Can a EU-citizen resident in CH serve as voluteer in the Swiss army?

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1
Greetings,

I found a few threads about compulsory military service in Switzerland for Swiss citizens and threads abut non-Swiss afraid they might be required to serve... but I could not find a thread about non-Swiss actually wishing to serve in the Swiss military as volunteers.

So... Is this an option?

Data:

-I'm a EU-citizen with a B permit. Moved here recently to join my significant other (who got a research position here in Switzerland)

- I'm 29

- I never served in the military before (it's volunteer-only in my home country and back then I was more interested in pursuing my education)

- I'm fluent in French and Italian; beginner's level German, but currently studying it to improve it and learning some Swiss German alongside

- We plan to stay here for the long run, and integration is an important goal for us

- I wouldn't mind giving up my citizenship in order to, though I don't think that would be technically simple (I don't have the Swiss citizenship yet)

Can I apply for voluntary service here? Or am I barred on the grounds I am not a Swiss citizen?

Thanks in advance for any input and advice.

2
No...it isn't an option.

The Swiss army is not the foreign legion. You must be Swiss to serve.

3
I see. Would that be any different if a non-Swiss married a Swiss then? - could they serve? (ok, that's not my case, but just out of curiosity)

Is civil service out of reach for me as well?

What about police?

4
Police is almost certainly a no-go for linguistic reasons aside from any others. I imagine you'd have quite a lot of Swiss German talked at you in the course of a day's work - and not all of it by sober people speaking slowly, clearly and one at a time either.

5
Yes, I considered this. Even if I were already fluent in Hochdeutsch I'd still have to be fluent in Schwiizertüütsch as well to be able to interact with people. However, I do not live in a German speaking canton. Does that make any difference?

6
Oops! German username threw me off.

Here's the website of the Ticinese cantonal police:

http://www4.ti.ch/di/pol/polizia-cantonale/

and I can't read Italian well enough, but here might be the page on how to become a police officer:

http://www4.ti.ch/di/pol/chi-siamo/professione/

7
Do you have some fetish for uniforms?

8
Thanks a lot for for the links, MathNut - I'm checking them out.

9
Not particularly, I just have a strong sense of discipline and duty, and just wish to really integrate here. Maybe it could be put to good use so why not?

Of course there's also volunteering, I'm just exploring all options...

Call it an (early) mid-life crisis if you wish, but I'd rather be building bridges under the sun than waste my life in an office.

10
Forget it. Prove yourself worthy of the uniform by getting Swiss citizenship first. It's not easy to do.

11
Too bad I'll be 40+ then... I was hoping to be of some use while I am still in my prime.

12
Actually 29 is rather old, most Swiss citizens have already done the majority of their service by then

Jim.

13
Your local fire service might be grateful for your eagerness to serve.

14
... or the local Samariter-Verein.

15
I think basel and a couple of other cantones let foreigners become police officers but I'd say the hurdles would be very high.

As others have said the fire brigade would be a good option. They're desperate for people and you'd be able to earn some pocket money along the way