Military service
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
Last week, our just-turned-Swiss Son 2 got his first official letters from the Swiss authorities. One of the envelopes contained his tax forms for 2006. Not too hard. Just zeros across the board and a signature on the bottom of the last page.
He also received a letter from the Army. Every Swiss man must do military service. It consists of 4 months of boot camp, then 2 to 3 weeks of service every one or two years. And that continues till, more or less, you turn 40 years old.
If you are a conscientious objector, and can prove it, you can do a year of civil service. It’s just started up as a possibility, but I hear there have been many takers. You used to have to do jail time if you didn’t serve. And many companies wouldn’t hire you without military service experience.
The last international conflict the Swiss were involved in was about 500 years ago. There have been skirmishes within the borders, and Switzerland does supply the guards for the Pope. But for most Swiss, the military serves as a time to meet Swiss Germans, to live on 5 hours sleep, and to learn how to drink beer.
He also received a letter from the Army. Every Swiss man must do military service. It consists of 4 months of boot camp, then 2 to 3 weeks of service every one or two years. And that continues till, more or less, you turn 40 years old.
If you are a conscientious objector, and can prove it, you can do a year of civil service. It’s just started up as a possibility, but I hear there have been many takers. You used to have to do jail time if you didn’t serve. And many companies wouldn’t hire you without military service experience.
The last international conflict the Swiss were involved in was about 500 years ago. There have been skirmishes within the borders, and Switzerland does supply the guards for the Pope. But for most Swiss, the military serves as a time to meet Swiss Germans, to live on 5 hours sleep, and to learn how to drink beer.
