A Swiss citizen's first military services are the basic training ("Rekrutenschule") and the military recruitment scheduled shortly before.
The military training school is to take place in the calendar year of the conscript's 20th birthday and lasts – depending on the conscript's task in the service – 18 or 21 weeks. By simple request it is possible to push up basic training, it cannot, however, begin before the conscript's 18th birthday. Postponing to later years is only possible until high school graduation or based on sound arguments.
Serving as Cadre
The Swiss draft also covers the obligation to serve as cadre with a longer basic training. During the first seven weeks an evaluation by personal abilities and military needs will be done. It does occur that someone is drafted as cadre against his explicit will. This possibility is therefore to be considered in your personal planning, even if you are not interested in being a cadre.
Repetition Courses
After basic training, the military service consists of yearly repetition courses lasting three weeks (cadres add upto one week preparation). The courses' dates are noticed publicly and also electronically.
Duration
The compulsory military service ends after completing a defined number of days in service or after reaching a cut-of age.
