Staff of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO 03 would like to wish you a warm welcome! Today, you are among 165 Swiss and international patrols about to participate in the fifteenth edition of this above event. We wish you success and lots of luck since you will be needing it.

We have been organising this competition for the past two years and be warned that what lies ahead of you is not an easy task. You will be obliged to prove your competence by demonstrating various technical and tactical skills under special circumstances. Consequently, your endurance capabilities will also be put to test.

While respecting general safety and security regulations, this competition will be as realistic as possible, meaning action packed! Hopefully by the end, you will have additional experience and knowledge to take home with you.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO is a step forward in your training.

Here are the objectives for our own troops supporting the Raid.

Each individual (whether militia or regular force)as well as every staff member entering this competition, should be given the opportunity toapply his skills in addition to acquiring new ones. Whether specialized in the field of logistics, exploration, in opposition forces, or simply part of land or air forces, the 2500 Swiss military personnel concerned guarantee the success of this Raid. Their task is clearly defined. Nonetheless, it is also beneficial to their training.

Planning, interaction between staff units, synchronising operations, generating forces, audits, CIMIC, media integration as well as organising and commanding actions are elements of a real "joint action" which all apply here.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO is an instruction tool available for members of the Swiss and international armed forces.

Following is a brief summary of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO 15th edition. On Thursday September 25th 2003, the event will unfold with an optional instruction session focused on Swiss weaponry and technicalities, destined for members of foreign armed forces. It is imperative that all patrols have identical chances of success at the outset. The SWISS RAID COMMANDO operation begins on Friday morning, Sept 26th with the "Selection phase". (After a train ride, you will get hold of your means of transportation (bycicles) and competition starts.)

A maximum of points should be won at the technical posts, spread over an area of approximately 80 sq. km. You choose your itinerary, as well as your technical posts. Critical analysis, technical skill, physical endurance and speed are all qualities which will be tested, compared, evaluated and measured on the second day. At the end of this phase, an intermediate classification will be established. This does not result in any disqualification but serves as a basis for the choice of missions to be carried out during the "Action phase".

The "Action Phase" takes place in the evening of Friday Sept 26th, until late afternoon of the following day. Equipped with simulators and night vision devices, you will accomplish your chosen mission in various ways: Night insertion, approach march, bivouac installation, information gathering, infiltration, action, ex-filtration and withdrawal procedures etc. (Remember that amidst a hostile environment, the mission is often much more complex than anticipated…)

The competition ends on Sunday Sept 28th, with the closing ceremony followed by lunch.

Raiders, it is up to you to prove what you're capable of! The raid is yours…. or almost! During these three days, we will have the pleasure of welcoming numerous guests, nationalleaders, sponsors and press representatives who have showed interest in our competition. Your support and commitment have been invaluable in helping us achieve our goals. As in the previous years, we welcome you once again to observe not only the dedication and commitment which went on behind the scenes, but also the obstacles the staff are sometimes obliged to face. You will have an opportunity to visit the posts and workplaces which are the most representative of this exceptional competition. However, 2003 is also an exceptional year for the Swiss army. The implementation of Army XXI is just a few months away and this would be the perfect opportunity to take you on a guided tour of the "Comptoir Suisse" Department of Defence exhibition in Lausanne. The Raid has its rightful place within the framework of the new army. It is a means to an end, an effective instruction tool.

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to those who have made the 15th edition of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO possible : the general Chief of Staff, the Chief of the Land force and the Chief of the Air force, the authorities of the Canton of Vaud and of the Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel, the raiders and their accompanying teams, the defence attachés the professional and contract military personnel of the Swiss Armed Forces, the civil and military personnel of the Swiss Land and Air forces, the soldiers and cadres of the subordinate units, the sponsors and representatives of the press, the members of the SRC 03 auditing cell, the former members of the SRC 03 general staff, Colonel GS Mudry (Deputy Chief of operations until September, 2002), Lieutenant-Colonel GS Tüscher (Chief of Staff until June, 2002) and Lieutenant-Colonel Cuennet (Deputy Chief CIMIC until September, 2002). the members of the SRC 03 staff.

Thank you for your support, thank you for "wanting, believing and daring" the SWISS RAID COMMANDO.

A special vote of thanks to the Commanding Officer.

On behalf of the staff of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO 03:
Lieutenant-Colonel GS Vallat (Chief of Staff)
Lieutenant-Colonel GS Theler (S3 - operations)
Colonel GS Chanton (S4 - logistics)
Major GS Monnerat (S6 - management)
Major GS Brossard (information)
Major Leuba (S9 - CIMIC)