Hey everyone, as the title suggests, I will be starting my military recruit school for the army in the coming months.
Are there any useful tips that I (or any future person that stumbles onto this post) can consider for this?
I thank you all in advance
Posted May 4, 2023, 11:03 AM UTC
Wear your KS regularly ASAP to break them in and get used to them.
This. You can get one pair before the RS starts and wear them for a couple of walks. Will save you a lot of pain on your feet.
I don't think you can anymore. Wich is defenitely not nice, if you still can i totally agree. Btw you only get one pair, the second pair got replaced by the new model wich is was more comfortable without wearing them in.
Ok. I did the RS in 2003, things may have changed since then.
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Thick Hiking socks are really helpful. Compeeds will be needed.
You won’t have much free time, but have a book around or two.
Having a power strip around will be greatly appreciated by your roommates.
You can take a few photos but always ask everyone before doing so, and avoid sharing them on social medias. It’s very easy to do a mistake and share something you should not have shared.
You never have enough fresh clothes, be ready to need 2 weeks of underwear.
Agree wholeheartedly with all of the foot-related advice. You’ll be especially grateful for that after your first ‘march’ (hike).
Do prepare to be shocked in your first few weeks. It takes a good 2-3 weeks to get used to what you’re getting thrown into. I felt like the change from my previous student/civilian life was massive - you may experience the same.
I found that a lot of what you have to do is tedious (esp. run to wait, wait to run). Take it as a learning experience both technical and personal (I tested my mental and physical limits many times in officer school).
Take the opportunity to work out - you’ll have to anyhow and being stronger will make your life easier with all the physical requirements.
Volunteer often, be nice to and care for your comrades.
Find a way to believe in your mission (EG have a purpose for being there). I’ve lived all over the world - growing up in Switzerland was the best gift I could ever have had. It was only a small sacrifice to do what society still agrees we should do to help out (or serve, however you see it). I was in Rescue Corps so slightly easier on the philosophical side..
Enjoy and good luck!!
As somebody already said, wear your KS.
If you havn't already go pick them up as soon as you can. Take your time there to try them on and get the right fit! (back in my days there where 3 brands that where making the KS and they had a slight different cuts (I had to get the "Minerva" because of my high instep)). If you go early the guys that work there have more time to get the right shoes for you.
Second start to wear them around to break them in and to get used to them, else you'll have many more blisters and the feets will hurt much more in the first weeks of RS.
Get at least 2 pairs of Hiking socks, it used to be the Rohner, they are great for marches.
Afterwards take care of you KS, mine are now 20 years old, still nice water thght and great at concerts and whenever yo need to go out in the rough.
A book is a nice idea, you'll have plenty of pockets to store a not too thick book ;)
Bring some kind of bluethoot boombox/loudspeaker.
snacks and foods are always really welcome to make freinds, preferably something regional from where you come.
And if you still have problems with your KS, ask for a doctors appointment in RS. The Army will pay up to CHF 300 each for 2 pairs of private boots.
If you're doing everything at once (Durchdiener), you even get 3 pairs.
Private one = they have a huge list of already approved boots, basically get te appointment, buy one that fits, bring the boots with receipt to the LBA guys, and done.
Afterwards take care of you KS, mine are now 20 years old
I wish we had the same quality, we had soldiers who had KS which quite literally fell appart after two days
This is very importent!
Depending on the service branch the experiance can be different. Culture is different in the infantry, air force, logistics etc.
The first couple of weeks can be a bit rough. It gets better later. Remember the goal is to achieve your mission as a group, and your individual needs are secondary to the military.
Things go better if you get along. Nurture the "cameradrie" in your group/section/unit.
Think about if you want to remain a soldier or want to become a sergeant or officer. You will be confronted rather quickly with the fact that selection for candidates starts early, even before you are fully aware of how things work.
Know that there are different rules and limits than in the civil world. Unapproved sharing in social media, insubordination, drunkenness in public, marihuana use etc. can land you in a single bedroom over the weekend. Military Law applys to you in uniform.
Know your rights (Dienstreglement), respectfully find solutions with your section/platoon leader or even company commander. If things go very wrong, know where to get help. (VSAdA, Sozialdienst der Armee, PPD, Feldprediger, etc.)
On the fun side of things, writing postcards to traditional swiss companies sometimes gets you free stuff. We wrote in the name of our platoon to some breweries and got some free samples. Alcohol has to be kept in the "KP" and not in your room, and can only be consumed during the "Ausgang".
I guess it depends on which role you’ll be fulfilling in the military, but I as someone who’s almost done with my inf rs can only say to bring enough zwipf with ya and get your parents (or friends) to send you stuff, you’ll love it :)
Also since you’re doing your rs in summer, I would also recommend a camelbak
Buy a second Soldatenmesser and only use it to show it at inspections. Use the one you get from the military for the daily use. It can be a real bitch to clean and it saves some time.
Did the opposite, had my personal knife (with a corkscrew) for daily use and the official one kept unused and clean for inspection..
laziness always find a way 🤔😅
👍👍👍
Just clean your blade... and before presenting just rub of the fingerprints with your tshirt. Imho only buy one when they are extremely over sensitive and you dont want to make a scene. I don't know how it's in other units but probably nobody cares in the WK.
Take a power strip with you if you can.
Learn how to tie a tie (double windsor). You will be able to help you comrades if they can't do it. This will save you guys a lot of time.
Try to do your job accordingly. Do not stand out by trying to break the system, conplaining won't get you far.
Take some cerealbars/proteinbars with you
Know how much you can drink after a hot / intense day.
Don't say "see you tomorrow" on Saturdays.
Be average.
Stick up for your mates.
Don't shoot anyone.
Switch as fast as you can to Zivildienst. ;) Just kidding, I hope you will be able to enjoy your military experience!
Ask your family to send you snacks, lots of snacks.
Organise your time and be ready on time. Bring a cheap watch. Not an expensive one and one as flat as possible. Mine broke multiple times because i ripped it off.
To be on time it is especially usefull to store your clothes and all your stuff with a priority ruleset. And quick acces pockets in your bags.
Be acyclical to your team. When they eat. You go to the toilet. When they chill you shave and so on. It will safe you time. Especially if you do not have alot of time and there is not enough space for example in the bunkers.
Also, bring earplugs against snoring and a multi plug for electronic divices.
For the marches, always wear a pair of thin ladies socks under your main socks. That way, the friction takes place between the two socks rather than between the socks and your feet. Your buddies may laugh at you, but you‘ll laugh at them later when they have blisters and you don‘t.
If you‘re not interested in becoming a sergeant or officer, don‘t stand out, neither positive nor negative. Just be quiet and swim with the masses.
Hah - i had that exact moment :) First march I did that, because someone told me to try it. Got laughed at. Had 0 problems after the march, while others were crying about. Next march, almost all of our squad were wearing lady socks :)
Break your gear but never ever lose your gear.
Remember where you put ALL your shit regardless of how useless it is.
-Don‘t try to play rambo -> they will notice you and recommend you to become a groupleader/sargent.
make sure the people you are going into the „KD“-Box with are sain 😅 it was kind of unplesent for me the first time I had to fire a gun with idiots around me doing the same stuff 😅
finally make sure to enjoy the „ausgang“ just be sure you do not go all blackedout during your free evenings. Usually any biger hikes or early in the morning (3am wakeup and do shit) things happen right after these evenings.
Hope this helps. It might sound stupid but try to enjoy it there will be fun moments and good memories aswell during this time :)
Aromate always with you
KDO ordonnance de bureau here, you should definitely be nice to us, we will help you get that medical pass our get the KS fixed faster If you do.
What would be a situation where "knowing your rights" came into play?
Knowing that you have a right to see a doctor regardless of what the office dwellers tell you.