Attention Army XXI! Christophe Kekeis, the new Chief of the Swiss Army tells Swiss News about his role and the new structure of Army XXI in the fast moving world of today.
| Auteur | Hedemma, Renske |
It wasn't too long ago that the Swiss Army had several generals, who together managed the Swiss Army in times of peace. It would only be during mobilisation that the central power would be granted to just one general.
That has changed since January 1, 2004. Christophe Keckeis is the one and only Chief of the Swiss Army now. A former pilot and Head of the Swiss Air Force, he is now in charge of fully restructured Swiss Army or Army XXI; a Militia that is reduced in size and has substantially changed training programs.
After the first few months in his new role, General Keckeis speaks about a turnaround that is far from easy and far from being completed.
When you think of the Swiss Army, the image of the whole male population with rifles under their beds comes to mind. How relevant is this image today?
Kekeis: In a way it is relevant. However, the number of soldiers has been extremely reduced. It is now only one third of the men who still "have rifles under their beds", as you refer to it. This milice (or Militia) system has a very long tradition in this country.
It was during the reform process that we are currently undergoing that I realised that certain things cannot be discussed. Retiring from active service after the age of 40, a soldier can choose whether he wants to keep his gun. A majority of the Swiss prefer to keep it. Wanting to change that habit comes close to breaking a taboo. So the image of a vigilant Militia that can be called into action from their homes is probably a given thing. It belongs to the history of Switzerland.
Why was the Swiss Army restructured to the so-called Army XXI?
It was a new appreciation of risks. The army we used to have had to provide answers for the Warschaw pact. We had an absolutely clear enemy in front of us. However, we now have to confront modern risks, such as terrorism.
A new analysis of risks on the one hand, and a reduction of costs on the other, made us adapt to the structure of the Swiss Army. Naturally, all the armed forces around us are involved in the same operation. How do we confront organised crime, terrorism, and internal security? We have to find appropriate answers.
What are the new functions you see for the Swiss Army in view of terrorism?
It is obvious that the pressure has increased since the terrorist attacks in Madrid of last March. The increasing demand of the authorities for the services of the armed forces in this field is a relatively new phenomenon.
Internal security used to be a task for the police, not for the Ministry of Defence. But with the pressure of international terrorism rising, we have to start analysing what...
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