Military of Switzerland
Manpower
Military age	17-34
Conscription	19-34 years of age obligatorily 36 for subaltern officers, 52 for staff officers and higher
Available for military service	1,707,694 males, age 19–49 (2005 est.), 1,662,099 females, age 19–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	1,375,889 males, age 19–49 (2005 est.), 1,342,945 females, age 19–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	46,319 males (2005 est.), 43,829 females (2005 est.)
Expenditures
Budget	$3.1 billion (FY98)
Percent of GDP	1 (2006 est.)

A Swiss army exercise near Glarus, Switzerland.

The military of Switzerland, officially known as the Swiss Armed Forces, is a unique institution somewhere between a militia and a regular army. It is equipped with mostly modern, sophisticated, and well-maintained weapons systems and equipment. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 819 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Swiss army exercise. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 819 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Swiss army exercise. ... Lebanese Kataeb militia A Militia is an army composed of ordinary [1] citizens to provide defense, emergency or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

History

Main article: Military history of Switzerland

The Swiss army originated from the cantonal troops of the Old Swiss Confederacy, called upon in cases of external threats by the Tagsatzung or by the canton in distress. In the federal treaty of 1815, the Tagsatzung prescribed cantonal troops to put a contingent of 2% of the population of each canton at the federation's disposition, amounting to a force of some 33,000 men. The cantonal armies were converted into the federal army (Bundesheer) with the constitution of 1848. From this time, it was illegal for the individual cantons to declare war or to sign capitulations or peace agreements. Paragraph 13 explicitly prohibited the federation from sustaining a standing army, and the cantons were allowed a maximum standing force of 300 each (not including the Landjäger corps, a kind of police force). Paragraph 18 declared the obligation of every Swiss citizen to serve in the federal army if conscripted (Wehrpflicht), setting its size at 3% of the population plus a reserve of one and one half that number, amounting to a total force of some 80,000. The military history of Switzerland comprises centuries of armed actions, and the role of the Swiss military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. ... 1550 illustration for the Sempacherbrief of 1393, one of the major alliance contracts of the Old Swiss Confederacy The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland. ... Tagsatzung of 1531 in Baden (1790s drawing). ... The Züriputsch: clashes on Zürich Paradeplatz The Restauration is the period of Swiss history lasting from 1814 to 1847. ... A standing army is an army composed of full time professional soldiers. ...

The first complete mobilization, under the command of Hans Herzog, was triggered by the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. In 1875, the army was called in to crush a strike of workers at the Gotthard tunnel. Four workers were killed and 13 were severely wounded. This article describes military mobilization. ... Hans Herzog (1819 - 1894), Swiss general, was born at Aarau. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with South German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III François Achille Bazaine Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta Otto von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at wars beginning 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000... The first Gotthard Tunnel, a 15 km long railway tunnel, connects Göschenen and Airolo. ...

Paragraph 19 of the revised constitution of 1874 extended the definition of the federal army to every able-bodied citizen, swelling the size of the army at least in theory from below 150,000 to more than 700,000, with population growth during the 20th century rising further to some 1.5 million, the second largest armed force per capita after the Israeli Defence Forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces...

A major maneuver commanded in 1912 by Ulrich Wille, a reputed germanophile, convinced visiting European heads of state, in particular Kaiser Wilhelm II, of the efficacy and determination of the Swiss defense. Wille subsequently was put in command of the second complete mobilization, and Switzerland escaped invasion in the course of World War I. Wille also ordered the suppression of the general strike (Landesstreik) of 1918 with military force. Three workers were killed, and a rather larger number of soldiers died of the Spanish flu during mobilization. In 1932, the army was called to suppress an anti-fascist demonstration in Geneva. The troops shot 13 unarmed demonstrators, wounding another 65. This incident permanently damaged the army's reputation, leading to persisting calls for its abolition among left wing politicians. In both the 1918 and the 1932 incidents, the troops deployed were consciously selected from rural regions such as the Berner Oberland, fanning the enmity between the traditionally conservative rural population and the urban working class. The third complete mobilization of the army took place during World War II under the command of Henri Guisan (see also Switzerland during the World Wars). A maneuver (spelled manoeuvre in Commonwealth English) is a tactical or strategical move or action. ... Ferdinand Hodler: Ulrich Wille Conrad Ulrich Sigmund Wille (April 5, 1848-January 31, 1925) was the Swiss General during World War I. Categories: Military biographical stubs | Swiss generals | 1848 births | 1925 deaths ... A Germanophile is a person who is fond of German culture, and Germany in general, exhibiting as it were German nationalism in spite of not being an ethnic German. ... Wilhelm II of Prussia and Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Hohenzollern (January 27, 1859 - June 4, 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and the last King (König) of Prussia from 1888 - 1918. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... View of Thun and Lake Thun from the Niederhorn The Bernese Oberland (Bernese highlands) is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the South of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps (thus, the inhabitable parts from... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Henri Guisan (monument at Avenches) Equestrian statue of Henri Guisan, in Lausanne, Switzerland Henri Guisan (21 October 1874 - 7 April 1960) was the most recent General of the Swiss army, as Commander in Chief during World War II, and probably Switzerlands most famous soldier. ... During both World War I and World War II, Switzerland managed to keep a stance of armed neutrality, and was not involved militarily. ...

In 1989, the status of the army as a national icon was shaken by a popular initiative aiming at its complete dissolution (see: Group for a Switzerland without an Army) receiving 35.6% support. This triggered a series of reforms, and in 1995, the number of troops was reduced to 400,000 ("Armee 95"). Article 58.1 of the 1999 constitution repeats that the army is "in principle" organized as a militia, implicitly allowing a small number of professional soldiers. A second initiative aimed at the army's dissolution in 2001 received a mere 21.9% support. Nevertheless, the army was shrunk again in 2004, to 220,000 men ("Armee XXI"), including the reserves. In political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizens initiative) provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment, or ordinance. ... The Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSwA; German: Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee, GSoA; French: Groupe pour une Suisse sans Armée, GSsA; Italian: Gruppo per una Svizzera senza Esercito, GSsE) is a Swiss organization seeking the abolishment of the Swiss Armed Forces, which include the...

Military services

• Swiss Army
• Swiss Air Force

In a railway station, a young Swiss militia soldier returning to duty after a week-end break

On May 18, 2003, Swiss voters approved the military reform project "Army XXI" to drastically reduce the size of the Swiss Army. Starting in January 2004, the 524,000-strong militia was pared down to 220,000 conscripts, including 80,000 reservists. The defence budget of SFr 4.3 billion ($3.1 billion) was trimmed by SFr 300 million and some 2,000 jobs are expected to be shed between 2004 and 2011. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1688x1684, 549 KB) In a railway station, a young Swiss militia soldier returning to duty after a weed-end break Photograph by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Military of Switzerland ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1688x1684, 549 KB) In a railway station, a young Swiss militia soldier returning to duty after a weed-end break Photograph by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Military of Switzerland ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The armed forces consist of a small nucleus of about 3,600 professional staff, half of whom are either instructors or staff officers, with the rest being conscripts or volunteers. All able-bodied Swiss males aged between 19 and 31 must serve, and although entry to recruit school may be delayed due to senior secondary school, it is no longer possible to postpone it for university studies. About one third is excluded for various reasons, and these either serve in Civil Protection or Civilian Service. The old American Civil Defense logo, used today federally only as a historical reminder on FEMAs seal, the triangle emphasises the 3-step Civil Defense philosophy used before the foundation of FEMA and Comprehensive Emergency Management. ... Civilian service is a Swiss institution, created in 1996 as an alternative to military service. ...

Recruits have the right to be instructed in their native language; however, because of the small number of Romansch-speaking recruits, they are instructed in German.

For women, military service is voluntary, and they can join all services, including combat units. About 2,000 women already serve in the army but, until the "Armee XXI" reform, were not allowed to use weapons for purposes other than self-defence. Since the reform, women can take on any position within the armed forces.

Due to the small size of the Swiss Air Force, competition to become an aircraft pilot is extremely high. Candidate pilots and parachutists have to start training in their own free time from the age of 16, well before recruitment. However, if candidates appear at recruitment with a certificate showing completion of preliminary training, they are practically guaranteed that duty, provided they pass the following selection during service. Aspiring pilots must however first complete basic training in a regular unit and complete officer school before entering into a unit of candidate pilots.

The army has established a new category of soldiers, called "single-term conscripts," who volunteer to serve a single term of 300 days of active duty. The total number of single-term conscripts cannot exceed 15% of a year's draft, and these volunteers can only serve in certain branches of the military. The rest continue to follow the traditional Swiss model of serving from 18 to 21 weeks at first and then doing a service, called repetition course, of three weeks (four for officers) per year until they serve the required number of days or reach the age of 26. After completition of their service days, they become reservists until they reach the age of 32.

Soldiers can be required to advance in rank, usually to Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Fourier or Lieutenant. This is often required of Italian-speaking soldiers, because they make up a minority in the population and the armed forces, and there is a need for Italian-speaking officers. A higher rank typically entails a longer service time, which results in some wishing to avoid promotion.

With the new reform, if a soldier is promoted to sergeant, during the base instruction he can no longer advance to lieutenant and onwards, as they now follow two separate branches of development. However, many soldiers still prefer this, mainly because of a shorter service time (compared to lieutenants) but also because they have a more active, up-close role with the other troops as regular soldiers, instead of managing from a distance as officers. During repetition courses, however, there is the possibility for soldiers and non commissioned officers to advance either to NCO's or to officer grades.

Men who want to apply for service in the Swiss Guard need to have completed their basic military service in Switzerland, and are also required to be Catholic. Papal Swiss Guards in traditional uniforms Swiss Guards are Swiss mercenary soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts from the late 15th century until the present day (in the form of the Papal Swiss Guard). ...

Naval Patrol

Being landlocked, Switzerland does not have a navy, but it does maintain a fleet of military patrol boats, numbering 10 in 2006. They patrol the Swiss lakes: Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, Lake Lugano, Lake Major and Lake Constance. These boats are sometimes humorously referred to as the "Swiss Navy". Somewhat unusually for a landlocked country, Switzerland has a long tradition of civilian navigation, both on its lakes and rivers, and on the high seas. ... A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... Naval redirects here. ... Largest Lakes in Switzerland (Area larger than 20 km²) Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, Lac de Genève) - 581. ... Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French Lac Léman, le Léman, or Lac de Genève) is the second largest freshwater lake in Central Europe (after Lake Balaton). ... For other uses, see Lake Lucerne (disambiguation). ... Lago di Lugano Lake Lugano (Italian Lago di Lugano or Ceresio) is a lake in the south-east of Switzerland, at the border between Switzerland and Italy. ... Lake Maggiore from the Swiss end. ... For other uses, see Lake Constance, New Zealand. ...

Defence ministers

Members of the Federal Council heading the "Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports" (formerly "Federal Military Department") is the Swiss defence minister: The Swiss Federal Council (German: , French: , Italian: , Romansh: ) is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland. ... Department of Defence redirects here. ...

Ulrich Ochsenbein (November 24, 1811 - November 3, 1890) was a Swiss politician. ... Friedrich Frey-Herosé (October 12, 1801 - September 22, 1873) was a Swiss politician. ... Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli (February 23, 1820 - May 15, 1879) was a Swiss politician. ... Constant Fornerod (May 30, 1819 - November 27, 1899) was a Swiss politician. ... Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli (February 23, 1820 - May 15, 1879) was a Swiss politician. ... Constant Fornerod (May 30, 1819 - November 27, 1899) was a Swiss politician. ... Emil Welti (April 23, 1825 - February 24, 1899) was a Swiss politician. ... Victor Ruffy (January 18, 1823 - December 29, 1869) was a Swiss politician. ... Emil Welti (April 23, 1825 - February 24, 1899) was a Swiss politician. ... Paul Cérésole (November 16, 1832 - January 7, 1905) was a Swiss politician. ... Emil Welti (April 23, 1825 - February 24, 1899) was a Swiss politician. ... Johann Jakob Scherer Johann Jakob Scherer (November 10, 1825 – December 23, 1878) was a Swiss politician. ... Willhelm Friederich Hertenstein (May 5, 1825 - November 27, 1888) was a Swiss politician. ... Walter Hauser (May 1, 1837 - October 22, 1902) was a Swiss politician. ... Emil Frey (October 24, 1838 - December 24, 1922) was a Swiss politician. ... Eduard Müller (November 12, 1848 - November 9, 1919) was a Swiss politician. ... Eugène Ruffy (August 2, 1854 - October 25, 1919) was a Swiss politician. ... Eduard Müller (November 12, 1848 - November 9, 1919) was a Swiss politician. ... Ludwig Forrer (February 9, 1845 - September 28, 1921) was a Swiss politician. ... Eduard Müller (November 12, 1848 - November 9, 1919) was a Swiss politician. ... Arthur Hoffmann (June 18, 1857 - July 23, 1927) was a Swiss politician. ... Camille Decoppet (June 4, 1862 - January 14, 1925) was a Swiss politician. ... Karl Scheurer (September 27, 1872 - November 14, 1929) was a Swiss politician. ... Rudolf Minger (November 13, 1881 - August 23, 1955), Swiss politician. ... Karl Kobelt (August 1, 1891 - January 6, 1968) was a Swiss politician. ... Paul Chaudet (November 17, 1904 - August 7, 1977) was a Swiss politician. ... Nello Celio (February 12, 1914 - December 29, 1995) was a Swiss politician. ... Rudolf Gnägi (August 3, 1917 - April 20, 1985) was a Swiss politician. ... Georges-André Chevallaz (February 7, 1915 - September 8, 2002) was a Swiss historian, politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council (1974-1983). ... Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (April 1, 1936 in Paudex - October 4, 1998 in Lausanne), was a Swiss politician. ... Arnold Koller (born August 29, 1933) is a Swiss politician. ... Kaspar Villiger (pronounced Caspar Veeleeger) (born February 5, 1941) is a Swiss industrialist and politician. ... Adolf Ogi Adolf Ogi (born on July 18, 1942) is a Swiss politician. ... Samuel Schmid Samuel Schmid (born January 8, 1947) is a member of the Swiss Federal Council, heading the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports. ...

Ranks

Main article: Swiss army ranks

Rank designations in German, French and Italian with abbreviations and corresponding NATO codes: Swiss army ranks have changed little over the centuries, except for the introduction, in 2001, of a new set of warrant officers. ... Rank comparasion chart of all armies of NATO member states. ...

Enlisted:

• Rekrut (Rekr) / recrue (recr) / recluta (recl)
• Soldat (Sdt) / soldat (sdt) / soldato (sdt)
• Gefreiter (Gfr) / appointé (app) / appuntato (app)
• Obergefreiter (Obgfr) / appointé-chef (app chef) / appuntato capo

Non-commissioned officers:

• Korporal (Kpl) / caporal (cpl) / caporale (cpl)
• Wachtmeister (Wm) / sergent (sgt) / sergente (sgt)
• Oberwachtmeister (Obwm) / sergent-chef (sgt chef) / sergente capo
• Feldwebel (Fw) / sergent-major (sgtm) / sergente maggiore
• Fourier (Four) / fourrier (four) / furiere
• Hauptfeldwebel (Hptfw) / sergent-major chef (sgtm chef) / sergente maggiore capo
• Adjutant Unteroffizier (Adj Uof) / adjudant sous-officier (adj sof) / aiutante sottoufficiale
• Stabsadjutant (Stabsadj) / adjudant d’état-major (adj EM) / aiutante di stato maggiore
• Hauptadjutant (Hptadj) / adjudant-major (adj maj) / aiutante maggiore
• Chefadjutant (Chefadj) / adjudant-chef (adj chef) / aiutante capo

Subaltern officers:

• OF-1 Leutnant (Lt) / lieutenant (lt) / tenente (ten)
• OF-1 Oberleutnant (Oblt) / premier-lieutenant (plt) / primo tenente (Iten)

Captain:

• OF-2 Hauptmann (Hptm) / capitaine (cap) / capitano (cap)

Staff officers:

• OF-3 Major (Maj) / major (maj) / maggiore (magg)
• OF-4 Oberstleutnant (Oberstlt) / lieutenant-colonel (lt col) / tenente colonnello
• OF-5 Oberst / colonel (col) / colonnello

Higher staff officers:

• OF-6 Brigadier (Br) / brigadier / brigadiere
• OF-7 Divisionär (Div) / divisionnaire / divisionario
• OF-8 Korpskommandant (KKdt) / commandant de corps / comandante di corpo
• OF-9 General / général / generale (There are technically no Generals. In time of war, the Parliament will elect a General)

High Command

General Henri Guisan, commander-in-Chief of the swiss army during World War II.

In peacetime, the armed forces are led by the Chief of the Armed Forces (Chef der Armee), who reports to the head of the Department of Defence and to the Federal Council as a whole. The current Chief of the Armed Forces is Korpskommandant Christophe Keckeis. Image File history File links Henri_guisan. ... Image File history File links Henri_guisan. ... Henri Guisan (monument at Avenches) Equestrian statue of Henri Guisan, in Lausanne, Switzerland Henri Guisan (21 October 1874 - 7 April 1960) was the most recent General of the Swiss army, as Commander in Chief during World War II, and probably Switzerlands most famous soldier. ... The Swiss Federal Council (German: , French: , Italian: , Romansh: ) is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland. ... Christophe Keckeis is the Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces. ...

In times of crisis or war, the Federal Assembly elects a General (OF-9) as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Oberbefehlshaber der Armee). There have been four Generals in Swiss history: The Bundeshaus (Swiss parliament building) The Federal Assembly (in German, Bundesversammlung; in French, Assemblée fédérale; in Italian language, Assemblea federale), is Switzerlands federal parliament. ... Comparative military ranks are a means of comparing military rank systems of different nations as a means of categorizing the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

• Henri Dufour (1847-1848, Sonderbung war; and 1856-57, Neuchâtel Crisis)
• Hans Herzog (1871-1872, Franco-Prussian War)
• Ulrich Wille (1914-1918, World War I)
• Henri Guisan (1939-1945, World War II)

Officers which would have the title of general in other armies do not bear the title general (OF-8: Commandant de corps, OF-7 Divisionnaire and OF-6 Brigadier), as this title is strictly a wartime designation. The distinctive feature of their rank insignia are traditionally stylized edelweiss (image). However, when Swiss Officers are involved in peacekeeping missions abroad, they often receive temporary ranks that do not exist in the Swiss Army, to put them on an equal footing with foreign officers. For example, the head of the Swiss delegation at the NNSC in Korea (see below) had a rank of major general. Categories: People stubs | 1787 births | 1875 deaths | Swiss generals | Swiss cartographers ... The Sonderbund (meaning separate alliance, in German), was a league created in 1845 in Switzerland between seven Catholic and Conservative cantons in order to protect their interests against a centralization of power. ... Hans Herzog (1819 - 1894), Swiss general, was born at Aarau. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with South German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III François Achille Bazaine Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta Otto von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at wars beginning 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000... Ferdinand Hodler: Ulrich Wille Conrad Ulrich Sigmund Wille (April 5, 1848-January 31, 1925) was the Swiss General during World War I. Categories: Military biographical stubs | Swiss generals | 1848 births | 1925 deaths ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Henri Guisan (monument at Avenches) Equestrian statue of Henri Guisan, in Lausanne, Switzerland Henri Guisan (21 October 1874 - 7 April 1960) was the most recent General of the Swiss army, as Commander in Chief during World War II, and probably Switzerlands most famous soldier. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Binomial name Leontopodium alpinum Cass. ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ...

Structure

Structure of the Swiss Army XXI

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 482 pixel Image in higher resolution (3739 × 2252 pixel, file size: 292 KB, MIME type: image/png) The Swiss Army XXI, made by myself; noclador File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 482 pixel Image in higher resolution (3739 × 2252 pixel, file size: 292 KB, MIME type: image/png) The Swiss Army XXI, made by myself; noclador File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev...

Intelligence community

The Swiss military department maintains the Onyx intelligence gathering system, similar in concept to the UKUSA's ECHELON system, but at a much smaller scale. Onyx is a Swiss intelligence gathering system. ... Intelligence Gathering Disciplines HUMINT - Human Intelligence - gathered from a person on the ground. ... The UKUSA Community is an alliance of English-speaking nations for the purpose of gathering intelligence via signals intelligence. ... This article is about the Signals Intelligence capability. ...

The Onyx system was launched in 2000 in order to monitor both civil and military communications, such as telephone, fax or Internet traffic, carried by satellite. It was completed in late 2005 and currently consists in three interception sites, all based in Switzerland. In a way similar to ECHELON, Onyx uses lists of keywords to filter the intercepted content for information of interest. For other uses, see Telephone (disambiguation). ... A Samsung fax machine Fax (short for facsimile, from Latin fac simile, make similar, i. ... For other uses, see Satellite (disambiguation). ...

On 8 January 2006, the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick (Sunday edition of the Blick newspaper) published a secret report produced by the Swiss government using data intercepted by Onyx. The report described a fax sent by the Egyptian department of Foreign Affairs to the Egyptian Embassy in London, and described the existence of secret detention facilities (black sites) run by the CIA in Central and Eastern Europe. The Swiss government did not officially confirm the existence of the report, but started a judiciary procedure for leakage of secret documents against the newspaper on 9 January 2006. is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Blick is a Swiss daily newspaper with a circulation of 275,000 (in 2004) and a readership of 750,000 (ISSN 1013-0667). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A Samsung fax machine Fax (short for facsimile, from Latin fac simile, make similar, i. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into CIA prison system. ... “CIA” redirects here. ... Central Europe The Alpine Countries and the Visegrád Group (Political map, 2004) Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Peacekeeping missions

Switzerland being a neutral country, its army does not take part in armed conflicts in other countries. However, over the years, the Swiss army has been part of several peacekeeping missions around the world. Neutrality: Neutrality in international law is the status of a nation that refrains from participation in a war between other states and maintains an impartial attitude toward the belligerents. ...

Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SHQSU)

From 1996 to 2001, The Swiss Army was present in Bosnia and Herzegovina with headquarters in Sarajevo. Its mission, part of the Swiss Peacekeeping Missions, was to provide logistic and medical support to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE as well as protection duties and humanitarian demining. The mission was named SHQSU standing for Swiss Headquarters Support Unit to BiH. It was composed of 50 to 55 elite Swiss soldiers under contract for 6 to 12 months. None of the active soldiers were armed during the duration of the mission. The Swiss soldiers were recognized among the other armies present on the field by their distinctive yellow beret. The SHQSU is not the same as the more publicized SWISSCOY, which is the Swiss Army Mission to Kosovo. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ...

Mission in Korea (NNSC)

Switzerland is part of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) which was created to monitor the armistice between North and South Korea. Since the responsibilities of the NNSC have been much reduced over the past few years, only 5 people are still part of the Swiss delegation, located near the Korean DMZ. Entrance to the NNSC camp (Photo January 1976 from CP# 5). ... North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia... Map of the Korean DMZ. The DMZ is given in red, the demarcation line runs in the middle of the DMZ (black line). ...

References:

• Swiss participation to the mission NNSC in Korea
• Swiss keep watch over fragile peace, on Swissinfo
• Photographs by a member of the Swiss delegation

SRG SSR idée suisse is the business name of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation -- in German: Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft (SRG), in Romansh Societad svizra da radio e televisiun (SSR), in Italian: Società svizzera di radiotelevisione (SSR), in French: Société suisse de radiodiffusion et télévision (SSR). ...

Criticism

There is an organised movement in Switzerland (Group for a Switzerland without an Army) aiming at the abolition of the military. The Swiss have voted twice on such a referendum. The first time was in 1989, when 64.4% of the voters voted in favour of maintaining the Swiss Army. The second vote was in 1999, with 76.8% in favour. The Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSwA; German: Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee, GSoA; French: Groupe pour une Suisse sans Armée, GSsA; Italian: Gruppo per una Svizzera senza Esercito, GSsE) is a Swiss organization seeking the abolishment of the Swiss Armed Forces, which include the...

In 1992, after the Swiss government decided to buy FA-18 jets, they collected about half a million signatures within one month for a referendum. The population decided to buy the jets, with 57.1% voting to approve the project. The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ...

The organisation is still active in antimilitaristic work and also in the anti-war movement.

Generally, the army being criticized today by left-wing politicians who argue it is trying to save its existence by performing non-military jobs like protecting embassies or providing security services to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. This practice is seen to be justified by conservatives when regarding the lack of police forces (Switzerland leases police troops from Germany for the duration of the WEF). This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Davos viewed from air Davos is a town in eastern Switzerland, in the canton of Graubünden, on the Landwasser River. ...

Other criticism targets the planned acquisition of more fighter-jets, in sight of the coming retirement of F-5 Tiger IIs in 2011, and a CASA CN-235 transport aircraft, for example for evacuation purposes.^{[citation needed]} Army critics say that F/A-18 are not needed, and that for humanitarian duties cargo space can be leased for much less money on civilian aircraft.^{[citation needed]} The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. ... CASA CN-235M-100 of the Spanish Air Force The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-turbo-prop aircraft developed jointly between CASA in Spain and IPTN in Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. ...

Discussion

All able-bodied male Swiss citizens are conscripted to the armed forces. For women the service is voluntary. Since 1996, Swiss citizens can apply for civilian service instead. Entry to the civilian service is based on moral grounds and subject to a successful application. Civilian service is a Swiss institution, created in 1996 as an alternative to military service. ...

A significant number of young men choose to avoid military service by visiting a doctor who attests to their incapacity to do military service on medical grounds, or try to fake it during recruitment through psychological and physical tests that are taken during recruitment. This can be on either physical or mental grounds. Those who are found unable to serve the military pay an additional 3% income tax, and must in most cases serve in Civil Protection (Police, Fire Department, Health Services etc.), this service being shorter than the standard military service. As of January 2004, the income tax was raised to 3% by the Federal Council. Also, those who have conscience issues against war (for example, people who experienced violence at a young age, or have been in a warzone) can serve in Civil Service, where they do various kinds of social services, such as reconstructing cultural sites, helping the elderly and so on and so forth. However, a citizen may only request enrollment in Civil Service if they are psychologically and physically eligible for military service, but they have to put in one and a half times more time than they would as soldiers. Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Economic policy Monetary policy Central bank   Money supply Fiscal policy Spending   Deficit   Debt Trade policy Tariff   Trade agreement Finance Financial market Financial market participants Corporate   Personal Public   Banking   Regulation        An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income...

Conscription occurs at the age of 19 years. At the age of 20, about half the service is done during an initial training period of 21 or 18 weeks, depending on the service branch, with the exception of the Grenadiers, an elite infantry unit with a 25-week boot camp. Initial training (following regular boot camp) for members of the AAD, Switzerland's new SAS-type Special Forces unit, which is an all-volunteer professional unit with a rigorous selection process, is 18 months. Thereafter, men remain in the military until the age of 30 (or longer, if the military service is not yet completed), performing three weeks of training every year. However, the service period of non-commissioned officers and officers is significantly longer. Due to a new military reform enacted in 2005, it is no longer possible to postpone the initial training to finish university, although it is possible to postpone in order to finish highschool or equivalent internships (for example for an aspiring carpenter who might only finish training at 19 or 20). For this reason many people try to get out of military service, so they can attend university immediately after finishing highschool. It is possible to split the time in basic training (as recruit) and service (as soldier) which would allow one to start university immediately, the second half must be served at the earliest possible opportunity, usually Christmas break, a time which is usually used to study for exams. Hence, this practice is very hard on the student, and generally not recommended. The successive training weeks can also be postponed, but there is limited scope. In general, men interrupt their work during these weeks. During military service, the employee is paid a compensation of 80% of his regular salary by the state. Most employers, however, continue to pay the full salary during military service. In this case, the compensation is paid to the employer. Employers cannot fire a person in service by law. See also Australian Special Air Service Regiment and New Zealand Special Air Service: The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) is the principal special forces unit of the British Army. ... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ...

Ready ammunition of the Swiss Army. Every soldier equipped with the Sig 550 assault rifle is issued 50 rounds of ammunition in a sealed box, to be opened only upon alert. The ammunition is then loaded into the rifle magazine for use by the militiaman should any needs arise while he is en route to join his unit. Any other use than this, or even unsealing is strictly forbidden.

To reduce training and logistics costs, the Swiss military standardises on a few carefully selected types of weapons. For example, Switzerland uses only one rifle model (except for select forces, such as military police, grenadiers etc., who are also trained in the use of Heckler & Koch MP5s, shotguns etc.), the FASS 90, and three types of ground-based anti-aircraft systems, including a Swiss-built and improved version of the Stinger (Swiss army knives are also issued, although they are neither red nor considered weapons). In 1993, the Swiss government ordered 34 FA-18 fighter jets from the United States of America, which were subsequently re-built in Switzerland, notably for the electronics. Also, the software supporting the pilot was improved and then sold to the United States of America. Switzerland traditionally depends on itself for supplies and parts, often using non-standard equipment, although this has changed somewhat. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2557x1860, 745 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Gun politics in Switzerland Gw Pat. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2557x1860, 745 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Gun politics in Switzerland Gw Pat. ... The SIG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by SAN Swiss Arms (formerly SIGARMS) of Switzerland. ... A 30-round STANAG magazine. ... For other uses, see Weapon (disambiguation). ... The MP5 is a 9 mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a group of engineers from the West German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (HK). ... The SIG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by SAN Swiss Arms (formerly SIGARMS) of Switzerland. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... The FIM-92 Stinger is a man portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and used by all the US armed services, with whom it entered service in 1981. ... A Swiss army knife with its implements in various stages of extension A Swiss Army knife (SAK), (German: , French: ) is a multi-function pocket knife or multitool. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ...

Famously, members of the armed forces keep their rifles and uniforms in their homes for immediate mobilisation, as well as 50 rounds of ammunition in a sealed tin, to be used for self defence while traveling to the mobilisation points. Additional ammunition is kept at military bases where the militia are supposed to report. Swiss military doctrines are arranged in ways that make this organisation very effective and rapid. Switzerland claims to be able to mobilise the entire population for warfare within 12 hours. In contrast, it can take several weeks to several months for a militarily-active country such as the United States to mobilise its military force. Military doctrine is a level of military planning between national strategy and unit-level tactics, techniques, and procedures. ...

Every year, those still in Reserve have to present themselves with their rifles at a shooting range, and fire a certain number of rounds, which are issued. An outdoor shooting range with a sheltered shooting stand and several other unsheltered stands. ...

Shelters and fortifications

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can (May 2006).

Swiss fallout shelter used by Swiss army during a repetition course (shelter of Vernayaz)

Swiss building codes require radiation and blast shelters to protect against bombing. There is a bed for every Swiss person in one of the many shelters. There are also hospitals and command centres in such shelters, aimed at keeping the country running in case of emergencies. Every family has to pay a small tax to support these shelters, or alternatively own a personal shelter in their place of residence. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixel, file size: 621 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixel, file size: 621 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Vernayaz is a very boring place in Switzerland, nestling in the middle of nowhere. ... A sign pointing to an old fallout shelter in New York City. ...

Moreover, tunnels and key bridges are built with tank traps. Tunnels are also primed with demolition charges to be used against invading forces. Permanent fortifications are established in the Alps, as bases from which to retake the fertile valleys after a potential invasion. They include underground air bases which are adjacent to normal runways; the aircraft, crew and supporting material are housed in the caverns. The concept of underground fortifications in the Alps stems from the so-called "Reduit" concept of the World War II. It was intended that if the Axis Powers were to invade Switzerland, they would have to do so at a huge price. The army would barricade itself in the mountains within the fortresses, which would be very difficult to take. However, a significant part of these fortifications have been dismantled between the 80's and during the "Army 95" reformation. The most important fortifications are located at Saint-Maurice, Gotthard Pass area and Sargans. The fortification on the left side of the Rhône at Saint-Maurice is no longer used by the army since the beginning of the 90's. The right side (Savatan) is nonetheless still in use. Dragons teeth (German: Höcker, humps) were square-pyramidal fortifications of concrete used during the Second World War to impede the movement of tanks. ... For other uses, see Demolition (disambiguation). ... Preparing C-4 explosive This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Commonly, the réduit is a fortified defense structure which is used in order that the defending troops can survive and hold out an attack. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Axis powers. ... For other places with the same name, see Saint-Maurice. ... The modern concrete span of the Devils bridge (Teufelsbrücke) across the Schǒllenen Gorge replaces the older bridge below St. ... Sargans with its castle (August 2002 image) Sargans is a locality in Switzerland. ... Rhône can refer to: Rhône River Rhône (département) in France Rhône (Wine Region) in France This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Swiss government thought that the aim of an invasion of Switzerland would be to control the economically important transport routes through the Swiss Alps, namely the Gotthard, the Simplon and Great St. Bernard passes, because Switzerland does not possess any significant natural resources. Those who actually served in the Swiss Army during the war never criticised this concept - even if it openly meant that the enemy could take the civilian population in the plains hostage. Devils bridge (Teufelsbrücke) across the Schoellen St. ... Simplon Pass (Italian: Sempione) is a mountain pass at 2,008 m (6,589 ft) in the Lepontine Alps between Switzerland and Italy. ... Hospice at the Great St Bernard, with ancient road in foreground. ...

Leadership

In contrast to most other comparable Armies, officer candidates are not necessarily career regulars. Instead, until 2004 officers were traditionally selected from the pool of NCOs (non-commissioned officers) and then underwent OCS (officer candidate school, which was and is open to both militia - i.e. officers who also have a civilian job - and future professional officers), five months of intensive training that emphasised small-unit and platoon-sized unit tactics. This system ensured that all officers knew the trade skills of a non-commissioned soldier and mitigated resentment towards officers from NCOs.

This was abolished with the Army XXI reform as a concession to the Swiss economy which was increasingly unhappy about having its future leaders away for two years at a time (the time it took to become an officer until 2004). In the new system, officers-to-be are selected early based on criteria such as leadership potential and education and are sent directly to officer training. This system, which is similar to that employed in most countries of the world, reduces the time needed to train an officer but means that new entries are sometimes seen to lack credibility in the eyes of traditionalists. The new system is under review but remains in force.

To assure a generally high level of military leadership above the rank of first lieutenant, the Army maintains the HKA (Hoehere Kaderschule der Armee) which is responsible for an array of professionally run schools such as BUSA (Berufsunteroffiziersschule der Armee) which runs a program for professional non-commissioned officers, the MILAK (Militaerakademie) which runs a bachelor degree program for professional officers, programs for company and battalion commanders, a number of staff courses, and the General Staff and Command College (Gst S), an elite training program whose graduates leave their former branches and are inducted into the so-called General Staff Corps.

Future general staff officers are selected from the best company commanders and undergo battalion commander training before starting general staff training. Only 30 new trainees are selected per year and even fewer complete the demanding training. Being a general staff officer is a prerequisite for a range of important jobs on Brigade and higher level, such as G2 (chief of intelligence) or G3 (chief of operations).

The ratio of professional versus militia officers is about 1:1. As a rule of thumb, a significant number of senior civil servants and business leaders in Switzerland are general staff officers, and aspiring managers used to be required to become officers by their company, which would give them personnel management skills amongst other things.

Weapon systems

Small arms

The Swiss SIG 550 also known as the Fass 90 or Stgw 90. The SIG 550 is also used by the Chilean Army and some US federal agencies.

• SIG 550 / Sturmgewehr 90 assault rifle
• SIG 510 / Sturmgewehr 57 battle rifle (previous rifle, rare but still in service)
• SIG P220 semi-automatic pistol
• MG3 machine gun
• Brugger & Thomet MP5 submachinegun
• FN Minimi light-machine gun
• HG 85 handgrenade
• Gewehraufsatz 97 40mm grenade launcher
• Remington 870 multipurpose shotgun 91 (known as Mehrzweckgewehr 91)
• Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank rocket
• M47 Dragon anti-tank guided rocket
• FIM-92 Stinger shoulder-fired anti-air missile
• Sako TRG-42 8.6 mm anti-personnel sniper rifle
• PGM Hecate II 12.7 mm anti-materiel heavy sniper rifle (Gew06)

• MG 710 machine gun / MG55 (still stocked, but neither trained on nor used in rep courses actually the same as MG3)

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 645 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,056 × 1,912 pixels, file size: 148 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) F ass 90 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 645 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,056 × 1,912 pixels, file size: 148 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) F ass 90 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The SIG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by SAN Swiss Arms (formerly SIGARMS) of Switzerland. ... The Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile in Spanish) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. ... The SIG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by SAN Swiss Arms (formerly SIGARMS) of Switzerland. ... The SIG 550 (Sturmgewehr 90) is an assault rifle manufactured by Swiss Arms AG (formerly SIG Arms AG) of Switzerland. ... The SIG 510 is an assault rifle manufactured by SAN Swiss Arms (formerly SIG Arms) of Switzerland. ... The SIG 510/Sturmgewehr 57 is a battle rifle manufactured by SIGARMS (now SAN Swiss Arms) of Switzerland. ... The SIG P220 is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured in Switzerland by Swiss Arms AG (formerly SIG Arms AG (distributed in United States by the SIGARMS). ... The German MG3 is one of the most popular universal machine guns in the World. ... Brugger & Thomet MP5 or B&T 96 SMG is a new enhanced submachinegun system from Brugger & Thomet, Switzerland, basic from MP5 German made, Heckler & Koch. ... The FN Minimi is a squad automatic weapon — the name coming from Mini-mitrailleuse (French: mini-machine gun. It is a 5. ... The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun. ... Panzerfaust 3 The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable anti-tank rocket launcher developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the German army in 1992. ... Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas Overall Length: 1,154 mm (45. ... The FIM-92 Stinger is a man portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and used by all the US armed services, with whom it entered service in 1981. ... Sako TRG-22/42 sniper rifles were developed by the Finnish firearm manufacturer SAKO. The TRG-22 is designed to fire standard . ... The PGM Hecate II is the standard heavy sniper rifle of the French Army. ... The MG 710 is a General Purpose Machine Gun 7. ...

Armoured vehicles

• Pz87 LEO WE / variant of Leopard 2 main battle tank
• SPz2000 / CV9030 infantry fighting vehicle
• PzHbz88/95 KAWEST / variant of M109 howitzer self-propelled armoured artillery
• RadSPz Piranha / Mowag Piranha armoured troop transport
• MOWAG Eagle armoured patrol vehicle

The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... The Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) or Stridsfordon 90 (Strf 90) is a Swedish infantry fighting vehicle designed by Hägglunds/Bofors and currently produced by BAE Systems Hägglunds. ... The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. ... Chilean Mowag Piranha 8X8. ... The Mowag Eagle is a Swiss modification of the american Humvee vehicle design. ...

Aircraft

A Swiss F/A-18 landing in Payerne

. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 768 pixels, file size: 216 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions Image:Schweizer_F-18_C.jpg (original version) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 768 pixels, file size: 216 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions Image:Schweizer_F-18_C.jpg (original version) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ... Payerne is a town in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. ...

• F-5 Tiger II
• F/A-18 C/D
• Pilatus PC-6
• Pilatus PC-7
• Pilatus PC-9
• Eurocopter Super Puma
• Alouette III

The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ... The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a civilian utility aircraft built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma (Defense Minister of France) at Paris Air Show 2007 The Eurocopter Super Puma (originally built by Aérospatiale) is a helicopter marketed for civil and military use. ... South African Air Force Aérospatiale Alouette III The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a general purpose, single-engined light utility helicopter originally manufactured by Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale of France, now Eurocopter). ...

See also

• Swiss Civilian Service
• Gun politics in Switzerland
• Swiss Army knife
• 2007 invasion of Liechtenstein
• IMESS, the Swiss Future Soldier program.

Civilian service is a Swiss institution, created in 1996 as an alternative to military service. ... The gun policy in Switzerland is unique in Europe. ... A Swiss army knife with its implements in various stages of extension A Swiss Army knife (SAK), (German: , French: ) is a multi-function pocket knife or multitool. ... The 2007 invasion of Liechtenstein was a minor border incident involving Switzerland and the principality of Liechtenstein. ... IMESS (Integrated and Modular Engagement system for the Swiss Soldier) is the Future Soldier program of the Swiss Army. ...

References

• Imogen Foulkes. Swiss still braced for nuclear war. BBC News, 10 February 2007.

is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Military of Switzerland

• Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports—Official site
• Group for a Switzerland without an Army
• Official Swiss Army Bike - Militaervelo site
• Swiss camouflage patterns (kamouflage.net)
• Articles, books and media by Stephen P. Halbrook
• http://www.constitution.org/mil/swiss_report.htm Patton, George S., et al., THE SWISS REPORT: A special study for Western Goals Foundation a private intelligence dissemination network active on the right-wing in the United States.
• (German) Living history group representing the federal army of 1861