Awards and decorations of the Swiss Armed Forces

Switzerland does not have a national honour system. Enshrined in the 1848 Swiss Constitution in Article 12 was a prohibition on the acceptance of honours and titles by Swiss citizens.^[1] In the current Swiss constitution there is no specific prohibition on titles and orders, however there is a statute that covers the prohibition previously covered by Article 12.

The Swiss military maintains a system of awards which recognize length of service, training, sports, and mission participation.^[2]

Award ribbons

Length of Service Decorations

Length of Service Decoration
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Length of Service Decoration German: Dienstleistungsabzeichen French: Insigne de prestation de service Italian: Distintivi del servizio	This ribbon is worn with a series of rosettes to indicate total length of service. No rosette indicates 90 days of service.
	Length of Service Decoration	170 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	250 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	350 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	450 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	550 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	650 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	750 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	850 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	950 days service

Exceptional service

Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Exceptional service German: Ausserordentliche Leistung French: Prestation exceptionnelle Italian: Prestazione eccezionale	The award is given for: outstanding merits for the position and prestige of the Swiss Army; particularly exemplary, brave and courageous behavior: lifesaving or assistance under difficult conditions; fulfillment of service duty despite obvious danger; extraordinarily brave behavior. This award is personally given by the Chief of the Armed Forces for outstanding achievements.

Decorations

These ribbons are worn in place of the older Sugus-type badges (nicknamed for their resemblance of Sugus candies). An exception is the former Alpine Insignia, which looked different and was replaced by the Sugus type.

Alpine Insignia
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Alpine Decoration German: Hochgebirgsabzeichen French: Insigne de haute montagne Italian: Distintivo d’alta montagna	This replaced the Alpine Badge previously issued by the Swiss Army. The Alpine Decoration is awarded to those members of the Swiss Army who have received specialist training in mountain warfare and rescue.
Skill-at-arms Decorations
	Assault Rifle, Level 1 German: Sturmgewehr Stufe 1 French: Fusil d’assaut degré 1 Italian: Fucile d’assalto grado 1
	Assault Rifle, Level 2 German: Sturmgewehr Stufe 2 French: Fusil d’assaut degré 2 Italian: Fucile d’assalto grado 2
	Pistol, Level 1 German: Pistole Stufe 1 French: Pistolet degré 1 Italian: Pistola grado 1
	Pistol, Level 2 German: Pistole Stufe 2 French: Pistolet degré 2 Italian: Pistola grado 2
Training Decorations
	Buddy Aid/NBC Defence German: Kameradenhilfe/ABC Abwehr French: Aide au camarade/défense ABC Italian: Aiuto al camerata/difesa NBC
	Coxswain German: Wasserfahrer French: Navigateur Italian: Battelliere
	Pointer (weapon) German: Richter French: Pointeur (arme) Italian: Puntatore (arma)
Sports Decorations
	Military sport 1 German: Militärsport 1 French: Sport militaire 1 Italian: Sport militare 1
	Military sport 2 German: Militärsport 2 French: Sport militaire 2 Italian: Sport militare 2
	Military sports competition German: Militärsport Wettkampfauszeichnung French: Compétition de sport militaire Italian: Sport militare competitivo

Mission insignia

Service within Switzerland
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Operations within Switzerland German: Inland-Einsätze French: Engagements à l’intérieur du pays Italian: Impieghi in Svizzera	Awarded for 5 consecutive days of "Assistenzdienst", e.g. at the Annual WEF Meeting Davos. Update this ribbon can be awarded with silver or gold rosettes depending on the duration of the assignment.
Service abroad
	Kosovo Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service as a member of the Swisscoy.^[3]
	Bosnia-Herzegovina Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Swiss Headquarters Support Unit (SHQSU) to Bosnia-Herzegovina.^[3] This medal is no longer awarded for service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, instead the Operations abroad Peace Support is given to military staff members.
	Korea Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.^[3]
	Namibia Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).^[3]
	Western Sahara Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).^[3]
	Peace Support Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service in peace support operations outside of the framework of an international organization. Like missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and all UN missions with UNMAS as a Swiss In-Kind (seconded to the United Nations).^[3]
	UN Military Observer Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service as a military observer with a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.^[3]
	Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia	Awarded for service with NATO Partnership for Peace.^[4]
	Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad German: Lange Ausland-Abkommandierung French: Service commandé de longue durée à l’étranger Italian: Servizi comandati prolungati	Awarded for at least 150 training days service in a training course of a foreign army as part of the "LAK" program.^[4]
	UNO OSCE OTAN Mandates Mission Badge Example	Because of the diversity, all portraits of the ribbons of the UNO / OSCE mandates are not illustrated.^[5]

Off-duty activities

Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Off-duty activity, level 1 German: Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeit Stufe 1 French: Activité hors du service degré 1 Italian: Attività fuori del servizio livello 1	For recognized activities with military umbrella organizations and societies.
	Off-duty activity, level 2 German: Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeit Stufe 2 French: Activité hors du service degré 2 Italian: Attività fuori del servizio livello 2	Further recognized activities and leadership within a military umbrella organization or society.
	Off-duty activity, level 3 German: Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeit Stufe 3 French: Activité hors du service degré 3 Italian: Attività fuori del servizio livello 3	Reaching level 1 and level 2 is not required. 6 years of active membership in a board of directors of a military society or an umbrella organization of its associations or sections.

Source:^[6]

Order of wear

Awards are worn on the uniform as ribbon bars in rows of three, with a maximum of nine ribbons worn at a time. When the top row of ribbons is less than three, they are worn to the wearers left.^[2] Only the highest level of award received is worn. The ribbons are worn in the following order:^[4]

Length of Service Decoration (max 1 Ribbon);
Decorations:
- Exceptional service
- Skill-at-arms Decorations
- Training Decorations (including Alpine training)
- Sports Decorations
Mission Insignia:
- Operations within Switzerland (max 1 Ribbon)
- Operations Abroad;
- UN/OSCE Mandate Missions (max 1 per ribbon)
Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia
Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad (LAK)

References

^ "Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (1848)" (in Swiss German). Verfassungen.de. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b Armed Forces Logistics Organisation AFLO, ed. (2008). Insignia of the Swiss Armed Forces (PDF). Bern: Swiss Armed Forces. pp. 69–77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Insignes remis pour les missions accomplies à l'étranger dans le cadre de la promotion de la paix" (in French). Promotion de la Paix - Centre de compétences SWISSINT. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Reglement 51.009d" (PDF) (in German). Schweizer Armee. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
^ "UNO / OSZE Mandate". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
^ "Auszeichnung Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeiten" [Award Off-duty activity] (PDF). sog.ch (PDF; 822 KB) (in German). 2015-11-15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2018-03-19.

External links

Ribbons (Auszeichnungen) (German)
Reglement Abzeichen der Schweizer Armee, 2023

[1] "Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (1848)" (in Swiss German). Verfassungen.de. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.

[Insignia-2] Armed Forces Logistics Organisation AFLO, ed. (2008). Insignia of the Swiss Armed Forces (PDF). Bern: Swiss Armed Forces. pp. 69–77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

[missioninsignia-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Insignes remis pour les missions accomplies à l'étranger dans le cadre de la promotion de la paix" (in French). Promotion de la Paix - Centre de compétences SWISSINT. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2013.

[reg51.009d-4] "Reglement 51.009d" (PDF) (in German). Schweizer Armee. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

[5] "UNO / OSZE Mandate". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-03-19.

[6] "Auszeichnung Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeiten" [Award Off-duty activity] (PDF). sog.ch (PDF; 822 KB) (in German). 2015-11-15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2018-03-19.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]