Military awards and decorations of Switzerland

Switzerland does not have a national honour system. Enshrined in the 1848 Swiss Constition in Article 12 was a prohibition on the acceptance of honours and titles by Swiss citizens. In the current Swiss constitution there is no specific prohibition on titles and orders, however there is a statute that covers the prohibition previously covered by Article 12. The Swiss military maintains a system of awards which recognize length of service, training, sports, and mission participation.

Award ribbons

Length of Service Decorations

Length of Service Decoration
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Length of Service Decoration German language: Dienstleistungsabzeichen French Italian language: Distintivi del servizio	This ribbon is worn with a series of rosettes to indicate total length of service. No rosette indicates 90 days of service.
	Length of Service Decoration	170 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	250 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	350 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	450 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	550 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	650 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	750 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	850 days service
	Length of Service Decoration	950 days service

Decorations

Alpine Insignia
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Alpine Decoration German language: Hochgebirgsabzeichen French Italian language: Distintivo d’alta montagna	This replaced the Alpine Badge previously issued by the Swiss Army. The Alpine Decoration is awarded to those members of the Swiss Army who have received specialist training in mountain warfare and rescue.
Skill-at-arms Decorations
	Assault Rifle, Level 1 German language: Sturmgewehr Stufe 1 French Italian language: Fucile d’assalto grado 1	This ribbon is worn in place of the older Sugus type badges.
	Assault Rifle, Level 2 German language: Sturmgewehr Stufe 2 French Italian language: Fucile d’assalto grado 2
	Pistol, Level 1 German language: Pistole Stufe 1 French Italian language: Pistola grado 1
	Pistol, Level 2 German language: Pistole Stufe 2 French Italian language: Pistola grado 2
Training Decorations
Error creating thumbnail:	Buddy Aid/NBC Defence German language: Kameradenhilfe/ABC Abwehr French Italian language: Aiuto al camerata/difesa NBC
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Coxswain German language: Wasserfahrer French Italian language: Battelliere
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Pointer (weapon) German language: Richter French Italian language: Puntatore (arma)
Sports Decorations
Error creating thumbnail:	Military sport 1 German language: Militärsport 1 French Italian language: Sport militare 1
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Military sport 2 German language: Militärsport 2 French Italian language: Sport militare 2
Error creating thumbnail:	Military sports competition German language: Militärsport Wettkampfauszeichnung French Italian language: Sport militare competitivo

Mission insignia

Service within Switzerland
Emblem	Name	Remarks
	Operations within Switzerland German language: Inland-Einsätze French Italian language: Impieghi in Svizzera
Service abroad
Error creating thumbnail:	Kosovo Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service as a member of the Swisscoy.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Bosnia-Herzegovina Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Swiss Headquarters Support Unit (SHQSU) to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Korea Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Namibia Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Western Sahara Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Peace Support Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service in peace support operations outside of the framework of an international organization.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	UN Military Observer Mission Insignia	Awarded for 150 days of service as a military observer with a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.
Error creating thumbnail:	Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia	Awarded for service with NATO Partnership for Peace.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad German language: Lange Ausland-Abkommandierung French Italian language: Servizi comandati prolungati	Awarded for at least 150 training days service in a training course of a foreign army as part of the "LAK" program.
Ribbon bar image; refer to adjacent text.	UNO OSCE Mandates Mission Badge Example	Because of the diversity, all portraits of the ribbons of the UNO / OSCE mandates are not illustrated.

Order of wear

Awards are worn of the uniform as ribbon bars in rows of three, with a maximum of nine ribbons worn at a time. When the top row of ribbons is less than three, they are worn to the wearers left. Only the highest level of award received is worn. The ribbons are worn in the following order:

• Length of Service Decoration (max 1 Ribbon);
• Decorations:
  • Alpine insignia
  • Skill-at-arms Decorations
  • Training Decorations
  • Sports Decorations
• Mission Insignia:
  • Operations within Switzerland (max 1 Ribbon)
  • Operations Abroad;
  • UN/OSCE Mandate Missions (max 1 per ribbon)
• Partnership for Peace Mission Insignia
• Long Leave for Military Duties Abroad (LAK)