Swiss government changes military service contract

The Swiss government is changing the terms in the employment contracts of its career soldiers, to provide that they must go abroad if ordered to do so. Switzerland apparently has previously marketed its army to volunteers as not requiring that soliders ever serve outside Swiss borders.

Swiss have served in some foreign countires—including peacekeeping duty in Kosovo—but these have been militia soldiers, not part of the career military. The Swiss defense ministry says the goal is to offer a wider scope of professional activity for its professionals.