Well, this is interesting. Approx a quarter of women can see themselves doing military service.
“Surprising high-level of interest” is how the army sees the results of this 2023 survey.
Young Swiss women are very open-minded about voluntary military service
Bern, July 3, 2025 — The Swiss Armed Forces aims to increase the proportion of women in its ranks. A study on the attitudes of young Swiss women toward voluntary military service reveals the thoughts that encourage or discourage them from personally enlisting. This study shows a surprisingly high level of openness among young women toward military service and a need for more information about it.
The obligation of Swiss citizens to serve is enshrined in the Constitution; female citizens, on the other hand, can perform their military service on a voluntary basis. Although the proportion of women in the armed forces has doubled over the past six years, it remains minimal. The Swiss Armed Forces aims to continue increasing the proportion of women in its ranks to benefit from new perspectives and new ways of thinking. Mixed teams have a greater capacity for adaptation and innovation; they therefore strengthen the collective resilience and defense capability of the Swiss Armed Forces.
However, to increase the proportion of women in the armed forces, it is important to understand what might motivate a female citizen to decide for or against voluntary military service. During the summer of 2023, 1,317 Swiss women aged 15 to 25 were surveyed on this topic.
26% of young Swiss women can imagine themselves in military service
This study shows that Swiss women are surprisingly open-minded about voluntary military service. A positive perception of military service prevails: 50% of the women surveyed imagine it to be demanding but rewarding. 44% believe that military service allows them to prove themselves and discover their limits, 30% that it improves physical fitness, and 26% that it teaches them how to organize themselves. 26% of the women surveyed can imagine themselves performing military service on a voluntary basis.