Structure of the Swiss Armed Forces


This article represents the structure of the Swiss Armed Forces as of 1 February 2025:

Chief of the Armed Forces

  • Chief of the Armed Forces, in Bern
  • * Chief of the Armed Forces Chief of Staff
  • * Joint Operations Command / Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces, in Bern
  • * Training Command, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces Command Support Organisation, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces Logistics Organisation, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces Staff, in Bern
  • ** Medical Service, in Ittigen
  • ** Armed Forces Planning / Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces Staff
  • ** Defense International Relationships
  • ** Defense Corporate Development / Military Doctrine
  • ** Defense Personnel Management
  • ** Defense Finance Management
  • ** Defense Real Estate Management
  • ** Military Aviation Authority, at Payerne Air Base
Other Swiss general officers are:
  • Defense Attaché Washington
  • Defense Attaché Berlin
  • Defense Attaché Paris
  • Project Manager Support Command
  • Swiss Senior Staff Officer at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy
  • Swiss Senior Staff Officer at KFOR
  • Swiss Military Representative at NATO/EU
The Medical Service consists of the following organizational units

Joint Operations Command

The Joint Operations Command is responsible for planning and conducting Swiss Armed Forces operations.Joint Operations Command, in Bern
The deputy commanders of the Land Forces, Air Force, and the four territorial divisions are brigadier generals.

Land Forces

The Land Forces commands the armed forces' maneuver formations.Land Forces, in Bern
  • * 20th Land Forces Staff Battalion, in Zürich
  • * Command and Specialist Systems Competence Centre (, in Thun develops and maintains the Land Forces' command and control System and the Integrated Artillery Command and Fire Control System
  • ** Land Forces Military Support
  • ** Territorial Divisions Military Support
  • ** Technical Support
    1st Mechanised Brigade
The 1st Mechanised Brigade is based in the French-speaking Romandy region and the Canton of Bern.1st Mechanised Brigade, in Morges
  • * 1st Mechanised Brigade Staff Battalion
  • * 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
  • * 7th Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 12th Panzer Battalion, in Bern
  • * 17th Mechanised Battalion
  • * 18th Mechanised Battalion
  • * 1st Artillery Group
  • * 1st Armoured Sapper Battalion
    4th Mechanised Brigade
The 4th Mechanised Brigade is based in central Switzerland, with the 49th Artillery Group based in the Italian-speaking Canton of Ticino.4th Mechanised Brigade, in Liestal
  • * 4th Mechanised Brigade Staff Battalion
  • * 4th Reconnaissance Battalion
  • * 5th Reconnaissance Battalion
  • * 10th Artillery Group
  • * 49th Artillery Group
  • * 26th Bridge Engineer Battalion
    11th Mechanised Brigade
The 11th Mechanised Brigade is based in the Eastern part of German-speaking Switzerland.11th Mechanised Brigade, in Chur
  • * 11th Mechanised Brigade Staff Battalion
  • * 11th Reconnaissance Battalion
  • * 13th Panzer Battalion
  • * 14th Mechanised Battalion
  • * 29th Mechanised Battalion
  • * 16th Artillery Group
  • * 11th Armoured Sapper Battalion
    Land Forces battalions structure
The battalions of the Land Forces field the following subunits:

Air Force

Air Force, in Bern
The 31st Aviation Brigade trains the air force's personnel.31st Aviation Brigade, at Payerne Air Base
  • * 31st Aviation Brigade Staff, at Payerne Air Base
  • ** Intelligence Service Training Cell, at Emmen Air Base trains air force's intelligence officers
  • ** Parachute Reconnaissance Cell, at Locarno Air Base
  • * 81st Aviation School, at Payerne Air Base trains the air force's ground personnel
  • * 82nd Air Force Training Command, at Dübendorf Air Base trains the air force's intelligence, signals, command support, and radar troops
  • * 85th Air Force Pilots School, at Locarno Air Base trains the air force's pilots
  • ** 14th Instrument Flying Squadron, at Locarno Air Base with PC-7 Turbo Trainer and PC-21 planes
  • * Air Force Officers School, at Dübendorf Air Base
  • * 1st Air Force Intelligence Group, at Dübendorf Air Base
  • * 2nd Air Force Intelligence Group, at Dübendorf Air Base
  • * 2nd Mobile Air Force Radar Group, at Dübendorf Air Base
The groups of the Air Force Training and Education Brigade field the following subunits:
  • Air force intelligence groups:
  • * Staff company, 4x air force intelligence companies
  • Mobile air force radar group:
  • * Staff company, 2x mobile air force radar companies with TAFLIR mobile radars
    Airfield Command Alpnach/Dübendorf
The Airfield Command Alpnach/Dübendorf consists of two helicopter formations.Airfield Command Alpnach/Dübendorf, at Alpnach Air Base
Airfield Command Emmen besides its own flying squadrons also hosts units of the Air Force Training and Education Brigade and the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic team.Airfield Command Emmen, at Emmen Air Base
Airfield Command Locarno hosts and supports the 85th Air Force Pilots School, maintains the PC-6 Porter, PC-7 Turbo Trainer, and PC-9 planes, and hosts the parachute training of the Swiss Armed Forces.Airfield Command Locarno, at Locarno Air Base
  • * Airfield Command Staff
  • * Flight Operations Support, supports the 14th Instrument Flying Squadron
  • * Flight Simulators, with PC-7 Turbo Trainer simulators
    Airfield Command Meiringen/Bern
Airfield Command Meiringen/Bern is one of two fighter bases of the air force. The command also supports the Swiss Federal Government's Air Transport Service at Bern Airport.Airfield Command Meiringen/Bern, at Meiringen Air Base
Airfield Command Payerne is one of two fighter bases of the air force. The command also supports the Swiss Federal Government's Air Transport Service at Bern Airport.Airfield Command Payerne, at Payerne Air Base
The 33rd Ground-Based Air Defense Brigade trains the armed forces' air defense troops. In wartime the guided missiles groups' fire units would be dispersed to protect formations or locations, while the medium anti-aircraft group's batteries would each protect an air force airfield.33rd Ground-Based Air Defense Brigade, at Emmen Air Base
  • * 33rd Ground-Based Air Defense Brigade Staff
  • * 33rd Ground-based Air Defense School
  • ** 1st Light Anti-aircraft Guided Missiles Group
  • ** 5th Light Anti-aircraft Guided Missiles Group
  • ** 7th Light Anti-aircraft Guided Missiles Group
  • ** 32nd Medium Anti-aircraft Group
  • ** 34th Medium Anti-aircraft Group
  • ** 45th Medium Anti-aircraft Group
The anti-aircraft groups field the following subunits:
  • Light anti-aircraft guided missile groups:
  • * 2x light anti-aircraft guided missile batteries with 16 fire units and four observer teams each; each fire unit fields one FIM-92 Stinger launcher and carries three missiles in total, while each observer team operates one ALERT tactical radar
  • Medium anti-aircraft groups:
  • * 2x medium anti-aircraft batteries with four fire units each; each fire unit fields one Skyguard radar and two GDF 005 35mm twin cannons
    Wartime air wing structure
In peace the Swiss air bases are operated by a small professional cadre and rotating conscript troops. In wartime the six wings of the air force would increase in size to allow for high intensity operations. In wartime the structure of the Swiss air wings would be as follows:
For the three transport wings the example given is for the 2nd Air Transport Wing :
  • 2nd Air Transport Command
  • * 2nd Air Transport Wing
  • ** 6th Air Transport Squadron
  • ** 8th Air Transport Squadron
  • ** 2nd Air Transport Company
  • * 2nd Air Transport Group
  • ** 2nd Air Transport Command Support Company
  • ** 2nd Air Transport Support Company
  • ** 2nd Air Transport Logistic Company
  • * 2nd Air Transport Protection Company
For the three fighter wings the example given is for the 13th Fighter Wing :
  • 11th Aviation Unit Command
  • * 11th Fighter Wing
  • ** 17th Fighter Squadron
  • ** 18th Fighter Squadron
  • ** 11th Fighter Company
  • * 11th Airfield Group
  • ** 11th Fighter Command Support Company
  • ** 11th Fighter Support Company
  • ** 11th Fighter Logistic Company
  • * 11th Air Base Protection Company

1st Territorial Division

The 1st Territorial Division is based in the French-speaking Romandy region and the bilingual Canton of Bern. Its area of responsibility includes the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, and Vaud.1st Territorial Division, in Morges
  • * 1st Engineer Staff overseeing buildings and constructions
  • * 1st Coordination Office managing the training areas
  • * 1st Territorial Division Staff Battalion
  • * 1st Carabiniers Battalion
  • * 13th Infantry Battalion
  • * 14th Carabiniers Battalion
  • * 19th Infantry Battalion
  • * 2nd Engineer Battalion
  • * 1st Civil Protection Battalion
  • * Patrouille des Glaciers Command

2nd Territorial Division

The 2nd Territorial Division is based in the German-speaking part of Northern Switzerland and responsible for the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, and Solothurn.2nd Territorial Division, in Aarau
  • * 2nd Engineer Staff overseeing buildings and constructions
  • * 2nd Coordination Office managing the training areas
  • * 2nd Territorial Division Staff Battalion
  • * 11th Infantry Battalion
  • * 20th Infantry Battalion
  • * 56th Infantry Battalion
  • * 97th Infantry Battalion
  • * 6th Engineer Battalion
  • * 2nd Civil Protection Battalion

3rd Territorial Division

The 3rd Territorial Division is based in the German-speaking central part of Switzerland and the Italian-speaking Canton of Ticino. Its area of responsibility includes the cantons of Graubünden, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, and Zug.3rd Territorial Division, in Altdorf
  • * 3rd Engineer Staff overseeing buildings and constructions
  • * 3rd Coordination Office managing the training areas
  • * 3rd Territorial Division Staff Battalion
  • * 29th Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 30th Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 48th Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 91st Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 9th Engineer Battalion
  • * 3rd Civil Protection Battalion

4th Territorial Division

The 4th Territorial Division is based in the German-speaking Eastern part of Switzerland and responsible for the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Glarus, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Zürich.4th Territorial Division, in St. Gallen
  • * 4th Engineer Staff overseeing buildings and constructions
  • * 4th Coordination Office managing the training areas
  • * 4th Territorial Division Staff Battalion
  • * 6th Mountain Schützen Battalion
  • * 61st Infantry Battalion
  • * 65th Infantry Battalion
  • * 85th Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • * 23rd Engineer Battalion
  • * 4th Civil Protection Battalion
    Territorial Division battalion structure
The battalions of the territorial divisions field the following subunits:
  • Territorial division staff battalions:
  • * Territorial division staff company, territorial division staff operations company, signal company, protection company, and a reconnaissance company
  • Infantry, carabiniers, mountain infantry, and mountain Schützen battalions:
  • * Staff company, 3x infantry companies with a mix of Piranha and Duro IIIP armoured fighting vehicles, and a combat support company consisting of three 81mm mortar platoons, an artillery observer platoon, and a sniper platoon
  • Engineer battalions:
  • * Staff company, 2x sapper companies, 1x bridge engineer company with Motorized Floating Bridges, Medium Girder Bridges, and 46m Support Bridges
  • Civil protection battalions:
  • * Staff company, 3x civil protection companies

Military Police Command

The Military Police Command is the Swiss Armed forces Military Police formation and staffed with professional and conscript soldiers.Military Police Command, in Sitten
  • * Military Police Command Staff
  • ** Military Police Operations Centre
  • ** Military Police Situation Centre
  • ** Military Police Security Transports
  • * Military Police Operations Command
  • ** Military Accident and Damage Prevention
  • ** Military Criminal Police
  • ** Panzer Transport Office
  • ** Legal Assistance Office
  • * Military Police Security Service Operations Command guarding critical militaryinfrastructure
  • * Military Police Search and Protection Operations Command tasked with preventing espionage, sabotage, and crime
  • * 1st Military Police Battalion
  • * 2nd Military Police Battalion
  • * 3rd Military Police Battalion
  • * 4th Military Police Battalion
  • * Military Police Competence Centre training members of the military police
  • ** Military Police Readiness Company
The battalions of the Military Police Command field the following subunits:
  • Military police battalions:
  • * Military police staff company, 2x military police companies, and a military police grenadier company

Special Forces Command

The Special Forces Command is based in the Canton of Ticino.Special Forces Command, in Rivera
The battalions of the Special Forces Command field the following subunits:
  • Special forces command staff battalion:
  • * Staff company, command operations company, protection company, and a Grenadier support company
  • Grenadier battalions:
  • * Grenadier staff company, 3x Grenadier companies, Grenadier reconnaissance company, and a Grenadier support company

Training Command

The Training Command is responsible for planning, steering and carrying out the training and education of troops of all ranks, including officers, units and staffs.Training Command, in Bern
  • * Training Command Staff, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces College / Deputy Commander Training Command, in Luzern
  • ** General Staff School, in Kriens
  • ** Military Academy at ETH Zurich, in Birmensdorf
  • ** Central School, in Luzern
  • ** Career NCO School, in Herisau
  • * Armed Forces Personnel, in Bern
  • * Infantry Training Unit, in Colombier
  • * Panzer and Artillery Training Unit, in Thun
  • * Engineer/ Civil Protection/ NBC Training Unit, in Zuchwil
  • * Command Support Training Unit, at Dübendorf Air Base
  • * Logistic Training Unit, in Thun
  • * Armed Forces Training Centre, in Walenstadt

Armed Forces College

The Armed Forces College provides leadership and staff training for conscript officers, career officers and non-commissioned officers. Furthermore the college's Military Academy at ETH Zurich is Switzerland's leading military science research institution.Armed Forces College, in Luzern
  • * General Staff School, in Kriens
  • * Military Academy at ETH Zurich, in Birmensdorf
  • * Central School, in Luzern
  • ** Leadership Training Centre
  • ** Formation Leadership Course
  • ** Unit Leadership Course
  • ** Management, Information and Communication Training Command
  • * Career NCO School, in Herisau
  • * Operational Training, in Bern

Armed Forces Personnel

The Armed Forces Personnel is the personnel management department of the Swiss Armed Forces.Armed Forces Personnel, in Bern
  • * Governance and Guidelines
  • * Human Resources Management
  • * Recruitment Command
  • * Swiss Armed Forces Diversity
  • * Armed Forces Service Member Prevention and Care, in Thun
  • ** Armed Forces Pastoral Care, in Thun
  • ** Armed Forces Psychological-pedagogical Service, in Thun
  • ** Armed Forces Social Service, in Thun

Infantry Training Unit

The Infantry Training Unit trains the armed forces' infantry troops, military police, and musicians.Infantry Training Unit, in Colombier
  • * 2nd Infantry School, in Colombier
  • ** Chamblon Weapons Range, in Chamblon
  • * 10th Infantry Officers School, in Liestal
  • * 11th Infantry School, in St. Gallen
  • * 12th Infantry School, in Chur
  • ** Chur Weapons Range, in Chur
  • * 14th Infantry Full Time Troops School, in Birmensdorf
  • * 18th Infantry Training and Formation, in Colombier
  • * 19th Military Police School, in Sion
  • * Armed Forces Mountain Service Competence Centre, in Andermatt
  • ** 15th Mountain Specialists School
  • ** 1st Mountain Specialists Group
  • ** 104th/204th Mountain Specialists Readiness Detachment
  • * Military Music Competence Centre, in Bern
  • ** Command and Training, in Aarau
  • ** Swiss Military Bands with 4x professional orchestras: the Central Band, Brass Band, Big Band and Symphony Wind Orchestra
  • ** 11x Military bands with conscript recruits

Panzer and Artillery Training Unit

The Panzer and Artillery Training Unit trains the armed forces' armoured and artillery troops, and the troops of the territorial divisions' staff battalions.Panzer and Artillery Training Unit, in Thun
  • * 21st Panzer School, in Thun
  • * 22nd Panzer/Artillery Officers School, in Thun
  • * 31st Artillery and Reconnaissance School, in Bière
  • * Thun Weapons Range/ Mechanised Training Centre, in Thun
  • * Bière Weapons Range/ Artillery Training Centre, in Bière
  • ** Simplon Artillery Shooting Range, in Thun manages the development, procurement and field trials of armoured and artillery equipment

Engineer/ Civil Protection/ NBC Training Unit

The Engineer/ Civil Protection/ NBC Training Unit trains the armed forces' engineer, civil protection, CBRN defense, disaster relief, and demining troops. The unit is also responsible for the Swiss Armed Forces naval troops and divers, and the armed forces athletes and sport training.Engineer/ Civil Protection/ NBC Training Unit, in Zuchwil
  • * 73rd Engineer School, in Brugg
  • * 74th Engineer/Civil Protection Seminars+Courses, in Bremgarten trains non-commissioned officers and officers
  • ** Armed Forces Divers Centre
  • * 75th Civil Protection School, in Wangen an der Aare
  • * 76th Civil Protection Troops Training Centre, in Bernex
  • ** Geneva Weapons Range, in Geneva
  • * Disaster Relief Readiness Battalion, in Bremgarten deployable within hours for national and international disaster relief
  • * NBC Defense-Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mine Clearance Competence Centre, in Spiez
  • ** 77th NBC Defense School, in Spiez
  • ** 1st NBC Defense Laboratory, in Spiez
  • ** 10th NBC Defense Battalion, in Luzern
  • ** NBC Defense Readiness Company, in Spiez
  • ** Ordnance Disposal and Mine Clearance Command, in Spiez
  • * Armed Forces Sport Competence Centre, in Magglingen
  • * 10th Motor Boat Company, in Zuchwil patrolling the Swiss border lakes

Command Support Training Unit

The Command Support Training Unit trains the armed forces' signal, electronic warfare, and command support troops.Command Support Training Unit, at Dübendorf Air Base

Logistic Training Unit

The Logistic Training Unit trains the armed forces' medical, logistics, movement control, transport, maintenance, and veterinary troops, and the armed forces' animals.Logistic Training Unit, in Thun
  • * 40th Logistic Officers School, in Bern
  • * 41st Hospital School, at the Moudon Weapons Range
  • * 41st Military Doctors Non-Commissioned Officers/Officers School, at the Moudon Weapons Range
  • * 42nd Medical School, in Airolo
  • * 43rd Maintenance School, in Thun
  • * 45th Supply School, in Fribourg
  • * 47th Movement Control and Transport School, in Romont
  • * 49th Higher Non-commissioned Officer Courses, in Bern
  • * Catering Training Centre, in Thun
  • ** Swiss Armed Forces Culinary Team
  • * Veterinary Service and Armed Forces Animals Competence Centre, in Bern
  • ** 13th Veterinary and Armed Forces Animals Group, in Schönbühl
  • *** 3x Train Columns, with around 100 horses each
  • *** Veterinary Company
  • *** Dog Handler Company, with around 100 dogs
  • * Armed Forces Driving Training Competence Centre, in Thun

Armed Forces Training Centre

The Armed Forces Training Centre is responsible for the initial and continuing education of the armed forces' professional personnel, combat exercises with simulation support, and safety-related matters on all shooting ranges.Armed Forces Training Centre, in Walenstadt
  • * Seminars and Courses Command, in Walenstadt
  • * Combat Training Centre Command West, in Bure
  • ** Bure Weapons Range, in Bure
  • * Combat Training Centre Command East, in Walenstadt
  • ** Walenstadt Weapons Range, in Walenstadt
  • ** St. Luzisteig Shooting Range, in Walenstadt manages the development, procurement and field trials of infantry equipment and gear

Cyber Command

The Cyber Command operates the Swiss military's information and communications network and the electronic operations centres.Cyber Command, in Bern
  • * Cyber Security Centre, protects the information and communications network
  • * Mission Control Centre, monitors and steers the information and communications network
  • * Electronic Operations Centre, operates the Signals Intelligence and Electronic Warfare network

41st Command Support Brigade

The 41st Command Support Brigade is the military part of the Command Support Organisation and supports the operational units of the Armed Forces.41st Command Support Brigade, in Bülach
  • * Systems/Cadre Training/Support Command
  • * 41st Command Support Battalion
  • * 11th Headquarters Battalion
  • * 22nd Headquarters Battalion
  • * 25th Headquarters Battalion
  • * 4th Signal Battalion, supporting the Air Force
  • * 16th Signal Battalion
  • * 17th Signal Battalion
  • * 21st Signal Battalion
  • * 32nd Signal Battalion
  • * 46th Electronic Group, radio reconnaissance
  • * 51st Electronic Warfare Group
  • * 52nd Electronic Warfare Group
The battalions of the 41st Command Support Brigade field the following subunits:
  • Headquarters battalions:
  • * Staff company, operations company, signal company, protection company, transport company
  • Command support battalion:
  • * Staff company, 3x command support companies, protection company
  • Signal battalions:
  • * Staff company, 4x signal companies
  • Electronic warfare groups:
  • * Staff company, 2x electronic warfare companies

Armed Forces Logistics Organisation

The Armed Forces Logistics Organisation prepares and maintains the materiel and infrastructures of the Swiss Armed Forces. The Logistics Organisation's areas not assigned to the 1st Logistic Brigade are manned and managed by civilian staff.Armed Forces Logistics Organisation, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces Logistic Centre Othmarsingen
  • * Armed Forces Logistic Centre Hinwil
  • * Armed Forces Logistic Centre Thun
  • * Armed Forces Logistic Centre Monteceneri
  • * Armed Forces Logistic Centre Grolley
  • * Electronic Media Centre, in Bern
  • * Armed Forces Road Traffic and Naval Shipping Office, in Bern (

1st Logistic Brigade

The 1st Logistic Brigade is the military part of the Logistics Organisation and supports the operational units of the Armed Forces.1st Logistic Brigade, in Ittigen
  • * 1st Logistic Brigade Staff Company
  • * 1st Movement Control and Transport Battalion
  • * 1st Infrastructure Battalion, operates underground command centres and protects above-ground headquarters
  • * 21st Logistic Battalion
  • * 51st Logistic Battalion
  • * 52nd Logistic Battalion
  • * 92nd Logistic Battalion
  • * 101st Logistic Battalion
  • * 61st Logistic Support Battalion
  • * 2nd Hospital Battalion
  • * 5th Hospital Battalion
  • * 66th Hospital Battalion
  • * 75th Hospital Battalion
  • * 81st Medical Logistics Battalion
  • * 9th Medical Support Battalion
  • * 104th/204th Logistic Readiness Company
The battalions of the 1st Logistic Brigade field the following subunits:
  • Movement control and transport battalion:
  • * Staff company, 3x movement control companies, 3x transport companies
  • Logistic battalions:
  • * Staff company, 2x logistic companies
  • Hospital battalions:
  • * Staff company, 2x hospital companies
  • Medical logistics battalion:
  • * Staff company, 3x medical logistics companies