New Swiss Special force AAD 10
- Thread starter rister48
- Start date
AAD-10 is short for Armee-Aufklärungsdetachement 10 (Army Recon Detachment 10).
Official website in DE, FR and IT.
The new commando unit has been criticized in Switzerland - not because of its purpose, but because Switzerland lacks the means to get this unit into action (airlift), and plans to rely on other nations for that. The criticism is mostly directed towards this reliance and the potential political compromises that might come with that.
Other criticism has been leveled at the fact that AAD-10 does not operate within Swiss militia structures; its use is not transparent to the population. Also, employing AAD-10 will - unlike the rest of the army - only need a mandate from the Bundesrat (upper house) - the parliament (lower house) and the 7 presidents of Switzerland will only have to receive a notice about this mandate.
That AAD-10 in its own recruitment flyer lists "Offensive actions (Defense only)" as one of its tasks gives the whole thing a slightly funny angle.
Official website in DE, FR and IT.
The new commando unit has been criticized in Switzerland - not because of its purpose, but because Switzerland lacks the means to get this unit into action (airlift), and plans to rely on other nations for that. The criticism is mostly directed towards this reliance and the potential political compromises that might come with that.
Other criticism has been leveled at the fact that AAD-10 does not operate within Swiss militia structures; its use is not transparent to the population. Also, employing AAD-10 will - unlike the rest of the army - only need a mandate from the Bundesrat (upper house) - the parliament (lower house) and the 7 presidents of Switzerland will only have to receive a notice about this mandate.
That AAD-10 in its own recruitment flyer lists "Offensive actions (Defense only)" as one of its tasks gives the whole thing a slightly funny angle.
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- #3
Facts my friend:....the AAD 10 has been criticized from GSOA (Gesamt Schweiz Ohne Armee)and Weltwoche which has made false statements regarding the new det. ;-) (Gesamt Schweiz Ohne Armee) and from the usual political left...likewise the army in Germany is also criticized from the same sort of people. Fact is the Swiss will Transport rent if needed to any location, and will not rely on any other nations to solve. Joint actions are a different matter. Special forces don't normally operate within set military structures, otherwise no special force would be needed. (GSG9, SAS, SBS you name have there own roe) etc.etc
Oh, there have been critical and doubtful voices from other places too. SF1 originally called them "Swiss Rambos" (but was pressured to change the tag line into "New Special Unit").
Swiss military politics always receive a lot of internal criticism, no matter what it is. See e.g. also the discussion about procurement via armasuisse earlier this month.
A lot of Swiss soldiers regard AAD10 with mixed feelings as well - mostly along the lines of "well, we'll have to see yet if they're good for anything...".
Oh, and the GSG9 is a very bad example. They're not military, but police. And they're not allowed to operate outside Germany since 1977.
Swiss military politics always receive a lot of internal criticism, no matter what it is. See e.g. also the discussion about procurement via armasuisse earlier this month.
A lot of Swiss soldiers regard AAD10 with mixed feelings as well - mostly along the lines of "well, we'll have to see yet if they're good for anything...".
Oh, and the GSG9 is a very bad example. They're not military, but police. And they're not allowed to operate outside Germany since 1977.
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- #5
Source pls....."A lot of Swiss soldiers regard AAD10 with mixed feelings as well - mostly along the lines of "well, we'll have to see yet if they're good for anything...".
I have two sons one Grenadier and the other Pz-Sappeur...you seem to know more than the average soldier!
"Oh, and the GSG9 is a very bad example. They're not military, but police. And they're not allowed to operate outside Germany since 1977."
sure, sure..officially
"SF1 originally called them "Swiss Rambos" (but was pressured to change the tag line into "New Special Unit")." --Source pls
Must of missed the daily news on SF1 that day....Weltwoche called them los Rambolinos
I have two sons one Grenadier and the other Pz-Sappeur...you seem to know more than the average soldier!
"Oh, and the GSG9 is a very bad example. They're not military, but police. And they're not allowed to operate outside Germany since 1977."
sure, sure..officially
"SF1 originally called them "Swiss Rambos" (but was pressured to change the tag line into "New Special Unit")." --Source pls
Must of missed the daily news on SF1 that day....Weltwoche called them los Rambolinos
My source is a (militia) Swiss Uffz in a Leichte Flab unit.
"Cleaned" article
Current Google cache version of same article
Of course, the caption to the picture in that article can be seen as rather sarcastic as well...
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- #7
"Swiss Uffz in a Leichte Flab unit"
No offence... but I wouldn't call that a reference!!
My friend you will find pro's and contras in any country and on any army in the world on any subject you wish...the AAD10 is well welcomed by most of the Swiss, go and check for yoursel they will be introduced to the public :Armeetage Lugano 07 in November....the demo will be packed there will be extra trains from Zürich, Basel and Bern, like all presentations the Swiss army give to the public.
two reference forums.
- armee-info.ch
- grenadier.ch
No offence... but I wouldn't call that a reference!!
My friend you will find pro's and contras in any country and on any army in the world on any subject you wish...the AAD10 is well welcomed by most of the Swiss, go and check for yoursel they will be introduced to the public :Armeetage Lugano 07 in November....the demo will be packed there will be extra trains from Zürich, Basel and Bern, like all presentations the Swiss army give to the public.
two reference forums.
- armee-info.ch
- grenadier.ch
Incognito129
Banned Member
what happened to the swiss's neutrality
Has always been "Armed Neutrality".
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- #10
What a lot of people don't know is that untill not to long ago During the cold war years, the Swiss maintained one of Europe's largest land-based armies, and still can mobilize one of the largest armys in Europe.
Swiss wartime record in Stephan Halbrooks book: Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II. The book not only provides a starting point for all future discussions of Switzerland's military role in the war but also makes an interesting contribution to the literature on both federalism and gun rights. According to Halbrook, Switzerland's traditions of extreme decentralization and of an armed populace played a key role in preserving its freedom in an hour of peril.
But the more balanced view remains Winston Churchill's. "I put this down for the record," wrote Churchill to Anthony Eden in a December 1944 memo reprinted in Triumph and Tragedy. "Of all the neutrals Switzerland has the greatest right to distinction....What does it matter whether she has been able to give us the commercial advantages we desire or has given too many to the Germans to keep herself alive? She has been a democratic State, standing for freedom in self-defense among her mountains, and in thought, in spite of race, largely on our side."
Swiss wartime record in Stephan Halbrooks book: Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II. The book not only provides a starting point for all future discussions of Switzerland's military role in the war but also makes an interesting contribution to the literature on both federalism and gun rights. According to Halbrook, Switzerland's traditions of extreme decentralization and of an armed populace played a key role in preserving its freedom in an hour of peril.
But the more balanced view remains Winston Churchill's. "I put this down for the record," wrote Churchill to Anthony Eden in a December 1944 memo reprinted in Triumph and Tragedy. "Of all the neutrals Switzerland has the greatest right to distinction....What does it matter whether she has been able to give us the commercial advantages we desire or has given too many to the Germans to keep herself alive? She has been a democratic State, standing for freedom in self-defense among her mountains, and in thought, in spite of race, largely on our side."