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Purpose – This chapter aims to describe and analyze practices and activities linked with the traditions – and their transmission between the cadets – in Saint-Cyr, the French military academy.

Methodology/approach – The methodological approach was anthropological, consisting of immersion, observation, and interviews during the first three years of training of the future French army officers.

Findings – Traditions in Saint-Cyr are an opportunity for cadets to be elected by their comrades in order to lead the class. This contribution focuses on these elected cadets’ characteristics and shows that having such a responsibility comes along with advantages and privileges, and, at the end, with a better grading.

Originality/value of the paper – It is the first time that a researcher was allowed to follow all activities and study a class in Saint-Cyr during the three-year training period. This study provides a look inside the daily cadets’ life and shows that the traditions are not just an anecdotal aspect of cadets’ life, but perfectly witnesses all challenges, power positions, and stakes associated with them.

This chapter deals with the effects that the socialisation process, both primary and professional, has on the cultural attitudes of young people interviewed with regard to national security.The data show the great importance of primary socialisation, especially among cadets, who form a military mindset already before entering the training academies. The process is less accentuated for youths who attend civilian universities.Professional socialisation then operates in both environments, at times in contradictory ways with respect to the aims of the profession for cadets, and with respect to greater awareness of security issues for university students.