Neutral Switzerland requires every able-bodied man to
serve in the army, starting with a five-month stint at
age 19 or 20, with annual refresher courses lasting several
weeks for the next 10 years, and more for officers.
This large army (currently 180,000 men for a population
of 7.5 million) is designed solely to defend Switzerland.
It will only ever be used in self-defence, and will never
fight outside Swiss territory.
During World War II and the Cold War the military thinking
was that, should an invasion happen, tens of thousands
of infantry would sacrifice themselves defending Switzerland's
borders, perhaps even only for a short time, while the
rest would withdraw into vast bunkers in the Alps, from
where they would fight on.
In the 21st Century, when Switzerland is on good terms
with all its neighbours, such a strategy seems irrelevant
and outdated to many young Swiss. Germany is already well
on its way towards scrapping conscription.
Nevertheless, young men cannot avoid the call-up, and
an estimated 8,000 began their first five-month stint
this winter.
