Career track Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Basic training programmes Prospective applicant Candidate Cadet Career officer Confédération suisse Prospective career officers with a Swiss Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra university entrance qualification or a Swiss university of applied sciences Swiss Confederation entrance qualification with a supplemen- Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 tary examination complete the three- Swiss Armed Forces Completion of and-a-half-year Bachelor course of study Recruit school Preparation and Basic training at secondary/tertiary Career officer NCO3/officer schools selection Military Academy (BAC) ETH in Public Policy. If they are al - education ready in possession of a university degree or a degree from a university of applied Federal VET 1 RS posting Minimum rank: sciences, they complete the one-and-a- diploma vocational Military school first lieutenant half-year Diploma Course «Diploma of training 2 Advanced Studies ETH in military sci- n 1 2 o a i 1 n n VET /Federal Voca- t Service as ences». Those who have completed a m o o a Minimum rank: i i Bachelor o c t t l tional Baccalaureate/ i career officer c c l vocational education and possess the p lieutenant e e course i p Baccalaureate l l in various functions p D e e S S Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence A may complete the Military School (MS), University of Minimum rank: Diploma lasting for 20 months. applied sciences/ first lieutenant course University Upon completion of the basic training programme, the career officers begin Employment contract active duty in the recruit, NCO or officer 1 Vocational education and training 2 Plus 3 years of work experience with the Swiss Confederation schools. 3 non commissioned officer Basic training programmes Advanced training courses Selection procedure Recruit schools, NCO/officer schools, Advanced training course 1 (ATC 1) pre- + Military Academy training centres pares career officers in 10 weeks for Posting Training units, Armed Forces College, deployment in mid-level leadership roles Functions school commandant, headquarters 3 (Funcition group 3). n o Senior officer/general i t 4 c e n l e Advanced training course 2 (ATC 2) provi- o i S t c e l des in 6 weeks the basics for deployment e Advanced training ATC 1 ATC 2 S ATC 3 in higher leadership roles (Funcition group courses (ATC) 4/5). The basic course module of the advanced Advanced training training course 3 (ATC 3 BM) prepares pro- sessions spective senior staff members of the Further education Swiss Armed Forces for their future roles. abroad The module focuses on security-related Deployment e.g. SWISSCOY others and military issues. on mission abroad Advanced training sessions Promotions The advanced trainings sessions (ATS) Lt 1Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Gen provide deployment-relevant further edu- 23 27 29 34 38 42 46 cation for all functional levels. Age 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 Advanced training courses e Kaderausbi her ldu Military Academy at Hö ng ETH Zurich MILAC – committed to scientific excellence, values and E 6 1 Military Academy at ETH Zurich 0 professional practice 2 . 1 Kaserne, 8903 Birmensdorf, Phone +41 58 484 82 82, Fax +41 58 484 82 00 – A K [email protected], www.armee.ch/milak H The Military Academy at ETH Zurich is the educational institution for the education, training and development of career officers of the Swiss Armed Forces. It is also an internationally recognized centre of competence for military sciences as well as for the assessment centre of the armed forces. MILAC trains and educates career officers on the basis of a science-based value-oriented and practical foundation. It is the leading institution in Switzerland conduc- ting research in military sciences at the university level, promoting both scientific knowledge and excellence in teaching. The assessment centres operated at MILAC aim to professionally select and develop persons designated to take up key leadership functions in the armed forces. MILAC contributes substantially to fulfilling the missionf o the armed forces and hence to the security and stability of Switzerland. Prospective career officers in stages of training The MILAC equips students to work autono- Teaching and Research Units of MILAC Teaching and Research at ETH Zurich mously and to accomplish tasks in a structured (selection) the humanities, social and political and methodical manner. It encourages networ- Areas of military sciences sciences ked and holistic thinking as well as the capaci- I Leadership and Communication Studies I Politics ty for self-reflection. It promotes a sense of I Military History I Law responsibility towards the human and natural I Economics of Defence I Economics environment and an understanding for ethical I Military Psychology and Pedagogy I History and cultural values. The development of perso- I Military Sociology I Society nality constitutes an important aspect of trai- I Strategic Studies I Methodological Competence ning and education efforts in all courses of study. Areas of professional military training I Leadership and Organisation Studies I Studies of Operations and Tactics I Teaching Methodology and Practical Module Core tasks I Languages MILAC is the educational institution for career officers of the Swiss Armed Forces, and runs the following courses and programmes: I the three-and-a-half-year BA course of study in Public Policy (BAC) I the ten-week advanced training course 1 (ATC 1) in conjunction with ETH Zurich I the six-week advanced training course 2 (ATC 2) I the one-and-a-half-year Diploma Course (DC) with an integrated I the eight-week basic course module of the advanced training Research and teaching «Diploma of Advanced Studies ETH in military sciences» in course 3 (ATC 3 BM) conjunction with ETH Zurich I various advanced training sessions (ATS) lasting between one Research is the foundation of teaching. At MILAC applied research is pursued in six areas. Research findings flow seamlessly into the lessons and I Military School, lasting 20 months and several days work of the career officers. MILAC is an internationally recognized centre of competence for military sciences. The academy pursues research and education Focus of teaching and research Military Sociology Military Psychology and Pedagogy within the following teaching and research units: Leadership and Communication I Transformation of the Swiss Armed Forces I Qualitative characteristics of selection and I Leadership and Communication Studies I Military Psychology and Pedagogy I Leadership – theory and practice (principles and the militia system evaluation processes I Military History I Military Sociology and application) I Development of armed forces internationally I Fundamental motivational factors and the I Economics of Defence I Strategic Studies I Leadership ethics / leadership I Civil-military relationships possibilities for influencing them responsibility / military ethics I International cooperation in missions abroad I The influence of personality traits on job MILAC is the centre of competence for the assessment centres of the armed forces and operates the following centres: I Conflict and crisis management I Recruitment and retention satisfaction and success I Assessment centre for career officers (ACABO) I Assessment centre for general staff officers (AC Gst Of) I Intercultural leadership I Cultural diversity in the armed forces I Stress and stress management in the I Assessment centre for career NCOs (ACABU) I Assessment centre for defence attachés (ACAVA) I Communication and leadership processes military context in society, economy and military Military History I Values and virtues in the army I Leadership and communication in crises I Tactics and the development of doctrine in and extreme situations the period of the world wars Strategic Studies Education and Training I Social and cultural history of the Swiss I Strategic theory Economics of Defence Officer Corps in the 20th century I «Transformation» of armed forces in Europe Educational and training goals I to discharge their duties in positions of leadership professionally I Strategic management of technology and I Military thinking in Switzerland in the 19th I Military doctrine The academic education and training programme accords priority to both at home and abroad innovation and 20th centuries, particularly «la pensée I Geostrategic analyses imparting expertise and competence in the core military subjects as I to provide adult-level instruction as didactically skilled and I Efficient use of resources militaire romande» I Crisis analysis and military operations well as in subsidiary public policy-related disciplines which place the professionally competent trainers and educators I Knowledge transfer I History of the transformation of the Swiss I Modelling of civil-military situations former in their broader social context. The science-based and practice- I to participate in projects and take positions on questions involving I Intrapreneurship and strategic initiatives Armed Forces 1985–2004 oriented education is intended to enable career officers at their respec - military and security issues as professionally educated and trained I Protection of critical infrastructure tive levels military specialists I Cyber and economic warfare I to orient their thought and deeds towards the challenges being faced I Economics of Cybersecurity in the socio-political environment as personalities with a well-rounded I Global strategic issues, particularly raw education materials and world trade.