Published on 16 March 2026

Psychological-Pedagogical Service of the Army

The Psychological-Pedagogical Service of the Army offers confidential, professional, and independent support for all members of the Army.

As in civilian life, mental health must not be neglected in military life either. For this reason, the PPS AFuses scientific methods in accordance with ethical standards to support all members of the Swiss Army who need counseling or find themselves in a psychological emergency. The PPS AFis the specialized service provider for unit psychology, psychological individual counseling, emergency psychology, and the psychological training of Army personnel.

As the specialist unit for unit and emergency psychology of the Swiss Army, we support its members in all situations and operational spectra. As a recognized service branch, we make a decisive contribution to basic care and the health of the troops with psychological expertise.

• Documents

  • Leitbild PPD A

    PDF75.20 kB1 May 2024

Become a PPS AF Specialist

Do you want to become a Specialist PPS AF? Here are important information to help you decide!

The specialists of the PPS AF advise and support Army personnel in coping with psychological problems. In this context you will listen to Army personnel, analyze their stressful situation, and develop solution strategies with them. Furthermore you will support troop doctors in assessing the deployable capacity of Army personnel with service-impairing psychological problems.

• Come join us!

  The PPS AF places great importance on a solid foundation for our applicants. Therefore, we require that all interested individuals possess the basic competencies described in the FAQ section (see below). Another important prerequisite is secure proficiency in a second national language to master the communication challenges in advising Army personnel. The willingness to complete a three-week recruit school (RS) is a basic requirement for interested individuals who have not yet undergone military training. If you successfully complete this, you will attend the Technical Course (TLG) for the PPS AF specialist.

  In this Technical Course (TLG), the future specialists of the PPS AF are trained in psychological counseling of Army personnel. The three-week training is conducted by experienced psychologists and adult educators from the Army and civilian academic institutions, and covers psychosocial expertise in general, knowledge of the most common psychological issues in military service, as well as the processes, structures, stakeholders, and partner services relevant in this context.

• This is what you bring with you!

  For the basic function Specialist PPS AF we are looking for candidates with or without military experience from the following various professions and fields:

  • Psychology (focuses on Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, or Occupational and Organizational Psychology)
  • Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
  • Social Pedagogy (focuses on Counseling and Education or work with young adults)
  • Adult Education in the Social sector Education for the secondary level II (Matriculation level)

  For applicants with military experience – at least Recruit School – we are also interested in the following fields:

  • Education for the secondary level I
  • Counseling or supportive professions in the psychosocial field

  A bachelor's degree or an officially recognized Swiss diploma in the respective professional or vocational field (or a successful completion expected soon) constitutes a prerequisite.

• Any further questions?

  If you have any questions left, please check our FAQ at the end of this page or participate in an online information session.

• Apply to us at this link !

  Specialist PPS AF

G troop psychology

Troop psychology is a subfield of military psychology that focuses on the targeted application of psychological insights and methods within the army. The focus of troop psychology is on troops in operation—whether abroad on peacekeeping missions, as military observers abroad, or domestically with actively deployed units.

Troop psychologists/consultants undertake a variety of tasks:

• Advising leaders on troop-psychological issues (e.g., deployment motivation)
• Supporting physicians and supervisors in assessing service fitness and maintaining troop readiness
• Conducting trainings on psychological topics (e.g., resilience, mental deployment preparation, or stress management)
• Conducting health-psychological screenings and collecting psychological situation assessments on troop morale, and initiating necessary measures in cooperation with the leadership
• Providing psychological crisis intervention
• Conducting individual counseling sessions with AdA (exercising personnel) at all levels

Truppenpsychologische Berater/innen have several years of experience in PPS AF as well as in the military environment, and are trained and further educated in the mentioned areas. The application and qualification as a troop-psychological advisor requires that several years of experience as a Specialist in PPS AF already exist and that the additional function Care Giver is fulfilled. A direct application as a troop-psychological advisor is not possible! Internship at PPS AF. The PPS AF offers psychology students and graduates internships lasting six months. These internships are recognized by universities. At the end of the internship you receive a certificate with which you can have the ECTS credits credited.

internship at PPS AF

• Profite from an internship at PPS AF!

  • Apply knowledge you gained during your university studies: You will have the opportunity to accompany our subject matter experts and receive support from them in psychological conversations.
  • Support projects: You will have the chance to participate in interesting and challenging projects. Depending on the project progress, you can assist with development and implementation.
  • Training: accompany the training and continuing education (psychological preparation) for Army deployments.
  • Research: participate in scientific research conducted within our organization.
  • Practice: work in a multidisciplinary environment (psychologists, doctors, educators, social workers, chaplains, etc.) to expand your professional network.

• You can expect a multidisciplinary environment!

  With this internship, we want to give students and graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience in a unique context and in a multidisciplinary setting. The balance between academic studies, psychology, and the military is possible—give it a try to experience it firsthand!

• Internship & more!

  A commitment at PPS AF does not end with the internship. Depending on the needs of PPS AF, you can become a PPS AF specialist after your internship, join the Care Team, or develop yourself in troop psychology.

• Apply with us at this link!

  internship at PPS AF

  If requested by PPS AF, there is the option to complete a military training service (support in counseling and projects) in uniform for up to 6 months. This opportunity is open to people who are not subject to compulsory military service. The assessment of the legal recognition of such training service as an internship by a university or university of applied sciences is your own responsibility; PPS AF provides a qualification in the form of a work certificate as well as professional supervision by psychologists FSP/SBAP. Please indicate in the survey whether you are interested in a university internship or the military training service.

• Trainees at PPS AF

  Video follows

Do you have any questions?

Psychologisch-Pädagogischer Dienst der Armee
Waffenplatzareal
Gebäude 338
CH - 3609 Thun

Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Confidentiality

The employees as well as the militia members of the PPS AF are bound indefinitely to professional, official, and occupational secrecy.

Here you will find the answers to frequently asked questions:

• Question #01: How does it continue if I receive a positive decision on my application?

  In this case you will be invited to an applicant day, which takes place online. There you will complete various exercises within the framework of an assessment and have the opportunity to get to know the PPS AF better and to ask questions. If you pass the applicant day and decide to complete the PPS AF Technical Training (TLG), the assignment process or the reallocation process starts.

• Question #02: I have not done military service or I have already completed my mandatory military service. Can I still become a PPS AF Specialist?

  Yes. Applicants who have never performed military service or who have been regularly discharged from the service can be assigned to the army. This process requires a medical fitness examination as well as a personnel security check. For this, you need a doctor’s certificate from your general practitioner, the consent form for an assignment (signed by you and your employer), and a personnel data sheet. If you have not yet completed military service, you must complete a three-week recruit school (Mini-RS) as a recruit before you can complete the PPS AF Technical Training (TLG). If you have previously served in the military, you can be reassigned without the Mini-RS. If you are currently still serving in the military, you can request to be reassigned to us.

• Question #03: I am doing civil service. Can I still become a PPS AF Specialist?

  People who are actively doing civil service and want to become a PPS AF Specialist must submit the assignment request to the army directly to civil service. This is then processed by the Army personnel. People who have first completed military service and have since switched to civil service but have fulfilled their service obligation can be reassigned to the army via a new application. If they had completed the three-week recruit school (Mini-RS) at least, this does not need to be repeated. People who have directly done civil service (without military service) and have fulfilled their service obligation must be assigned to the army and complete the three-week Mini-RS before they can complete the PPS AF Technical Training (TLG).

• Question #04: What does a Mini-RS look like and when does it take place?

  The Mini-RS lasts three weeks and takes place within a regular recruit school. During these three weeks you will be fully uniformed as a recruit and participate in everything from A to Z, with no exceptions or special status. The goal is socialization in the military environment (militarization) so that you bring the necessary informal knowledge and credibility to advising army personnel. The Mini-RS always takes place at the beginning of a recruit school. You can indicate when you would like to participate (it must occur before the TLG).

• Question #05: What is the Technical Training Course (TLG) and when does it take place?

  The PPS AF Technical Training Course (TLG PPS AF) is the basic training course for the PPS AF. Together with your comrades, you will be prepared for your role as a PPS AF Specialist in Psychological Individual Counseling over three weeks. At the end of the course, you will be commissioned as a Specialist Officer with the rank of Captain (candidates who are already officers keep their current rank). The TLG takes place every year in weeks 35–37 and in even years.

• Question #06: How many service days do I owe as a PPS AF Specialist?

  Soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and senior NCOs are commissioned as a Specialist Officer with the rank of Captain after the TLG and accrue 240 service days with an obligation up to the age of 42. Officers keep their rank. Lieutenants who complete the TLG are promoted to Captain at the end of the TLG. (includes 240 additional service days and obligation up to age 42). PPS AFspecialists at the rank of a Specialist Officer accrue 15 service days annually; those at the rank of a regular officer accrue 19 service days annually. These service days include your work as an Psychological Individual Counselor as well as training days and reports. A maximum of 38 service days can be performed annually.

• Question #07: What does an advanced training (FDT or “repetitions course” – WK) look like as a PPS AF Specialist?

  Your first advanced training (FDT/WK) takes place at the headquarters at Thun garrison. You will be guided by experienced PPS AF specialists. In the following years you can be assigned to Thun or to a location anywhere in Switzerland. Working hours depend on the needs of the unit and PPS AF. In any case, we expect a high degree of self-reliance, whether in Thun or at an external site.

• Question #08: How is my service planned?

  Planning is done annually by HQ PPS AF. In this framework you can indicate when you would like to serve in the coming year—your preference will be accommodated as much as possible. Whether you complete your yearly service obligation in one block or in individual weeks depends on the needs of PPS AF and your availability, and must be coordinated with HQ PPS AF.

• Question #09: What roles can I take on as a PPS AF Specialist?

  All PPS AF Specialists are primarily trained as Psychological Individual Counselors. After your first FDT there is the possibility to take on the role of Care Giver in the army’s Care Team. Note that this is a supplementary role and does not exempt you from the role or service as an Individual Counselor. After gaining at least three years of experience as a PPS AF Specialist in Psychological Individual Counseling, you can apply to become a Troop Psychological Advisor (Trp Psy Ber). If approved, you will complete the TLG Troop Psychology. Upon successful completion, you will be deployed in psychological counseling and training of formations in operations (e.g., peacekeeping service, assistance service, full-service, FDT, etc.).

• Question #10: I do not meet the requirements to become a PPS AF Specialist, but I am a (Junior) Officer and want to take on a role with the PPS AF. Is there a possibility?

  NCOs and officers who do not meet the formal requirements (see above) but want to support the PPS AF in Militia service can, during the first weeks of recruit school (RS), act as a duty officer to manage, plan, and organize Militia deployments of the PPS AF (entraining, mission command, leave management, coordination with recruit schools, etc.). Apply with a note about your interest in the role of duty officer in the motivation letter at the following link: become a PPS AF Specialist

• Question #11: Wie kam es zum PPD A?

  The PPS AF emerged from the realization that military performance depends not only on training and equipment but especially on the mental health of army personnel. Since its inception, the PPS AF has accompanied the army in coping with stress, prevention, and in individual and organizational support.

Organizations Overview