ABZEICHEN DER SCHWEIZER ARMEE RIBBONS AND MEDALS OF THE SWISS ARMY

[Pages:3]ABZEICHEN DER SCHWEIZER ARMEE RIBBONS AND MEDALS OF THE SWISS ARMY

GRAHAM WILSON

Switzerland is well known for its armed neutrality, which is guaranteed by the citizen-based Swiss Armed Forces. This force is comprised of the well-known militia element and a small professional element, or regular army. Under the country's militia system, professional soldiers constitute about five percent of all military personnel; the rest are male citizen conscripts 19 to 34 (in some cases up to 50) years old. Because of its long history of neutrality, the army does not take part in armed conflicts in other countries, but does take part in peacekeeping missions around the world.

The structure of the Swiss militia system stipulates that the soldiers keep their own personal equipment, including all personally assigned weapons, at home (until 2007 this also included ammunition).1 Compulsory military service affects all male Swiss citizens, with women serving voluntarily.2 Males usually receive initial orders at the age of 18 for military conscription eligibility screening. About two-thirds of young Swiss men are found suitable for service, while alternative service exists for those found unsuitable. Annually, approximately 20,000 persons undergo basic training for between 18 to 21 weeks (increased from 15 weeks, in 2003).

Since 1989 there have been several attempts to curb military activity or even abolish the armed forces altogether. A notable referendum on the subject was held on November 26, 1989. Although defeated, this referendum saw a significant percentage of the voters in favor of such an initiative. However, a similar referendum, called for before, but held shortly after the 11 September 2001 events in the United States, was defeated by over 77% of voters.

A major military reform, dubbed "Army XXI," was adopted by popular vote in 2003. "Army XXI" replaced the previous model known as "Army 95," reducing manpower from 400,000 to about 200,000 personnel, including 120,000 receiving periodic military training and 80,000 reservists who have completed their total military training requirements.

One of the long-standing peculiarities of the Swiss Armed Forces has been the lack of medals or ribbons to denote varying types of service. Even the Swiss troops mobilised during World Wars I and II in order to defend the borders of Switzerland against outside incursion received no medals for their service.3 Added to the lack of any form

of national recognition, the relatively small number of Swiss personnel who served outside the Federation, for example, as United Nations observers, were barred by the Federal Constitution from accepting and wearing non-Swiss medals.

This changed in 2008, with the issue of Reglement 51.009/ III dfie "Abzeichen der Schweizer Armee/Insignes de l'Arm?e suisse/Distintivi dell'Esercito svizzero/Insignia of the Swiss Armed Forces." Not only did this regulation introduce an extremely modern uniform to the Swiss Army (for example, doing away with the old fashioned side caps of enlisted men and kepis of officers and replacing them with berets). It also, for the first time, introduced medals and ribbons for wear on Swiss Army uniforms. According to the wording of the regulations, the Swiss Army now seems to also approve the acceptance and wearing of non-Swiss medals.

Reglement 51.009/III dfie is an illustrated 96-page booklet (written in German, French, Italian and, somewhat surprisingly, English), illustrating all insignia authorised for wear on Swiss military uniform. At page IV, the booklet advises:

Insignia of the Swiss Armed Forces

as of 15.10.2007

issued, based on Article 10 of the Ordinance for Organisation of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports dated 07/03/2003.

This regulation goes into effect on 01/01/2008.

On the date on which it comes into force all other contradictory regulations are repealed, especially Regulation 51.9 / III dfi ?Abzeichen der Schweizer Armee? valid since 01/01/ 1997.

Chief of the Armed Forces

This English language statement is preceded by the same statement in German, French and Italian. Medals and ribbons are covered in Section 9 of the regulation. Of special interest is the fact that Section 9.4.3 of the regulation addresses `UN/OSCE mandates' and states: "Because of their great variety, UN/OSCE mandate ribbons are not depicted." This clearly indicates that

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United Nations (UN) and The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) medals are now authorised for acceptance and wear by Swiss troops.

Turning now to the medals and ribbons, oddly, the Swiss seem to regard ribbons as having higher value than medals, as Section 9 covers ribbons (Auszeichnungen) before medals (Einsatzabzeichen or `Mission insignia'). The first ribbon covered in the regulation is for the Length of Service Ribbon (Dienstleistungsabzeichen). This is a blue ribbon with three central, evenly-sized stripes of red, white, red (the Swiss colours) and a thin white stripe towards each edge (Figure 1).

Length of service, as illustrated, is shown by rosettes attached to the ribbon. The ribbon by itself signifies 90days service and additional service is marked as follows:

170 days ? 1 x bronze rosette 250 days ? 2 x bronze rosette 350 days ? 3 x bronze rosette 450 days ? 1 x silver rosette 550 days ? 2 x silver rosette 650 days ? 3 x silver rosette 750 days ? 1 x gold rosette 850 days ? 2 x gold rosette 950 days ? 3 x gold rosette

Although the images in the regulation (reproduced here) are not of the very best quality, the rosettes appear to be almost identical to the rosettes used on British Commonwealth decorations and campaign stars during World Wars I and II and subsequently. Thereafter contemporary images of Swiss Army personnel wearing the Ordonanz 2008 uniform indicate that the Dienstleistungsabzeichen is worn before all other ribbons.

Awarding a ribbon for service counted in days, rather than years, might seem a bit odd; however, it must be remembered that Switzerland is a nation in arms, defended by a conscripted citizen army, in which every member of society is expected to be either a member or a supporter. Every fit Swiss male must complete a period of full time training, followed by a part-time reserve commitment up to the maximum retirement age. Thus a member of the Swiss Army entitled to wear the Dienstleistungsabzeichen with three gold rosettes would probably be a division or corps commander or equivalent high-ranking warrant or non-commissioned officer with perhaps 20 to 25 years part-time service to his credit. It must also be remembered that once a soldier achieves senior non-commissioned officer or field grade officer rank he is expected to devote much of his spare time to his military duties, time that is not officially counted or recompensed.

Figure 1: The Length of Service Ribbon.

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Figure 2: Swiss "decorations."

The next item covered by the regulation is Auszeichnungen, literally "decorations." However, reading the regulation, these ribbon-only awards do not equate to decorations as we normally think of them. When we, i.e. members of the military numismatic community, think of decorations, we tend to think of the Victoria Cross, or the Silver Star, or the Croix de guerre, etc. The Swiss Army's "decorations" are in fact ribbons signifying advanced military qualifications. As such, they appear to complement the existing (highly complex) system of badges worn by the Swiss Army.

Turning to Figure 2, the first Auszeichnungen illustrated is that of the Mountain Insignia, the Hochgebirgsabzeichen; this is a yellow ribbon with a thick central black stripe with, affixed to the center, an apparently silver-gilt version of the Swiss Army's "Mountain Specialist" (Gebirgsspezialist) badge. Presumably the Hochgebirgsabzeichen represents either an advanced level of training or qualification, or an extended period of service in the specialty, or perhaps a combination of both.

Next is a group of four ribbons, the Auszeichnungen f?r das Schiessen, which are actually skill-at-arms or

marksmanship qualification ribbons, analogous to the Australian Army's crossed rifles or the United States Army's marksmanship badges. At the top of the column is the ribbon for the Sturmgewehr Stufe 1 or Assault Rifle Level 1 qualification; this is a blue ribbon with a black central stripe, affixed to which is an apparently silver-gilt version of the 1975 pattern Sch?tzenauzeichnung Stgw Stufe 1 breast badge. Below this ribbon is the Sturmgewehr Stufe 2 or Assault Rifle Level 2 qualification; this is the same ribbon as that for Level 1, except that red stripes have been added to the edges and affixed to the center is a similar emblem that again appears to be a version of the 1975 pattern Sch?tzenauzeichnung Stgw Stufe 2 badge.

Below the two assault-rifle qualification ribbons are the two pistol ribbons. These use exactly the same ribbons as the two rifle ribbons, however, affixed to the center of each of the ribbons (Pistole Stufe 1 and Pistole Stufe 2) is a stylized automatic pistol, pointing to the viewer's left. As with the assault rifle emblem, the pistol emblems are immediately recognizable as having been copied from the 1975 vintage Sch?tzenauzeichnung Pistole Stufe 1 and Stufe 2 breast insignia.

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