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Treesuit,

I think I have the answer to your question.

Switzerland has no standing army; the Swiss Army is a reserve army, consisting of three groups of people - recruits undergoing training, reservists fulfilling their yearly military commitment, or members of the VERY tiny professional cadre (primarily maintenance & supply technicians). By Swiss law, every soldier-reservist must maintain IN HIS HOUSE his issued weapon & field gear, including I presume, his field ration.

Since food items are perishable, my guess is they buy replacement items as the foods pass their expiration date, or perhaps replace unliked foods with items they prefer.

One note about the Kampfkostpaket: Switzerland does not envision fighting outside of Swiss territory. The KKP is only to be used until field kitchens can be set up, so there was no need to develope an extensive menu. Please note, the only "military" items in the ration are chocolate bars, hard bread, and oddly, paper towels.

Thanks for the info. So, can we say Switzerland and Israel (2 small countries with a reserve army) have the same kind of policy concerning the field rations: "buy what you like or call the pizzeria"?

Treesuit wrote:Housil,

Okay, I'm a little confused here. in the earlier postings it was mentioned that Swiss troops had to buy there own meals? Or just buy supplemented canned food for the issued rations? If the Swiss Army is issuing new box rations why would soldiers have to buy extra meals?

I guess it´s the word "troops" causing the confusion.
My fault...

It´s the quartermaster that have to buy civilian items (value per ration ~SFR 1.80) and add them to their rations, exacpt the cans. They are a "must have", ordered by their MoD.

You are right that the Swiss is a "tiny" country with not a "regular" army. Every male has to join basci traning for 18-21 weeks.
After that, he will get his uniform AND weapon (SIG550) at home. They have to join army every year for "several days", like reservist training, up to a total amount of 300 days.

Read more here

It’s a little bit off-topic, however here are some items I would like to shear with you.
I guess the Swiss Army is the only army that has survival AMMUNITION rations! These tin boxes are called ‘Taschenmunition’ (pocket ammonution) and are given to the soldiers when they end their active duty time. The boxes go together with the gun, be it a 9mm handgun, the older type Stg 57 or the newer Stg 90. These boxes may only be opened in the case of an emergency i.e. war time. After reserve duty the boxes must be returned in closed condition. Soldiers returning opened boxes will pay high fines or worse!

The 9mm ‘Taschenmunition’ (the box with the big red 9) is the most rare of all because there are much lesser handguns (for officers) than rifles.

Since October 2007 the Taschenmuniton is called back.

You’ll also see the difference between the old and new Swiss cammo patterns.

Genuine arts of Swiss rations can be ordered at the Swiss Army Shop armeeshop.ch
The chocolat is really good!! Not the hard stuff usually found in emergency rations.
The crackers are the best I've ever tasted!
The shop only opens on wednesday. But you can order on-line.

Aquarius,

that linked shop is awesome!!!!
I guess they are the only country with their own army fan shop

New Swiss Army Pocket knife:


available March 2009

Very "similar" to Bundeswehr Pocket knife:


also Victorinox Swiss made

This is very interesting - my thanks to Donald & Aquarius.

I would like to get me one of those new swiss kinves....I have the old one.
Yes the Bundeswehr knife was made by Victorinox the only thig it changes is the german eagle crest.

Peace!

Drushba, try this one for some swiss knife info:

http://www.sosakonline.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=35

I am an afficionado of Swiss Army knives. Had some really good ones, but lost them somehow during my recent move to my new home.