The Swiss army opens its doors to former military personnel to make up for staffing shortages

In the face of a shortage of qualified personnel, the Swiss Parliament has just approved the reintegration of former soldiers into the army. This measure appeals to those like Olivier Reymond, who wish to return to service in a tense security context. A report from a Vaudois with the army in his blood.

The Swiss army is facing many challenges, including a lack of manpower. To address this, the Parliament has approved the possibility of reintegrating former soldiers into the army, a measure intended to fill the gaps in qualified personnel.

Olivier Reymond served in the military as a simple soldier over ten years ago. But since then, he has never stopped keenly following military affairs. To the point where he wanted to re-enlist.

“I have always had an interest in the army. I found a way that allows me to easily balance my professional and military obligations,” he explained on Saturday in the 19h30 news program. He added: “As the security situation worsens, my interest has been strengthened.”

An administrative obstacle course

For this new commitment of an additional 240 days, Olivier Reymond had to jump through hoops. “I contacted the army’s personnel service and they took a very long time to respond to me. Probably because they had to find a solution, then ask for authorizations,” he recounted.

A complex administrative process that will now be simplified. The Parliament has allowed former soldiers to return to service, a decision praised by the Federal Council, which sees it as an opportunity to address shortages.

Targeting specialized positions

For Federal Councilor Martin Pfister, head of the Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS), the key is to target specific positions.

“We will only allow this voluntary service where there is a need. This need is particularly acute for specialized positions, where qualified personnel are often lacking,” he emphasized.

Olivier Reymond sees this flexibility as a positive development. The Vaudois did not have excellent memories of his basic training school, but this time, it’s different. “I didn’t feel like I was contributing significantly and interestingly when I did my long service,” he confessed. But years have passed: “Today, I am in a different stage of my life. And I think I can bring other things,” he concluded.

TV Reports: Michael Maccabez and Tamara Muncanovic Web version: ther