Among Soldiers, My Swiss Story

Issue 9

Switzerland

The Swiss military is one of the largest militia systems in the world, built on the idea that everyone shows up. Yet it is rarely seen beyond ceremony, structure, and tradition. What interests me is something else: brotherhood, boredom, fear, pride, and the quiet moments in between.

THE BACKSTORY

How did I end up here...

170 words

2 min read

ISSUE 9

On one training day, I tried to catch some action, spending time with a mountain unit doing drills. I realized how intense it was when an instructor threw a grenade into a river and water shot into the air. It felt very real.

I was working with both my Leica Q3 43 and the SL3 with the zoom. Things moved fast, so I got right in there with both cameras, moving my body, getting low, doing whatever it took to make it feel like I was truly inside the moment.

The Swiss military is based on conscription: most men serve and stay in the reserves. This creates a large militia. It’s one of the biggest in the world because, in a crisis, Switzerland can quickly mobilize hundreds of thousands of trained citizens.

Something I had not really seen in training: soldiers firing mortars along the side of a road while others moved underneath the position. They were extremely confident in hitting the target. It was very bright, so catching the muzzle flash was tricky.

A WK is short for "Wiederholungskurs" a refresher course in the Swiss military. After initial service, soldiers come back periodically to brush up on their training, kind of a “recurring duty” to stay sharp and ready.

Typically, Swiss reservists have to attend these refresher courses up to a certain age or until they’ve completed a set number of service days, usually somewhere in their 30s or early 40s, depending on rank and role.