Military_awards_and_decorations_of_Switzerland
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]
Length of Service Decorations
More information Length of Service Decoration, Emblem ...
| 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 |
Close
Exceptional service
More information Emblem, Name ...
| Emblem | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
 | Exceptional service German: Ausserordentliche Leistung French: Prestation exceptionnelle Italian: Prestazione eccezionale | The award is given for:
This award is personally given by the Chief of the Armed Forces for outstanding achievements. |
Close
Decorations
These ribbons are worn in place of the older Sugus type badges (called that way because of their sugus-like rectangular shape and because a decoration is like a sweet). Exception: the former Alpine Insignia looked different and was replaced by the sugus type.
More information Alpine Insignia, Emblem ...
| 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 | |
Close
Mission insignia
More information Service within Switzerland, Emblem ...
| 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 | ||
.png){kind=small} | Kosovo Mission Insignia | Awarded for 150 days of service as a member of the Swisscoy.[3] |
.png){kind=small} | 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. |
.png){kind=small} | Korea Mission Insignia | Awarded for 150 days of service with the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.[3] |
.png){kind=small} | Namibia Mission Insignia | Awarded for 150 days of service with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).[3] |
.png){kind=small} | 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] |
Close
Off-duty activities
More information Emblem, Name ...
| 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. |
Close
Source:[6]
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:
- Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia
- Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad (LAK)
- "Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (1848)" (in Swiss German). Verfassungen.de. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- 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.
- "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.
- "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.
- Ribbons (Auszeichnungen) (German)
- Reglement Abzeichen der Schweizer Armee, 2023