International Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (INCOA)
INCOA, the Swiss Armed Forces' first multinational structure, is establishing itself as a new benchmark for Switzerland's international cooperation with NATO, its member nations, and its partners. It is fully dedicated to the professional development of NCO corps in Europe. It consists of two main components: a research institute and an education department.
The INCOA Research Institute's mission is to promote excellence and innovation in the professionalization of NCO through applied research on their entire career path, from recruitment to post-service transition. It supports the development of training programs, quality management, and the initiation of international research projects in partnership with numerous military academic institutions. Its main objective is to provide scientific and practical support for the evolution of standards and the professional development of NCO within NATO and its partners.
The mission of the Education Department is to design, plan, and implement courses for NCO when these are not provided by other training institutions. It ensures the quality of teaching, the adaptation of content to operational requirements, and the harmonization of standards between NATO, its members, and its partners. Its main objective is to develop the personal and leadership skills necessary for the operational success of NCOs.
Its basic principles are as follows:
- Competence orientation: the objective is to develop relevant operational skills (leadership, methodology, interoperability, ethics, etc.) at the individual, organizational, and systemic levels. Research is focused on applicable results (e.g., skills progression, transfer to troop training, impact on the unit).
- Personalization: training programs are tailored to the role, experience, and nationality of the target audience. Prior learning is recognized. Learning objectives, granularity, and assessment methods are modular and adaptive.
- Flexibility: The combination of onsite courses, online modules, and mobile training teams allows for instruction tailored to needs.
- Simplicity: Planning, implementation, and evaluation follow the principle of simplicity: clear learning objectives, streamlined processes, minimal bureaucracy, and clear products that can be immediately transferred to unit practice.
True to its roots and commitment, INCOA continues to organize the intermediate and advanced leadership courses, which celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2025. These courses, recognized for their intercultural and inclusive dimensions, are an essential pillar of leadership development, dialogue, and cooperation among NCO from diverse origins.
If you would like more information or to contact INCOA, please write to the following email address: admin.incoa@vtg.admin.ch