Openness over the fence
The Centre for Electronic Operations is situated in a secluded part of Zimmerwald (BE). A glance behind the metre-high fence reveals a world where dedicated staff and team spirit are the order of the day.
Emilie* analyses foreign radio communication and prepares it in different languages and from a range of sources for the intelligence service. Her four screens show an array of maps and visual displays. It looks complex, but the young woman is smiling. «My work is never monotonous; I face fresh challenges and learn something new every day», she says.
Well-balanced teams
The Centre for Electronic Operations (CEO), with its Communication Intelligence (COMINT) section, is the division of the Armed Forces Command Support Organisation (AFCSO) with the largest proportion of female staff. That was not the case 20 years ago. Robert*, head of the COMINT section, recollects: «When I started working at the Centre, there wasn’t one woman in the COMINT section.» That has changed dramatically since the first female trainee began at the CEO in 2007. Today, the Centre has a well-balanced team, without prioritising women in the recruitment process. «I wanted to increase the proportion of women working in intelligence», Robert points out.
Keeping a close eye on the world
Tabea* has worked at the CEO since 2014. She follows security-related world events in the press, analyses these news items, and reports important developments to the relevant federal bodies, who utilise the intelligence. The office operates 24 hours a day, in three shifts. Tabea is a news junkie and loves the individual responsibility that comes with the job. In the age of fake news it’s fascinating how media coverage of the same topic differs.»
Curiosity and good team spirit are crucial
Emilie says her team is open-minded towards new cultures and the outside world. «A rigid attitude leads to tunnel vision.» A good team spirit is also crucial for success. She says the team achieves the best results when they all work together to find new ideas and approaches. Robert says the job requires an inquisitive mind. «It needs the right balance between discretion and openness, intellectual curiosity and caution.» Tabea adds that the work requires a certain passion: «You have to love what you do», she says. She also thinks reliability and trust within the team are important qualities.
The true identities of the CEO staff remain confidential for their own safety. This and the seclusion of the compound give both women a sense of security. «Although we are sealed off here, it is extremely important to be open and transparent behind these walls», says Emilie. However, sometimes it is difficult to preserve this anonymity in one’s personal life. «I’m only allowed to share my enthusiasm for my work with my colleagues. I also have to conceal the knowledge I acquire from my work – that’s not always easy.»
The work performed by Emilie, Tabea and the whole CEO team makes an important contribution to the security of Switzerland.
* Name changed