Although it's called the Swiss Army (Schweizer Armee) ,it's actually more of a militia force,with only 5% of officers being professionals,with the rest bring conscripts,citizens are called up for conscription beginning at age 19 or 20. After the basic training training period of 300 days. he/she will return to a semi-civilian with a normal job with regular call-ups for mandatory annual training. This is why the Swiss army allows its ALL of its members (active or reserve) to bring their weapons home,to acclimatize themselves with their weapons during these periods.

This state of 'Active Military Readiness" lasts until a citizen is 30 years old for enlisted ranks and 50 years old for senior officers. It's only after this period that the Swiss citizen is released from 'active' military duties and pass into the reserves where they can begin a fully civilian way of life. So it be argued that this constitute it as a Militia force rather than a Military body.This also makes it different from regular conscription armies ,in which usually a fixed term is set for active military service,for example;2 years;where a citizen will be a full-time soldier during that period only,and passing into a reserve force after the period.

While active soldiers can bring their personal weapons home,full auto and all,a citizen at the end of his service has the choice to keep their weapons or to return them to a government armory. If a reservist chooses to keep his weapons,he is required to take them to a government armory to have the full-auto feature removed from the weapon. While this may sound horrifying (with dudes carrying assault rifles going shopping...),it is within the militia system and perfectly legal and normal.


A Swiss Militiaman going shopping?


A Swiss Militiaman browsing for a new iPad?


Swiss babes going cycling also bring assault rifles?WTF,Switzerland?

So beware of pissing off your new-found Swiss friend,he IS practically an soldier with a fully loaded automatic weapon under his bed,ok?