Leadership Training Centre

The leadership training programme has been devised for the Swiss Armed Forces. Major plus: individual training modules have been certified and as a result are also recognised by civilian authorities. So training can subsequently be completed in a civilian environment. The certificates are issued by the Swiss Association for Leadership Training (SVF) that was founded in 1999. In addition to the armed forces as founding member it comprises more than 100 private and business schools. The beginning of the Leadership Training Centre goes back to a postulate of Samuel Schmid that he put forward as national councillor in 1997.

The training of our militia cadre should and must keep pace with the times. Whoever wishes to succeed as a leader must not only be able to give directions; he must also know how to deal with his associates, offer trust and inspire confidence, listen to and motivate individuals and be capable of aptly and fairly defusing emerging differences (conflicts).

The leadership training programme has a modular structure. Five SVF course modules are certified: leadership 1 – self-knowledge, personal work techniques, communication and information, conflict management and leading a section. These modules are devised for squad leaders, senior NCOs, platoon leaders and quartermasters.

Because of synergy too, leadership training was developed in close collaboration with civilian educational institutions. A further concern was to achieve civilian recognition for identical sections of civilian and military training. Prerequisite for this was, however, a consistent modularisation of training ensuring that the individual training subjects taught both in military and civilian institutions are harmonised in such a way that the necessary certification equality is achieved with respect to scope, content, level and capability.

The leadership training programme offers militia cadre an education which particularly because of its close practical relevance is probably one of the world best in its field – and this for cadre members even free of charge.

Head of Leadership Training Centre: Colonel Ulrich Gasser