Thousands of conscripts would rather complete 368 days of community service than join the army. The Federal Council would like to limit this option, introduced by young objectors in the 1970s.
Today, a young person wishing to serve his country “other than guarding a bridge with a gun”, as 21-year-old Léo Tinguely puts it, can opt for a period of civilian service as he did. In this case, the potential conscript must substantiate their objection to military service with “proof through action”: the length of time owed to the nation is increased by 50 %, resulting in 368 days of service rather than the 245 asked of soldiers.
Many Swiss people consider this option to be well worth it. “I loved this experience,” says Samuel Christen, 31, who completed his civilian service in a clinic in Noirmont (JU). His mission as a service technician did not enable him to progress in his career as a polymechanic, but he was able to “help his country without paying military tax”. At 43 years old, Milan*, a senior official of the canton of Geneva, began his military training in 1995 amongst the tanks in Thun, before turning to civilian service (created in 1996). “I saw both sides of the coin and at least I wasn’t a traitor to my country,” states this ex-journalist, born in the Former Yugoslavia. He felt a strong aversion to serving in an army. During a firing exercise, a corporal who considered his performance to be lacking told him to imagine that he was firing at a man from the Balkans. “I showed him the name on my uniform,” recalls Milan. The young university student completed the remainder of his service time in a human rights NGO, then as a sports teacher for the canton of Geneva youth sports service.
Since 2009, Swiss candidates wishing to follow this alternative path have no longer had to justify refusal of the army before a commission. However, individuals must be fit for military service and must find their civilian mission themselves. This was the case for Tinguely, a sociology student and social worker in Fribourg, whose civilian service was spent at Tremplin, a foundation providing support for drug addicts. “The recruitment process lasted for two days. They spoke to us as if we were stupid and we spent a lot of time waiting around,” says Tinguely, who regrets the absence of information regarding civilian service during his army recruitment period in December 2016. Tinguely did not feign illness. At the end of the recruitment process, he stated his request before a high-ranking officer who communicated his military posting to him for February. He had to move quickly to complete the steps for requesting civilian service, which must be completed entirely online. Tinguely began his mission at Tremplin in October 2017 and provided 313 days of work, leaving 40 days of civilian service to complete.
The longer duration of civilian service is generally considered to be an obstacle, as are the steps which must be undertaken to access this option. But aside from the intrinsic value they see in their missions, supporters of this path highlight a number of advantages when compared with military service. The first is the possibility of returning home in the evening. The second concerns the reimbursement of expenses for this activity, which is paid on top of the amounts given to conscripts by their insurance for loss of earnings. Tinguely also received an additional 500 francs from Tremplin, for a total of 2,300 francs per month. Better than in the army. A further advantage is the issuance of work certificates: “I was able to use my work experience in the NGO where I completed my civilian service,” explains Milan. This would not have been the case with military service, even if the latter option can also sometimes open doors.
Civilian service meets needs in the social, healthcare and educational sectors, and is becoming an increasingly popular choice for young people. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of days completed as part of a civilian service mission more than doubled, jumping from 878,000 to 1.78 million, with 6,785 admissions and almost 48,000 people serving at the end of 2017. Alarmed by this success, the Federal Council has launched an offensive aiming to make civilian service seem less attractive. It has been decided to focus notably on men who have already embarked on military service and wish to leave. The aim of these measures is “to ensure respect for the principle that it is not a question of free choice between military and civilian service…” according to the Federal Council statement which remains somewhat ambiguous given its “proof through action” approach.
“As for defending the country in the event of attack: It’s an illusion; it would be like using a Swiss army knife against a nuclear power. We need an army focused on peace-keeping missions instead.”
Ex-serviceman
The government is particularly concerned by an exodus of its executives and specialists towards non-military services. In 2018, of 6,205 admissions, 2,264 were effectively servicemen who had finished their training, including 350 officers and non-commissioned officers. The government warns of “a loss in knowledge and competencies regarding conduct and a loss in technical skills…”.
This policy has received substantial criticism. Socialist municipal councillor of Lausanne Benoît Gaillard, having himself opted for the non-military route in 2004, denounces the escape of conscripts “through the back door”. The average rate of fitness to complete military service ranges from 83 % to 55 % depending on the canton. “Today, those wanting to avoid the army simply have themselves declared unfit for service based on a certificate which is not always very credible. Instead, we should be encouraging a service benefiting the country. The fact of the matter is that the Federal Council is under pressure from the right and does not want to give the impression that it is favouring alternative solutions to military service. So, it prefers to tolerate people escaping from military service through the back door.” Gaillard also claims that this system excludes women.
“The vocation of the Swiss army is not a bad one,” states Milan, who feels that “it should develop a different discourse, in order to be more attractive to young people”. As for defending the country in the event of attack: “It’s an illusion; it would be like using a Swiss army knife against a nuclear power. We need an army focused on peace-keeping missions instead,” suggests this ex-serviceman.
Read more: Tribute to the pioneers of civilian service
*Not real name.
Comments
Comments :
1964 absolvierte ich nach meiner Matura die Grundausbildung der Rekrutenschule. Erst anlässlich dieser bald als sinnlose Zeitverschwendung beachteten Beschäftigung entdeckte ich, dass ich eigentlich ein bedingungsloser Pazifist war. Anschließend machte ich, als „Wiedergutmachung“, ein freiwilliges Soziales Jahr in Marokko beim Internationalen Christlichen Friedensdienst EIRENE.
Nach meiner Rückkehr stellte sich für mich die Frage: Verweigerung und Gefängnisstrafe, und wie oft danach ? – weil es kein Zivildienst gab und weil meine Verweigerungsgründe als (damals) Atheist nicht sofort dazu geführt hätten, mich aus der Armee auszuschließen – oder, weil auch frisch verheiratet, in die Heimat meiner Ehefrau auswandern? Letzteres zog ich vor, da ich ihr nicht zumuten wollte, möglicherweise einige Jahre, immer wieder für mehrere Wochen ins Gefängnis zu kommen. Soweit zu dem mein Auslandsschweizer Dasein auslösendes biographisches Ereignis. Nun aber zum Thema.
Ich bin der Meinung, dass es wichtig ist, für alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger ein Gemeinwohldienstjahr für das Land zu absolvieren und ihnen frei zu stellen, ob sie dies als Zivildienst oder als Wehrdienst leisten wollen. Sollte dies dazu führen, dass es nicht mehr genug Freiwillige für den Wehrdienst gibt, müsste man, solange nicht ganz auf die Armee verzichtet wird, auf den Einsatz von bezahlten Wehrdienstangehörigen zurückgreifen.
Denn, es ist m.E. absolut unwürdig, und es sollte deshalb auch grundgesetzwidrig sein, eine Motivationsprüfung als Voraussetzung für ein Dispens vom Wehrdienst zu verlangen. Der Schweizer wird eben NICHT als Soldat geboren, sondern nur als Mensch. Ich bin zudem nicht nur der Meinung, dass die Schweiz sehr gut ohne Armee auskommen könnte, sondern sehe keinen Sinn darin, überhaupt eine Armee in den Dienst des Friedensschaffens zu stellen.
Eine Armee, auch nur der potenziellen Abwehr eines Angriffs dienend, ist ein Gewaltwerkzeug, das durch seine Anwendung nur wieder Gewalt hervorruft. Die einzige richtige Alternative zur Gewalt ist die vollkommene Abrüstung und die Stärkung einer dem Gemeinwohl und der friedlichen Konfliktbearbeitung dienenden Struktur. Konsequenterweise muss die Herstellung von, und der Handel mit Waffen ganz aufgegeben werden. Nur dann wird der Staat sich auf die Schaffung von echt friedensstiftenden Strukturen konzentrieren, und sich der Bildung von diesen Zielen dienenden Bürgerinnen und Bürger widmen können, kompromisslos!
Ja, ich habe vor über 20 Jahren auch Zivildienst gemacht, und zwar genau auch deshalb, weil ich nicht "mit dem Gewehr eine Brücke bewachen wollte" (toller Vergleich, Léo Tingely!). Schon damals war für mich der Militärdienst sehr unattraktiv im Vergleich mit den Aufgaben eines Zivi.
Schweiz, sieht der Realität in die Augen und trau dich, heilige Kühe endlich zu schlachten!
En effet cette dernière nous oblige à rester assuré en Suisse avec des primes "plein pot" dont les "caisses se font "un profit légalement scandaleux.
En exemple : nous payons pour un couple 2X300 chf (600chf), nos Caisses exigent de nous faire rembourser par la SECU Espagnole. Celle-ci , nous dit, faites vous rembourser là ou vous payez vos primes?Logique - non? Cela provient d'un accord , LAMAL, mal fagoté par de naïfs fonctionnaires qui s'imaginaient que l'Espagne allez respecter des accords qui n'étaient pas en leur faveur?
Autre point, nos assurance de base stipulent que nous avons le libre choix du médecin ,mais sans préciser que ce n'est qu'en Suisse.En Espagne ce n'est que la SECU.
Ex: En Espagne il n'y a pas d'équivalent et lorsque que nous envoyons des factures de notre médecin de famille en ES , la SANITAS ou ASSURA, nous les retournent en nous disant de nous adressé à la SECU. ou de nous payer une assurance de luxe en plus en ES? Plus possible dépassé 70 ans. en plus il faudrait être accepté(santé)
Au nom de tous ces petits retraités je demanderai que l'ORG. DES SUISSES mettent toutes ses compétences - Juristes - journaliste -responsable en charge de s'attaquer à cet accort bidon de la LAMAL. Je suis disposé à donner connaissance de toutes les pièces qui pourraient intéresser ces responsables l'OSE. Il faut savoir que pour avoir un rdv à la sécu (urgent) vous risquer d'attendre des semaines voir des mois..??
A bon entendeur