Military service

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Useful addresses

​​​​​​​Personal permission – an alternative military service deferral

When you know you will be taking a short absence (e.g. one day to sit an exam), you can request personal permission to be absent without losing the entire course and without having to request a deferral.
Personal permission is time off granted by the relevant commander upon personal request. You must submit your request for personal permission before entering service. In serious and unforeseeable cases (e.g. accident/death in your family), you can also submit your request for leave during service. Your unit commander is responsible for making the decision.
The Army offers the option of submitting applications for permission digitally via a special app. To log in, you need to scan the QR code on the back of your personal marching orders.

Deferral of military service

If they are unable to perform military service for personal, academic, professional or medical reasons, military personnel must apply for deferral of service in due time. The application will only be approved if there are valid reasons and if service requirements allow. Deferred service must be made up at a later date.

A request for deferral of service is necessary when personal permission is not sufficient. It must be submitted in writing no later than 14 weeks before service and accompanied by certificates (e.g. from the employer/educational institution). For requests submitted after this date, processing before service cannot be guaranteed.

Requests for deferral (advance or postponement of service) using the paper form must be submitted, duly completed and signed, to the secretariat of the SUPSI department/affiliated school for the necessary approval. Please use the attached form. To submit your request online, use the app ‘Service Management’ (see below). The procedures are valid at federal level.

In any case, until you receive authorisation to defer service, you remain subject to the obligation to enter service. 

Fractioning the Recruit School

Recruit school (SR) lasts 18 or 21 weeks and must be completed in its entirety. Only in exceptional and duly justified cases may a soldier interrupt SR once and complete it in two periods. Please use the attached form.
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The first part of the SR lasts 13 weeks and is compulsory in all cases. It can be completed between weeks 27 and 39 inclusive. The second part of the SR must be completed during the summer break of the following year, i.e. from week 24 onwards.

Swiss Army “Service Management” digital portal

With the “Service Management” app, you can easily manage your military service online, anytime and anywhere.

With Service Management, you can:

• update your personal details
• submit personal permission requests
• request deferment of service
• apply for a training incentive
• receive your public transport ticket on the SwissPass
• submit your digital permission form
• submit your digital march order