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→Defense
==Defense==
==Defense==
[[File:Swiss Army. Leopard 2-2A4 tank-Steel Parade 2006.jpg|thumb|200px|left|A Swiss Leopard 2-2A4 tank in a 2006 parade in the city of Thun.]]
[[File:Swiss Army. Leopard 2-2A4 tank-Steel Parade 2006.jpg|thumb|200px|left|A Swiss Leopard 2-2A4 tank in a 2006 parade in the city of Thun.]]
On May 18, 2003, Swiss voters approved the military reform project "Army XXI" that will drastically reduce the size of the Swiss Army. In January 2004, the 524,000-strong militia started paring down to 220,000 conscripts, including 80,000 reservists. The defense budget of currently SF 4.3 billion ($3.1 billion) will be trimmed by SF 300 million, and some 2,000 jobs are expected to be shed between 2004 and 2011. The mandatory time of service will be curtailed from 300 to 260 days. All able-bodied Swiss males aged 20 to 30 must serve. Thereafter, most personnel are assigned to civil protection duties until the age of 37. Each Swiss militaman is required to keep his Sig 550 service rifle at home, properly maintained and in working order. Up until 2007, soldiers also received a sealed box of 50 bullets: they were meant to be used in the journey from home to the reporting station in case of invasion. This requirement has since been abolished and ammunition returned.
On May 18, 2003, Swiss voters approved the military reform project "Army XXI" that drastically reduced the size of the Swiss Army. In January 2004, the 524,000-strong militia started paring down to 220,000 conscripts, including 80,000 reservists. The defense budget of SF 4.3 billion ($3.1 billion) would be trimmed by SF 300 million, and some 2,000 jobs were expected to be shed between 2004 and 2011. The mandatory time of service was curtailed from 300 to 260 days. All able-bodied Swiss males aged 20 to 30 must either serve in the military or in a special civil service. Thereafter, most military personnel are assigned to civil protection duties until the age of 37. Each Swiss militaman is required to keep his Sig 550 service rifle at home, properly maintained and in working order. Up until 2007, soldiers also received a sealed box of 50 bullets: they were meant to be used in the journey from home to the reporting station in case of invasion. This requirement has since been abolished and ammunition returned.
[[File:Switzerland - Air Force McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet - cropped.jpg|thumb|200px|A Swiss McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet in 2011.]]
[[File:Switzerland - Air Force McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet - cropped.jpg|thumb|200px|A Swiss McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet in 2011.]]