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Major General Peter MERZ

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 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
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.
Air policing missions	To maintain air sovereignty, the Swiss Air Force carries out "passive" (airspace monitoring operations and daily "active" air policing missions (interventions).
Armed Forces and the environment
Armed Forces Command Support Organisation

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Themes	Description
Call-up dates (Refresher courses)	Online search of refresher course dates
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.
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.

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

Themes	Description
Exercises and activities
Economy and Armed Forces
Environment

Themes	Description
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.

Themes	Description
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

Themes

Description

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

Themes	Description
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.
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.
Military Power Revue	International security policy and military affairs
Military Disaster Relief
Military careers	Leadership training in the Swiss Armed Forces: valuable – modern – recognized
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.
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.

Themes	Description

Themes	Description

Themes	Description
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.
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.
Psycho-Pedagogical Service of the Army	The Psycho-Pedagogical Service of the Army offers confidential, professional and independent support to all military personnel.

Themes	Description

Themes	Description
Reporting unexploded ordnance	Unexploded Ordnance Centre of Switzerland

Themes	Description
Special Forces Command (SFC)	The Special Forces Command (SFC) is an instrument of the operational and strategic command echelons for safeguarding security policy interests in all situations.
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.
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	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.
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 Air Force displays
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 Peace Supporter	Review of the Swiss contributions to international peace operations in cooperation with the DDPS, FDFA, FDF
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.

Themes	Description
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.
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 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.

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Unexploded ordnance

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World Economic Forum (WEF)

In 2024, 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 2024 WEF meeting will be held from 15 to 19 January, the army's mission lasts from 09 to 25 January.

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35mm anti-aircraft gun

Current
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  Messages / Reports
  
  Events
  
  Swiss Air Force displays
  
  Exercises and activities
  
  Shooting range bulletin
  
  Air Force live fire warnings
  Information for the media
  
  Operations and missions
  
  Military Disaster Relief
  
  Military peace support
  Publications
  
  Swiss Peace Supporter
  
  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
Service
- Close
  
  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
- Close
  
  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...
  
  Military authorities and offices
  
  Senior staff officers
  
  Senior staff officers are career officers in the rank of brigadier, major general or lieutenant general.
  
  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.
  
  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 Peter MERZ

Commander of the Swiss Air Force

Major General Merz commands the Swiss Air Force. He is responsible for the basic readiness, training and deployment of the air force and air defence, and reports directly to the Chief of Joint Operations Command.

As commander of the air force, he is in charge of the air force education & training brigade, anti-aircraft training unit, air force operations centre and air base commands.

Career


2021	Major General, Commander of the Swiss Air Force
2018	Project manager, Procurement of new fighter aircraft
2015	Deputy chief of staff, Operations / Planning
2010	Colonel GS, commander of Meiringen Air Base
2005	General Staff officer, commander of an air force wing and deputy commander of Meiringen Air Base
2004	Lieutenant Colonel GS, squadron commander
2001	Major GS, General Staff officer on the staff of an air force brigade
1995	Captain professional military pilot, Surveillance Wing

Functions


2021	Commander of the Swiss Air Force
2018	Project manager, Procurement of new fighter aircraft
2015	Deputy chief of staff, Operations / Planning
2010	Commander of Meiringen Air Base
2005	Commander of an air force wing and deputy commander of Meiringen Air Base
2004	Squadron commander
1993	Professional military pilot, Surveillance Wing
1990	Professional military pilot school

Documents

Documents

CV Peter Merz
28.06.2021 | PDF, 1 Pages, 172 KB

Contact

Office address: Swiss Air Force
Papiermühlestrasse 20
CH-3003 Berne

E-Mail

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Major General Peter MERZ

Commander of the Swiss Air Force

Documents