Reply #14: 22 years ago I visited a friend in Switzerland

[KansDem]

...participate in mandatory training and military drills.

Every male adult citizen is required to register in a kind of national guard/army reserve. Each spends a few weeks out of the year at camp, and each has a specific job/task to perform in case of national emergency. One of the Swiss citizens I met was about 50 and had the task of patrolling the perimeter of a certain base, if called up. He was to report to that location if the call came through. I got the impression that as one got older, the obligation was lessen to coincide with one's age and health, but I could be wrong.

Many of these soldier/citizens could be seen at the Bahnhof (train station) in transit to their yearly commitment. Other than their uniform, gun, and pack, there was no dress code that I could see! These were indeed civilians with a national obligation. It wasn't uncommon to see a young man in uniform and toting a rifle and pack with long hair and a beard. It was very strange indeed to this American who was used to seeing "the Marine look" on our own soldiers.