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' Swiss Army ') are the military and security force of Switzerland, consisting of land and air service branches. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are conscripts or volunteers aged 19 to 34 (in some cases up to 50).
The military history of Switzerland comprises centuries of armed actions, and the role of the Swiss military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Despite maintaining neutrality since its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499, [1] Switzerland has been involved in military operations dating back to the hiring of Swiss mercenaries by foreign nations, including the Papal States.
Switzerland, fearing that its status as a neutral country would be damaged, did not join the United Nations when it was created in 1945. [2] On 10 September 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, after a referendum supporting full membership won in a close vote six months earlier; Swiss voters had rejected membership by a ...
The Armed Forces Command Support Organisation (German: Führungsunterstützungsbasis) operates the Swiss military's information and communications network and the electronic operations centres. [74] The Armed Forces Command Support Organisation and the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation are in the process of being merged to form a new Support ...
Following the organization of the army in 1907 and military expansion in 1911, the Swiss Army consisted of about 250,000 men with an additional 200,000 in supporting roles. [3] Both European alliance-systems took the size of the Swiss military into account in the years prior to 1914, especially in the Schlieffen Plan.
The country has a history of armed neutrality going back to the Reformation; it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the United Nations until 2002. [6] It pursues an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world. [7] [8]
ZURICH (Reuters) -Switzerland said on Wednesday it would participate in two European Union security initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between armed forces in a bid to boost the ...
Total size of United Nations peacekeeping forces, 1947 to 2014 [14] In 2007, a peacekeeper volunteer was required to be older than age 25 with no maximum age limit. [15] Peacekeeping forces are contributed by member states on a voluntary basis.