According to the tradition, we have once again been able to organize the SWISS RAID COMMANDO. The army reform, which has overthrown structures and flow charts has had an effect on our organization as well.

First of all it is now the Infantry Training Unit, which is responsible for the event. Subsequently, the preparation and execution efforts have become more significant. Of course the land forces have no difficulties in providing a staff composed of motivated and competent professional and militia personnel catered to ensure the planning and execution of this competition.

However the army no longer disposes of the same amount of manpower and logistics in order to support the event. Manpower got thinner, the number of battalions has melted and the infrastructures have been reduced accordingly.

The uniqueness of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO is not only the quality of its organization but also the considerable means which have been dedicated to the operation of its support.

Nevertheless, thanks to the enthusiastic support of the Swiss Armed Forces Commander, as well as to the Land Force and Air Force Commanders, we are able to maintain the quality of organization and support of SRC 05 and to ensure that it will in no way be inferior to previous editions.

The SRC is not simply a well-organized competition. It has to meet two more imperative conditions:
- it is a difficult military competition, dense and diverse. In the engagement phase, the conditions will be as realistic as possible, while security prescriptions are scrupulously respected. It targets qualified, well-trained and motivated soldiers. Those who combine technical skills, know-how and decision-making to cleverness and to an excellent physical condition. It is truly a competition for the best.
- Staffs and support troops must reap benefits from this event, in other terms train while training. The must contain exercises in the exercise in order for everyone to profit from it. This year these conditions will again be met. I wish good luck and courage to all the raiders.

Major General Bertrand Jaccard
Commander SWISS RAID COMMANDO and
INFANTRY TRAINING UNIT 3/6

In the name of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO 05 staff, I wish you a cordial welcome. As previously, you’ll be 160 Swiss and international patrols, to participate in the 16th edition of this event. In advance we wish you valid pre-event preparations, physical, technical and psychological, as well as good luck. You’ll require all of these elements in order to complete this competition with success.

Since early 2004, my staff has been preparing this contest. We have decided to make it challenging. Now it’s up to you, to demonstrate, your stamina, intelligence and your military capabilities.

We have opted to make it realistic, in order to place you in conditions as close as possible to true engagement.

We also want it to be useful. At the end of this event you should have acquired new experiences and knowledge.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO constitutes an excellent instruction tool for the raiders, as well as for the 2’500 support troops. Militia or professional, each man engaged in this contest, each unit and each staff has the possibility to demonstrate its skills and acquire new ones.

Planning sessions, interaction in between staff cells, operation synchronization, generation of the forces, audit, civil and military cooperation, media integration, setting-up, conduct of the action and the winding, all these elements which constitute a real joint-army operation are applied here.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO is therefore an instruction tool for the Swiss armed forces, as well as for the members of the foreign armies who honor us with their presence at each event.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO 05 staff, while reimplementing the formula, which has made the success of this event, has modified its sector of engagement and increased the number of live ammo shooting posts. This 16th edition begins Wednesday 28th September 2005, with a paratroop jumping demonstration, reserved for certified operational jumpers. On Thursday 29th September 2005, an optional day of instruction on the usage and techniques of Swiss arms will be organized for foreign troops, in order to provide them with equal chances of success at the start of the competition. The opening ceremony and the selection stage briefing will mark the end of day one.

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO operation truly begins in the morning on Friday 30th September 2005 with the „Selection” stage. After receiving the now famous Swiss Army bicycles, the competition begins. The raiders have to acquire a maximum number of points at the technical posts, which are located in a delimited 150km2 zone. The patrol leader bears the responsibility of choosing the itinerary, as well as the posts to be visited.

Analytical capabilities, technical know-how, physical stamina, speed and the strength to work as a whole are indispensable qualities required by each patrol.

At the end of this stage an intermediary ranking list will be established. Ranking will not constitute any disqualifications, however it will provide the order in which the patrols will be able to choose their missions for the second part of the event, the „Action” stage. This phase will take place from Friday 30th September at night through Saturday 1st October in the afternoon. Equipped with simulation systems and night vision goggles, you will accomplish your chosen mission; night insertion, approach march, bivouac establishment, collecting of intelligence, infiltration, action on the objective, ex-filtration and extraction. The environment in which you’ll progress, will be very hostile, your complex missions will mainly be executed with combat ammunition.

Saturday evening, we will all gather for a meal in common. The contest will end on Sunday 2nd October 2005 with the closing ceremony.

Dear raiders, we look forward to welcome you and test your skills. SWISS RAID COMMANDO is aimed at elite soldiers. In order to tackle the challenge that we have prepared, begin to train now.

In the name of the SRC 05 staff, I would like to thank the people without whom this 16th edition of the SWISS RAID COMMANDO would not be possible: the Chief of the army, the Commander of land forces and air forces, the authorities of the canton of Vaud, of the republic and canton of Neuchatel and the republic and canton of Jura, the defense attachés of the represented nations, the professional and contractual military personnel of the land and air forces, the soldiers and executives from the subordinated formations, the sponsors and the media representatives.

A special and friendly thank you to LTC GS Ketterer, S3 in 2004 and to our predecessors of the previous SWISS RAID COMMANDO staffs. They developed and maintained the spirit of the Raid by implementing our motto:

« WANT, BELIEVE AND DARE »

The SWISS RAID COMMANDO 05 staff:
LTC GS Tüscher (Chief of staff)
LTC GS Monnerat (deputy chief of staff)
LTC GS Ketterer (S3/2004)
MAJ GS Corelli (S3/2005)
MAJ GS Müller (S4)
MAJ Leuba (S5)
MAJ GS Lehmann (S6)
MAJ GS Mastrogiacomo (S7)