French La Chaine Info television that he had found it beneficial.
"You can integrate with everyone and different social classes. It's a good thing. Honestly, I think that it was a good experience for me," he said.
But Philippe Guiffault reflected a not uncommon view among conscripts that they could have made better use of their time.
"In light of the duties that we were given, I think that they could have made better use of us," he said.
National service was originally going to be ended next year, but 200,000 young men breathed a sigh of relief in June when it was announced that they would not be called up.
The French Government decided to withdraw the service earlier than planned because it said it had had major successes in recruiting professional soldiers.
However, military experts have said conscripts are expensive to call up and then feed, clothe, house and train, but are of little use in a modern fighting force.
Over the years increasing numbers of young men also refused to do military service and as conscientious objectors opted for a longer civilian service.
Century of service
The modern form of universal national service was introduced in France in 1905 when conscripts had to serve two years in the armed forces.
This increased to three years in World War I but was progressively reduced to 10 months and millions of young men were called up down the years.
France's armed forces are expected to comprise 92,500 professionals with another 27,000 participating as national service volunteers by the end of next year.
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