The Swiss Militia Model

General Overview

Switzerland, famously neutral, has a long-standing tradition of compulsory military service under a militia model. The exact way this works has varied throughout history, and the number of days served increases significantly with rank. That said, this section will provide a rough idea of what service looked like for a militiaman who did not undergo any extra training in the name of promotion. While the exact ages at which a militiaman would go through each stage varied at time, the milestones were as follows:

The first stage of Swiss military service is the issue of a call-up notice, which tells the soon-to-be militiaman where and win his service will begin.

Between three months and a year prior to the RS, recruits have to undergo Aushebung (Mustering), in which they are assessed physically and mentally, in order to determine which unit and role they should be assigned to. This was traditionally a one-day affair, but has recently been increased in length.

Upon entering the army, the first step is the Rekrutenschule (Recruit School; RS), which traditionally lasts 17 weeks (118 days). 

Upon completing the RS, troops enter the youngest service category, the Auszug and join a unit. In this category, troops have regular, long exercises called Wiederholungskurse (Refresher Courses; WK), as well as having to complete the obligatorische Schiessen (Obligatory Shooting). This is a basic shooting test, shot outside of normal Army service on local 300m shooting ranges, with a militiaman's personal weapon. Those who failed to qualify had to pay an increased rate of tax, as well as a mandatory training course. Although the obligatorische Schiessen is generally listed in Army documents as a full day of service, it did not take that long and would typically shot on a normal evening, after work, or on a weekend. Additionally, in years which troops did not have a WK, a one-day kit inspection would take place. Auszug units were typically based in/recruited from individual towns but would deploy and exercise across their Canton, and would be the first line of mobile units in the event of a war.

After the Auszug, troops would enter the next age bracket - the Landwehr. Often, they would move to a Landwehr unit, which were based in, recruited from and deployed to small local areas. Some branches, though, maintained mixed Auszug-Landwehr units, such as the Uebermittlungstruppen (Communication Troops). The Landwehr were intended as a static reserve, who would train and exercise within the area they were expected to fight in, should a war break out. Militiamen would have occasional Erganzungskurse (Supplementary Courses; EK), typically around two weeks in length. They would also have kit inspections in years without exercises, and, as with the Auszug, had to complete the obligatorische Schiessen annually.

The final compulsory age bracket was the Landsturm. Landsturm service involved a small number of Landsturmkurse (Landsturm Courses; LK) and kit inspections, but completion of the obligatorische Schiessen was no longer compulsory. (Many militiamen would, however, continue to shoot outside of their army service through membership of local clubs). Landsturm units, as with the Landwehr, were typically static and would be based in the local area, but Landsturm were typically moved into non-combat or support roles, such as manning fortresses, communications equipment or logistics chains, or guarding static points.

Having completed the period of compulsory service, militiamen could choose to serve voluntarily in the Ortswehr (Local Force), a force analogous to the British Home Guard. Members of the Ortswehr had to supply their own weapons (usually their privatised personal weapon) and were used as a last line of defence in non-front-line positions, such as guarding bridges and stations. 

Once you had completed all required days of service in your thirtieth year since the RS, you would be discharged from military service. This generally took place in a large ceremony for all the militiamen leaving the army in a certain year, at which the militiamen's Dienstbüchlein (Service Book) would be stamped. Militiamen would hand in their Taschenmunition, helmet and other equipment, and would famously have the opportunity to purchase their service rifle, along with various other military equipment, for a nominal admin fee. It is worth noting that at some times the rifles on offer were not the specific ones which had been carried in-service - during the late 1960s, when the first Stgw. 57-equipped soldiers were being discharged, there was such a demand for new rifles that a militiaman would hand in his Stgw. 57 and be given a Kar. 31 from stockpiles. Before leaving the muster area, personal weapons and items of clothing which a militiaman elected to purchase would be stamped to distinguish them as having been 'Privatised'. 

Aktivdienst

While Switzerland remained militarily neutral through the Second World War, the army was mobilised to the border for a period known as the 'Aktivdienst' (active service). During this time, to increase manpower, the service periods were increased, and the Ortswehr was established to free up younger troops for front-line service. 

• 18 years old: call-up notice issued

• 19-20 years old: one-day Aushebung to assess suitability for different roles

• 20 years old: RS, lasting 118 days (17 weeks)

• 21-36 years old: Auszug service

• 37-48 years old: Landwehr service

• 49-60 years old: Landsturm service

• 60 years old: end of compulsory service period, discharge from the Army

• 60+ years old, and 18-20 years old: voluntary Ortswehr service possible.

Truppenordnung 1961

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Swiss government introduced a series of reforms aimed at modernising and rationalising the Army. Among these reforms - which included the introduction of new, modern equipment such as the Sturmgewehr 57 and M61 Kampfanzug - was the Truppenordung 1961 (Troop Organisation 1961; TO61) for short. Under TO61, the compulsory service period was shortened, ending in the year in which a militiaman turned 50. The voluntary service category, the Ortswehr, was also abolished in 1967. 

• 18 years old: call-up notice issued

• 19-20 years old: one-day Aushebung to assess suitability for different roles

• 20 years old: RS, lasting 118 days (17 weeks)

• 21-32 years old: Auszug service. Eight 20-day WKs (160 days), four kit inspections and annual obligatorische Schiessen (12 days). Total service: 176 days

• 33-42 years old: Landwehr service. Three EKs (40 days total), three kit inspections and annual obligatorische Schiessen (10 days). Total service: 53 days

• 43-50 years old: Landsturm service. Two LKs (13 days total) and four kit inspections. Total service: 17 days

• 50 years old: End of compulsory service period, discharge from the Army. Total service to-date: 364 days

• Prior to 1968, those who had been discharged from the Army could voluntarily serve in the Ortswehr

Armee 95

Under the wide-sweeping reforms of the Swiss Army in the 1990s, focused on greatly reducing expenditure on the Army in the post-Cold War landscape, a major shake-up to the conscription model took place. The service period was greatly reduced, and the Landwehr and Landsturm were abolished. 

• 18 years old: call-up notice issued, informing you of where and when to begin your service

• 19-20 years old: one-day Aushebung to assess suitability for different roles

• 20 years old: RS, 15-18 weeks

• 21-37 years old: Angehörige der Armee (member of the Army). Eight 20-day WKs, annual obligatory shooting outside of normal service, four kit inspections

• 37 years old: end of compulsory service period, discharge from Army service

Armee XXI

In the early 2000s, adapting further to the changing security landscape in Europe, the service requirements were again reduced, scaling down the army almost by half. Logistics were greatly streamlined and cut down, leading to the only ever laying-off of full-time Army staff, and direct entry to Officer School, without first serving in the ranks as an NCO, was introduced to fit with the greatly shortened service periods. The Aushebung and RS were also lengthened, to provide more training with the advanced technologies coming into service. As a result of the greatly reduced service period, there became manpower gaps in certain units, and so the possibility of Durchdiener (DD) service was introduced, whereby you serve a continuous 300-day period after leaving the RS. After this, you remain eligible for call-up for ten years, but do not have any WKs. You must still pass the obligatory shooting program annually. 

• 18 years old: call-up notice issued, informing you of where and when to begin your service

• 19-20 years old: two- or three-day Aushebung to assess suitability for different roles

• 20 years old: RS, 18-21 weeks

• 21-30 years old:  Angehörige der Armee (member of the Army). Six 19-day WKs with annual obligatory shooting outside of normal service, four kit inspections

• 30 years old: end of compulsory service period, discharge from Army service.