The first recruit school of the year opened its doors on Monday. Nearly 12,500 people are starting their basic education. The share of women is 2.6%.
During the next 18 weeks, the executives, 2,438 men and 182 women, will be responsible for the instruction of these young men and women. There are a total of 391 women among these 15,098 people, which corresponds to a share of 2.6%, writes the Federal Department of Defense (DDPS) in a press release. This is a slight decrease compared to the start of last year (2.9% in January 2024).
Some 50 Swiss men and women living abroad have also returned to carry out their military service; 1,533 people fulfill their military obligation according to the long service model.
From recruit school onwards, Swiss army training is focused on defense against a military attack, according to the DDPS. To cope with developments in this area and for the military to understand that the army is a global system, it is also necessary to conduct more joint exercises with various arms.
Recruits will also be able to use in their civilian life the personal and technical skills acquired, for example, during health training or driving instruction. In certain cases, it is even possible to demonstrate this know-how in training, particularly in the form of ECTS credits, recalls the DDPS.
Violence
-Soldiers who need help as part of their military service benefit from a varied range of assistance. The first points of contact in recruit schools are commanders, troop doctors and chaplains.
There is also an Army Psycho-Educational Service, a Social Service and a specialized Women in the Army and Diversity service. For problems that cannot be resolved within the army, there is also an independent mediation service, specifies the DDPS.
Last October, the army announced measures, following a study concluding that discrimination and violence based on gender and sexual orientation are widespread within it.
/ATS
