The Swiss Armed Forces

Lieutenant General Sussli is responsible for the leadership and the development of the Swiss Armed Forces. He heads the Department’s defence sector and is directly subordinate to the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), Federal Councillor Viola Amherd.

In the Swiss Armed Forces, officers holding the rank of brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general are considered senior staff officers. They are employed by the Swiss Confederation as career officers. In the event of a large-scale mobilisation, the United Federal Assembly appoints a commander in chief with the rank of general. Senior staff officers occupy key roles in the military command and central staff.

In order to remain capable of protecting Switzerland and its inhabitants, the Armed Forces must consistently strengthen their defence capabilities in all operational areas. The vision and strategy for achieving this have been set out in writing by the Armed Forces leadership. The report identifies three areas to focus on – and quantifies the costs involved.

The origins of the Swiss Army date back to the late Middle Ages. The militia army founded on general national conscription is relatively young by comparison.