Editing Swiss Armed Forces (section)

===Conscription===
{{Main|Conscription in Switzerland}}
Switzerland has mandatory military service for all able-bodied male [[Swiss citizen|citizens]], who are [[conscription|conscripted]] when they reach the [[age of majority]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Conscrits et recrues |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut.html |language=fr |publisher=[[Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports]] |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502061315/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut.html |archive-date=2 May 2009}}</ref> though women may volunteer for any position.<ref>{{cite web |title=Femmes dans l'armée |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/fda.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502010612/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/fda.html |archive-date=2 May 2009}}</ref> Since 1996, conscripts who are found to be sufficiently fit for regular military service, but who object for reasons of conscience, can apply for ''[[civilian service]]''. This service consists of various kinds of social services, such as reconstructing cultural sites, helping the elderly and other activities removed from military connotations. Civilian service lasts 340 days, 50% longer than a soldier's regular army service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcampus-armee.ch/imperia/isa/rekr/ziversatz/info/00918/content_f.shtml|title=Ziviler Ersatzdienst|publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports|language=fr|access-date=10 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228134838/http://www.vcampus-armee.ch/imperia/isa/rekr/ziversatz/info/00918/content_f.shtml|archive-date=28 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

People determined unfit for service, where fitness is defined as "satisfying physical, intellectual and psychological requirements for military service or civil protection service and being capable of accomplishing these services without harming oneself or others",<ref>{{cite web |title=Définition de l'aptitude au service |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/diensttauglichkeit/definition.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502102130/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/diensttauglichkeit/definition.html |archive-date=2 May 2009}}</ref> are exempted from service, but pay 11 installments of a 3% additional annual [[income tax]] until the age of 37 unless they are affected by a [[disability]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordonnance sur la taxe d'exemption de l'obligation de servir |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/661_1/index.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation |access-date=10 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114163138/http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/661_1/index.html |archive-date=14 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Conscripts found to be sufficiently unfit for regular military service, but not for exemption, take part in ''[[civil protection]]'', where they may be called on to assist the police, fire or health departments, as well as natural disaster relief and crowd control during demonstrations or events with large attendance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/fr/home/partner/zivilschutz.html|title=Protection civile|publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports|language=fr|access-date=10 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430072242/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/fr/home/partner/zivilschutz.html|archive-date=30 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Almost 20% of all conscripts were found unfit for military or civilian service in 2008; the rate is generally higher in urban cantons such as [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]] and [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]] than in rural ones.<ref>{{cite web |title=Les chiffres du recrutement en 2008 |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/dokumentation/news/newsdetail.24787.nsb.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724085052/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/dokumentation/news/newsdetail.24787.nsb.html |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> [[Fifth Switzerland|Swiss citizens living abroad]] are generally exempted from conscription in peacetime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Les Suisses de l'étranger |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht/auslandschweizer.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425064647/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht/auslandschweizer.html |archive-date=25 April 2009}}</ref> [[Dual citizenship]] does not grant exemption.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doubles-nationaux |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht/doppelb.html |language=fr |publisher=Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports |access-date=10 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426105510/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/fr/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht/doppelb.html |archive-date=26 April 2009}}</ref>

On 22 September 2013, a [[Referendums in Switzerland|referendum]] was held that aimed to [[2013 Swiss referendums|abolish conscription]] in Switzerland.<ref>[http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmungen/volksabstimmungen/volksabstimmungen-2013/abstimmung-2013-09-22/seiten/default.aspx Referendums on 22 September 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306000438/http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmungen/volksabstimmungen/volksabstimmungen-2013/abstimmung-2013-09-22/seiten/default.aspx |date=6 March 2014}} Swiss Parliament, 28 June 2013. Retrieved, 4 March 2014{{in lang|de}}</ref> With a turnout of 47% on this particular question, over 73% voted against eliminating conscription.