Switzerland does not have a national honour system. Enshrined in the

1848 Swiss Constitution The rise of Switzerland as a federal state began on 12 September 1848, with the creation of a federal constitution in response to a 27-day civil war, the ''Sonderbundskrieg''. The constitution, which was heavily influenced by the United Stat ...

in Article 12 was a prohibition on the acceptance of honours and titles by Swiss citizens. In the current Swiss constitution there is no specific prohibition on titles and orders, however there is a statute that covers the prohibition previously covered by Article 12. The Swiss military maintains a system of awards which recognize length of service, training, sports, and mission participation.

Award ribbons

Length of Service Decorations

}
french: Insigne de prestation de service
it, Distintivi del servizio , , This ribbon is worn with a series of rosettes to indicate total length of service. No rosette indicates 90 days of service. , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Bronze

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 170 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Bronze

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 250 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Bronze

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 350 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Silver

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 450 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Silver

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 550 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Silver

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 650 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Gold

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 750 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Gold

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 850 days service , - , CHE Ribbons Rosette Gold

, , Length of Service Decoration, , 950 days service

Exceptional service

}
french: Prestation exceptionnelle
it, Prestazione eccezionale, , The award is given for: # outstanding merits for the position and prestige of the Swiss Army; # particularly exemplary, brave and courageous behavior: #* lifesaving or assistance under difficult conditions; #* fulfillment of service duty despite obvious danger; #* extraordinarily brave behavior. This award is personally given by the Chief of the Armed Forces for outstanding achievements.

Decorations

These ribbons are worn in place of the older

Sugus Sugus is a brand of chewy candy manufactured by the Wrigley Company. It was created in 1931 by the Swiss chocolate company Suchard, which was later acquired by Kraft Foods in 1990. Wrigley acquired the candy business of Kraft Foods including the ...

type badges (called that way because of their sugus-like rectangular shape and because a decoration is like a sweet). Exception: the former Alpine Insignia looked different and was replaced by the sugus type. }
french: Insigne de haute montagne
it, Distintivo d’alta montagna , , This replaced the Alpine Badge previously issued by the Swiss Army. The Alpine Decoration is awarded to those members of the Swiss Army who have received specialist training in mountain warfare and rescue. , - ! colspan=3, Skill-at-arms Decorations , - , CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Assault rifle level 1

CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Assault rifle level 1

, , Assault Rifle, Level 1
german: Sturmgewehr Stufe 1
french: Fusil d’assaut degré 1
it, Fucile d’assalto grado 1 , , , - , CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Assault rifle level 2

CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Assault rifle level 2

, , Assault Rifle, Level 2
german: Sturmgewehr Stufe 2
french: Fusil d’assaut degré 2
it, Fucile d’assalto grado 2 , , , - , CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Pistol level 1

CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Pistol level 1

, , Pistol, Level 1
german: Pistole Stufe 1
french: Pistolet degré 1
it, Pistola grado 1 , , , - , CHE Skill-at-arms decoration Pistol level 2

, , Pistol, Level 2
german: Pistole Stufe 2
french: Pistolet degré 2
it, Pistola grado 2 , , , - ! colspan=3, Training Decorations , - , CHE Training decoration Buddy Aid NBC Defence

CHE Training decoration Buddy Aid NBC Defence

, , Buddy Aid/NBC Defence
german: Kameradenhilfe/ABC Abwehr
french: Aide au camarade/défense ABC
it, Aiuto al camerata/difesa NBC , , , - , CHE Training Decoration Coxswain

, , Coxswain
german: Wasserfahrer
french: Navigateur
it, Battelliere , , , - , CHE Training Decoration Pointer

, , Pointer (weapon)
german: Richter
french: Pointeur (arme)
it, Puntatore (arma) , , , - ! colspan=3, Sports Decorations , - , , , Military sport 1
german: Militärsport 1
french: Sport militaire 1
it, Sport militare 1 , , , - , CHE Military Sports decoration, second class

CHE Military Sports decoration, second class

, , Military sport 2
german: Militärsport 2
french: Sport militaire 2
it, Sport militare 2 , , , - , CHE Military Sports competition decoration

, , Military sports competition
german: Militärsport Wettkampfauszeichnung
french: Compétition de sport militaire
it, Sport militare competitivo , ,

Mission insignia

}
french: Engagements à l’intérieur du pays
it, Impieghi in Svizzera , , Awarded for 5 consecutive days of "Assistenzdienst", e.g. at the Annual WEF Meeting Davos. Update this ribbon can be awarded with silver or gold rosettes depending on the duration of the assignment. , - ! colspan=3, Service abroad , - , , , Kosovo Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service as a member of the Swisscoy. , - , , , Bosnia-Herzegovina Mission Insignia , , Awarded for 150 days of service with the

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, pro ...

(OSCE) Swiss Headquarters Support Unit (SHQSU) to Bosnia-Herzegovina. This medal is no longer awarded for service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, instead the Operations abroad Peace Support is given to military staff members. , - , , , Korea Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service with the

Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) was established by the Korean Armistice Agreement signed 27 July 1953, declaring an armistice in the Korean War. It is, with the Military Armistice Commission, part of the mechanism regulating the r ...

. , - , , , Namibia Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service with the

United Nations Transition Assistance Group The United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force deployed from April 1989 to March 1990 in Namibia, known at the time as South West Africa, to monitor the peace process and elections there. N ...

(UNTAG). , - , , , Western Sahara Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service with the

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ( ar, بعثة الأمم المتحدة لتنظيم استفتاء في الصحراء الغربية; french: Mission des Nations Unies pour l'Organisation d'un Référendum au ...

(MINURSO). , - , CHE Operations abroad Peace Support

, , Peace Support Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service in peace support operations outside of the framework of an international organization. Like missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and all UN missions with UNMAS as a Swiss In-Kind (seconded to the United Nations). , - , CHE Operations abroad UN Military Observer

CHE Operations abroad UN Military Observer

, , UN Military Observer Mission Insignia, , Awarded for 150 days of service as a military observer with a

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

Peacekeeping Mission. , - , CHE Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia

, , Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia, , Awarded for service with

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

Partnership for Peace The Partnership for Peace (PfP; french: Partenariat pour la paix) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) program aimed at creating trust between the member states of NATO and other states mostly in Europe, including post-Soviet state ...

. , - ,

CHE Long leave for military duties abroad

, , Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad
german: Lange Ausland-Abkommandierung
french: Service commandé de longue durée à l’étranger
it, Servizi comandati prolungati , , Awarded for at least 150 training days service in a training course of a foreign army as part of the "LAK" program. , - , CHE UNO OSZE Mandate

, , UNO OSCE OTAN Mandates Mission Badge Example , , Because of the diversity, all portraits of the ribbons of the UNO / OSCE mandates are not illustrated.

Off-duty activities

}
french: Activité hors du service degré 1
it, Attività fuori del servizio livello 1 , , For recognized activities with military umbrella organizations and societies. , - , CHE Off-duty activities ribbon level 2

, , Off-duty activity, level 2
german: Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeit Stufe 2
french: Activité hors du service degré 2
it, Attività fuori del servizio livello 2 , , Further recognized activities and leadership within a military umbrella organization or society. , - , Ribbon-Ausserdienstliche-Taetigkeit-stufe-3

Ribbon-Ausserdienstliche-Taetigkeit-stufe-3

, , Off-duty activity, level 3
german: Ausserdienstliche Tätigkeit Stufe 3
french: Activité hors du service degré 3
it, Attività fuori del servizio livello 3 , , Reaching level 1 and level 2 is not required. 6 years of active membership in a board of directors of a military society or an umbrella organization of its associations or sections. Source:

Order of wear

Awards are worn on the uniform as

ribbon bars A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

in rows of three, with a maximum of nine ribbons worn at a time. When the top row of ribbons is less than three, they are worn to the wearers left. Only the highest level of award received is worn. The ribbons are worn in the following order: *Length of Service Decoration (max 1 Ribbon); *Decorations: **Exceptional service **Skill-at-arms Decorations **Training Decorations (including Alpine training) **Sports Decorations *Mission Insignia: **Operations within Switzerland (max 1 Ribbon) **Operations Abroad; ** UN/

OSCE The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, prom ...

Mandate Missions (max 1 per ribbon) *Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia *Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad (LAK)

References

External links

Ribbons (Auszeichnungen)
(German)
Reglement Abzeichen der Schweizer Armee
2023 {{Decorations by country Military of Switzerland Switzerland Orders, decorations, and medals of Switzerland