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Major General Stephan Christen

Swiss Armed Forces

Themen

Themes	Description
Alpnach Air Base	Alpnach Air Base is the Swiss Armed Forces and Swiss Air Forces' center of expertise for air transport.
Armed Forces Personnel
Armed Forces College AFC	Die Höhere Kaderausbildung (HKA) ist der anerkannte Hauptanbieter für die Führungs- und Stabsausbildung der Milizkader ab Stufe Einheit sowie für die Ausbildung der Berufsoffiziere (BO) und Berufsunteroffiziere (BU) der Armee. Als Kompetenzzentrum für militärische Führungsausbildung und militärwissenschaftliche Forschung erbringt die HKA ihre Leistungen schwergewichtig für die Armee, in Partnerschaft mit den anderen Trägern der Nationalen Sicherheitskooperation und zivilen Bildungsorganisationen.
Armed Forces Staff	The Armed Forces Staff supports the Chief of the Armed Forces in carrying out leadership duties. It is responsible for implementing political directives and military strategic instructions. Furthermore, it ensures the development, planning, resource allocation and management of the armed forces, and is responsible for the entrepreneurial leadership of the defence sector. The Armed Forces Staff manages the operational level of Training and Education, Operations and Support according to directives given.
Armed Forces Command Support Organisation
Armed Forces Digital Media Centre AFDM	The Armed Forces Digital Media Centre AFDM, located in Bern, is the competence center for products and services in the fields of education and communication.
Air2030 – Protecting our airspace
Armed Forces and the environment
Anti-aircraft live fire warnings
Aircraft live fire warnings
Air Force live fire warnings	Here you find the combat aircraft cannon firing dates and times for all four air force firing ranges, as well as the firing dates and times for ground-to-air defence cannons at the S-chanf shooting range.

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Themes	Description
Call-up dates (Refresher courses)	Online search of refresher course dates
Chief of the Armed Forces	Lieutenant General Sussli is responsible for the leadership and the development of the Swiss Armed Forces. He heads the Department’s defence sector and is directly subordinate to the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), Federal Councillor Viola Amherd.
CHEAF	The Centre for Historic Equipment of the Armed Forces (CHEAF) bears overall responsibility for the Swiss Armed Forces’ combined collections of historic equipment. It is charged with documenting the armed forces’ history and technological developments over the past 200 years.
Cadre	Taking responsibility, leading teams, aiming for a cadre function? If your professional vision goes in this direction, you are ideally prepared with military leadership training.
CS bde 41/SCS	The command support brigade 41/SCS (CS Br 41/SCS) is the brigade of the information and communication technology in the Swiss army. The brigade maintains the communication network of the army, the command support installations of the government as well as mobile systems for the electronic warfare.

Themes	Description
Deputy Commander of the Swiss Air Force	Stellt die vollumfängliche Stellvertretung des Kommandanten Luftwaffe sicher und führt den Stabsteil Kdt Stv LW.
Diploma Course of Studies

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Environment
Economy and Armed Forces
Exercises and activities

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F/A-18 Swiss Hornet Solo Display Team	Hauptmann Nicolas «Vincent» Rossier ist F/A-18-Pilot der Fliegerstaffel 17 und wurde per Airshow-Saison 2017 Hornet-Display-Pilot der Schweizer Luftwaffe.
FLIR / Super Puma (TH06, PU FLIR)	Informationen über den Transporthelikopter für Spezialeinsätze FLIR / Super Puma (TH06, PU FLIR) der Schweizer Luftwaffe.
Flight Safety	The Flight Safety Division (FSH) focuses on the policy, Military Aviation Safety Management, Investigation, training, videos, as well as other information and publications.

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General information about military service	In this section you will find information and details of who to contact about general issues regarding your military service. The information is intended for conscripts, recruits and service personnel of all ranks.

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Humanitarian Mine Action

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Inactive duty

Information about your obligations, activities and possibilities when not on active duty.

International Relations

To fulfil their role as an important security policy instrument, Switzerland's armed forces also rely on international exchanges. These exchanges must be continuously and coherently managed and adjusted to ensure they are in the interests of the country and of the armed forces. The resulting areas of activity focus on preserving these interests and on carrying out Switzerland's international obligations.

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Language training

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My first steps towards military service	Now it’s your turn! Now that you’ve turned 18 you have a unique opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces or in the Civil Protection Organisation.
More about Parouille Suisse	Founded in 1964, the Patrouille Suisse is the official Swiss Air Force jet aerobatic display team. With its shows, both at home and abroad, it has become a trademark for Switzerland, showing the capability, precision and readiness of the Swiss Air Force. Its goal is to inspire the public and spark young people’s interest in all the aviation professions.
Meiringen Air Base
Military Aviation Authority (MAA)	The MAA in its regulatory role provides, through coordination with FOCA, the framework within which the Air Force and other state players in military aviation can evolve as freely, efficiently and safely as possible.
Military Power Revue	International security policy and military affairs
Military Disaster Relief
Military careers	Leadership training in the Swiss Armed Forces: valuable – modern – recognized
Military peace support	International peace support is one of the three missions of the Swiss Armed Forces. Currently approximately 280 men and women from the rank of first private to major general are serving for the cause of peace in 18 countries.

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Psycho-Pedagogical Service of the Army	The Psycho-Pedagogical Service of the Army offers confidential, professional and independent support to all military personnel.
Patrouille Suisse	Founded in 1964, the Patrouille Suisse is the official Swiss Air Force jet aerobatic display team. With its shows, both at home and abroad, it has become a trademark for Switzerland, showing the capability, precision and readiness of the Swiss Air Force. Its goal is to inspire the public and spark young people’s interest in all the aviation professions.
Professions	As an employee of the Armed Forces, you can expect progressive working conditions, flexible working arrangements and an attractive salary system.
Peace support	International peace support is one of the three missions of the Swiss Armed Forces. Currently approximately 280 men and women from the rank of first private to major general are serving for the cause of peace in 18 countries.

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Reporting unexploded ordnance	Unexploded Ordnance Centre of Switzerland

Themes	Description
Soldiers	This section provides future and current members of the armed forces on active service a wide range of information about their military service.
Swiss Peace Supporter	Review of the Swiss contributions to international peace operations in cooperation with the DDPS, FDFA, FDF
Swiss Bureau	The Swiss Bureau provides information about: locations and phone numbers of troops on duty; military postal codes for field post.
Schools and the Armed Forces
Swiss Air Force displays
Shooting range bulletin	Die Schweizer Armee bemüht sich, wo immer möglich, Ihre Waffenplätze für eine zivile Nutzung zugänglich zu machen. An erster Stelle steht ganz klar die Nutzung durch die Truppe. Waffen- und Schiessplätze gelten grundsätzlich als Sperrgebiete, jegliches Betreten und Befahren ist verboten.
Swiss Armed Forces professions	As an employee of the Armed Forces, you can expect progressive working conditions, flexible working arrangements and an attractive salary system.
Swiss Air Force	The Swiss Air Force is responsible for military operations in Switzerland's airspace. Its tasks include airspace protection (maintaining air sovereignty and air defence), aerial transport and air-based intelligence gathering.
Super Puma Display Team	Die speziell ausgebildeten Piloten des Super Puma Display Teams zeigen mit ihrer Vorführung die Dynamik und einen Teil der Fähigkeiten des Super Pumas. Dazu fliegen sie einen ganz normalen Super Puma oder Cougar, der alltäglich im Einsatz ist.

Themes	Description
The history of the Swiss Army	The origins of the Swiss Army date back to the late Middle Ages. The militia army founded on general national conscription is relatively young by comparison.
The Aeromedical Center	The Aeromedical Center (AMC) in Duebendorf is the Swiss center of excellence for the medical and psychological assessment of men and women with regard to safety and performance in military and civil aviation, transport and management.
The Swiss Air Force Professional Aviator Corps	The permanent Surveillance Wing was established by Federal Council decree on 28 May 1941, with the main task of guaranteeing neutrality in Swiss Air Space. At the end of 2005, the Surveillance Wing, rich in history and tradition, was disbanded with the introduction of air base structures as part of the armed forces reforms and transformed into the Professional Aviator Corps. However, the spirit of the Surveillance Wing has lived on in the hearts of its professional military aviators - essential if they are to meet the great challenges of an unpredictable future.
THE PC-7 TEAM	The PC-7 TEAM showcases the high level of training and performance of both the Swiss Armed Forces and the Swiss Air Force by flying dynamic, elegant and precise manoeuvres. With their culture of commitment and discipline, the pilots prove to the public that they master the challenges of top-level military flying.

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Unexploded ordnance

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World Economic Forum (WEF)

In 2023, the armed forces will once again support the civilian authorities in the canton of Graubünden in carrying out security tasks in connection with the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Parliament approved the deployment of a maximum of 5000 soldiers on these civil affairs support operations from 2022 until 2024. The 2023 WEF meeting will be held from 16 to 20 January, the army's mission lasts from 10 to 26 January.

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35mm anti-aircraft gun

Current
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  Messages / Reports
  
  Operations and missions
  
  Military Disaster Relief
  
  Military peace support
  Information for the media
  
  Topics
  
  Humanitarian Mine Action
  
  International Relations
  
  Flight Safety
  
  Air policing missions
  
  Unexploded ordnance
  
  Air2030 – Protecting our airspace
  
  Armed Forces and the environment
  
  Economy and Armed Forces
  
  Schools and the Armed Forces
  Events
  
  Swiss Air Force displays
  
  Exercises and activities
  
  Shooting range bulletin
  
  Air Force live fire warnings
Service
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  What can we do for you?
  
  The questions to the army are manifold. To help you reach your goal more quickly, you will find help and information here about the most frequently asked topics that are not directly related to...
  
  Armed Forces Digital Media Centre AFDM
  
  The Armed Forces Digital Media Centre AFDM, located in Bern, is the competence center for products and services in the fields of education and communication.
  
  Contacts / Addresses
Media
My military service
- Close
  
  Coronavirus
  
  Information for members of the armed forces
  
  Call-up dates (Refresher courses)
  
  Online search of refresher course dates
  
  Inactive duty
  
  Information about your obligations, activities and possibilities when not on active duty.
  
  My first steps towards military service
  
  Now it’s your turn! Now that you’ve turned 18 you have a unique opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces or in the Civil Protection Organisation.
  
  General information about military service
  
  In this section you will find information and details of who to contact about general issues regarding your military service. The information is intended for conscripts, recruits and service...
  
  Soldiers
  
  This section provides future and current members of the armed forces on active service a wide range of information about their military service.
Careers
- Close
  
  Cadre
  
  Taking responsibility, leading teams, aiming for a cadre function? If your professional vision goes in this direction, you are ideally prepared with military leadership training.
  
  Military careers
  
  Leadership training in the Swiss Armed Forces: valuable – modern – recognized
  
  Swiss Armed Forces professions
  
  As an employee of the Armed Forces, you can expect progressive working conditions, flexible working arrangements and an attractive salary system.
Organisation / Troops
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  Armed Forces Staff (AFS)
  
  The Armed Forces Staff supports the Chief of the Armed Forces in carrying out leadership duties. It is responsible for implementing political directives and military strategic instructions....
  
  Training and Education Command
  
  The Training and Education Command is responsible for planning, steering and carrying out standardised training and education of troops of all ranks, including officers, units and staffs. The Armed...
  
  Joint Operations Command
  
  The Joint Operations Command is responsible for planning and leading operations of the Swiss Armed Forces.
  
  Armed Forces Command Support Organisation
The Swiss Armed Forces current page
- Close
  
  Chief of the Armed Forces
  
  Lieutenant General Sussli is responsible for the leadership and the development of the Swiss Armed Forces. He heads the Department’s defence sector and is directly subordinate to the head of the...
  
  The history of the Swiss Army
  
  The origins of the Swiss Army date back to the late Middle Ages. The militia army founded on general national conscription is relatively young by comparison.
  
  Senior staff officers
  
  Senior staff officers are career officers in the rank of brigadier, major general or lieutenant general.
  
  Swiss Armed Forces - Organisation and Structure
  
  The Defence sector is an organisation of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS.

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Major General Stephan Christen

Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Command

Major General Christen is the deputy of the Chief of Joint Operations Command.

He is in charge of the Joint Operations Command's Human Resources, Finance, Planning/ Controlling/ Steering sectors, Armed Forces and Management Development, and the Joint Operations Command's doctrine. He is supported by the Chief of Operations and Career Management of the Training and Education Command in assignments and career management matters, and by the head of the Joint Operations Command's real estate supply coordination service in real estate matters. Furthermore he is responsible for the training of the Chief of Joint Operations Command's direct subordinates.

Career


2022	Major General, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Command
2018	Commander Engineer/Rescue/NBC Training Unit
2017	Brigadier General, Commander Engineer/Rescue Training Unit
2016	Colonel GS, Chief of Armed Forces Staff Section 235
2009	Chief of operations in a territorial region staff
2003	Lieutenant Colonel GS, commander of the disaster relief standby unit task force
2002	Major GS, assistant chief of staff in a territorial brigade
2001	Major, deputy commander of a rescue battalion
1994	Captain, commander of a rescue company

Functions


2016	Deputy J3/5 and chief of projects/controlling of Armed Forces Joint Staff
2012	Commander rescue NCO and recruit school
2011	National contingent commander NCC, SWISSCOY/KFOR, Kosovo
2009	Team leader in bachelor course and military school command at the Military Academy
2005	NATO Strategic/Operational CIMIC Course, Spanish Army War College
2004	International Crisis Management Course, Swedish National Defence College
2003	CIMIC training at SHAPE NATO Oberammergau, Germany
2002	Project manager for armed forces disaster relief standby unit, Armed Forces XXI project
2001	Team member in 'the armed forces single term conscript’ project
1999-2009	Various military disaster relief and subsidiary security operations in Switzerland and abroad
1997	Entry into instruction corps
1992	Military Academy