An App to ensure the continued existence of the Swiss army

An App is designed to prepare prospective recruits in Switzerland, both mentally and physically for the military basic training. The Swiss citizen army increasingly reaching limits: In recent years, the number of recruits has fallen continuously. The App is similar to a traditional Fitness App, but is tailored specifically to the military. the Isabel Pfaff, Bern Isabel Pfaff

Isabel Pfaff, Born in 1985, studied African studies and political science in Leipzig, Bordeaux, and lived it Salaam. A graduate of the German school of journalism. After four years as an editor in the foreign Affairs Department, Isabel Pfaff in January 2019 correspondent for Switzerland, based in Bern.

the neutrality of The Swiss is famous for. Less well known is the word that preceded this neutrality is armed. For more than two centuries, the Swiss armed forces maintain their special status in case of doubt, also to the outside to defend.

As in the Swiss policy also prevails in the army, the so-called militia principle: in Principle, all citizens are in favour of this public duty to be responsible and fulfill them in addition to professionally. The army consists largely of conscripts who have to do basic training and several refresher courses, and only a small proportion of professional soldiers. The beautiful idea is familiar with exceptions, however: men have to, women are not permitted to perform military service.

But the Swiss citizens ' army is coming increasingly to its limits. In the past ten years, the annual number of collected recruits has decreased continuously, suitable for Swiss for the civil service more and more - although he will take one and a half times as long as the military service.

An App against the risk of injury

The army is now trying to counteract, among other things, with the latest digital media: The newly launched Free App is "ready #team army" to prospective recruits physically and mentally for your basic training prepare. It is aimed primarily at Teenage conscripts Swiss are, at the earliest, moved in with 17, latest with 25, and should help "to bring in the best Position for the patterning", as it says in the official notice.

Similar to a traditional Fitness App ready together "" on the Basis of personal information of an individual training plan. The "trick", however, write to the provider, whether the request feature: With the App, the users can prepare themselves for a specific military function - from the parachute reconnaissance ("you belong to the Elite") about the dog guide ("unarmed") for the troops cooking ("athletic performance: no"). The training units have developed a sports scientist, by military psychologists, the information comes to the mental strengthening.

With the help of 600 000 Swiss francs expensive App does not want to motivate the Swiss army's only future in the military service, you also want to reduce the risk of injury and, thus, the drop-out rate. Every year, about 20 percent of the recruits give up before completing their training - often for physical reasons.

If the new App can actually create a remedy, you must show up. You don't, at least, is the only Instrument for the continued existence of the Swiss army is to be secured. The government has recently announced that it wants to reform the law on civil service, the admission quotas were clearly too high. In addition, the Ministry of defense and the army frantically, trying to attract more female soldiers. So far, the share of women in the army less than one percent. Anything the authorities can think of. Because: A Switzerland without conscription, or even without an army that showed more people voting, not for the vast majority of the confederates in question.