Professional army (officers, command and control,…) are at federal level
Reservists, draft, … are cantonal
Relevant Constitution Article
Article 11 : Compulsory military and alternative civilian service, Article 16 : Restriction of basic rights in specific instances, Article 48 : Command of the Armed Forces, Article 61 : Matters, and Article 62 : Armed Forces
- Men who have attained the age of eighteen (18) may be required to serve in the Cantonal Armed Forces, the Federal Armed Forces, the Cantonal or Federal Army, or a Cantonal or Federal civil defense organization.
- Women between the age of eighteen (18) and fifty-five (55) may be called upon to render such services
- The right of members of the Armed Forces and of alternative services to freely express and disseminate their opinions in speech, writing, and pictures may be constrained by Federal or Cantonal laws.
- Laws regarding war, including protection of the civilian population, may provide for restriction of the basic rights of freedom of movement and inviolability of the home.
- Command of the Federal Armed Forces shall be vested in the Federal Government.
- Command of the Cantonal Armed Forces shall be vested in the Cantonal Prime Minister.
- The federal financial administration, and the administration of certain federal assets like ports or airports shall be conducted by federal administrative authorities with their own administrative substructures.
- A federal law may establish Federal Army authorities and central offices for police information and communications.
- All government and/or social institutions (i.e., NSSF) whose jurisdiction extends beyond the territory of a single Canton shall be administered as federal corporations under public law. Canton authorities can set up similar institutions dedicated to operating exclusively within the boundaries of the Canton.
- New federal corporations and institutions under public or private law may be established by a federal law for matters on which the Federation has legislative power.
- The Federation shall establish Armed Forces for purposes of defense. Their numerical strength and general organizational structure must be shown in the budget.
- During a state of war or a state of emergency, at the demand of the competent Cantonal authorities, the Armed Forces shall have the power to protect civilian property and to perform traffic control functions to the extent necessary to accomplish their defense mission. Moreover, during a state of war or a state of emergency, the Armed Forces may also be authorized to support police measures for the protection of civilian property; in this event the Armed Forces shall cooperate with the competent authorities.
- In order to avert an imminent danger to the existence or free democratic basic order of the Federation or of a Canton, the Federal Government, if forces of the police are insufficient, may employ the Armed Forces to support the police in protecting civilian property. Any such employment of the Armed Forces shall be initiated if, and only if, the Federal or Cantonal Government so demands.
- Federal laws concerning defense, including recruitment for military service and protection of the civilian population, may, with the consent of the Federal Government, provide that they shall be executed, wholly or in part, either by federal administrative authorities with their own administrative substructures or by the Cantons.
- Federal Army is composed of the professional staff and “carrier military”. Permanent organizations and assets. Cantons must maintain structures for reserve army and training (draft) military service. Such services to be coordinated with Federal Army.