Gender identity and sexual orientation

Do I have to / Am I allowed to disclose my sexual orientation during recruitment or military service?

Members of the Armed Forces are entitled to respect for their personality and to the greatest possible protection of their privacy, also during military service. Your sexual orientation is your private matter. You decide whether you wish to disclose it. (Reg. 51.002 Service Regulations of the Armed Forces art. 94.1, link available in German, French, and Italian)

I am queer / gay / lesbian / homosexual / bisexual / pansexual / asexual / heterosexual. Does my sexual orientation define my military eligibility and military career?

No. Your sexual orientation is your private matter. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is not allowed. This also applies to the assessment of the military eligibility and the military career. (Reg. 51.002 Service Regulations of the Armed Forces art. 77.3, 94.1, link available in German, French, and Italian)

I am a trans / genderqueer / non-binary / intersex / * person. Am I eligible for military service / obliged to do so?

Conscription is determined by the officially registered administrative gender. A man (administratively) is subject to military service, a woman (administratively) can volunteer for military service. You can contact the military medical service and Armed Forces personnel before recruitment. Otherwise, your military service eligibility will be determined during recruitment [links available in German, French, and Italian].

I have already changed, or will soon change, my gender entry at the civil registry office. How does the Armed Forces find out that I am now officially registered as a woman / a man and therefore have no / have a military service obligation?

Your cantonal registry office will change your gender entry in the personal information system. The Armed Forces Personnel Office has access to the same system and thus has the latest information about you. If a change in the gender entry overlaps with a call-up for recruitment or military service, it is worth contacting the district command [link available in German, French, and Italian] of your canton directly to avoid possible misunderstandings or missed deadlines.

I changed my official gender entry after the age of 24. Am I eligible for / obliged to do military service?

As a woman (administratively), you have the option of volunteering for military service. To do so, contact the Armed Forces personnel and the military medical service [links available in German, French, and Italian].

As a man (administratively), you are required to do military service. If you are under 24 years of age, you will automatically be called up. You can contact the military medical service and Armed Forces personnel before you are recruited. Otherwise, your eligibility for military service will be determined during recruitment [links available in German, French, and Italian].

If you are older, you can apply to be ‹recruited after the age of 24›. Otherwise, your canton of residence is responsible for the military service exemption tax [links available in German, French, and Italian].

I have officially changed my gender entry. However, I have still received / have not yet received a call-up. Whom can I contact?

Get in touch with the Armed Forces Personnel. It is likely that the administrative registration overlapped with the mailing process.

I am doing military service and am planning to officially change my gender entry / to undergo gender-affirming measures. How will this affect my military service? Will I still be eligible for / obliged to do military service?

Contact your unit physician, the military medical service [link available in German, French, and Italian], the Armed Forces Personnel, or WiAD. Your overall situation will be assessed.

I would like to connect with members of the Armed Forces from the queer community. Whom can I contact?

Contact the Queer Officers Switzerland Association [link available in German and French]. It is the network and interest group for the queer members of the Armed Forces.