Service booklet will be replaced as of June 1, 2026

The service booklet has been ubiquitous in the Swiss army for around 150 years. Until now, it has served as a means of administration and proof of military service. Its replacement was initiated by a motion in 2018 and approved by the Federal Council. With the amendment of the Military Act and the Ordinance on Compulsory Military Service as of June 1, 2026, the replacement can now be implemented.

With the Service Manager, the Armed Forces are providing a digital tool that reproduces the previous content of the service booklet and offers additional functions. Among other things, members of the armed forces can use it to view their military career, completed and future service as well as personal data and complete administrative processes digitally.

One last data synchronization

In connection with the replacement, all members of the armed forces will receive a letter at the beginning of June containing a personal data extract from the military administration systems. With the help of this extract, the data in the service record book can be compared quickly and easily. If there are any discrepancies, the service record booklet must be sent in for checking.

From June 1, 2026, the service record book will no longer be updated or reissued. For entries up to this date, it will remain valid as evidence and must be kept until discharge from military service. For entries from this date onwards, the data management in the systems of the Military Administration shall apply.

The «Certificate of Completion of Military Service» is now available as proof of completion of compulsory military service and can be downloaded at any time from the Service Manager or ordered from the Armed Forces Customer Center.

There is no obligation to digitize. Members of the armed forces who do not wish to use the service manager can continue to use analog processes, apart from the service booklet, and obtain the relevant documents from the responsible offices.

Replacement of the civil defense service booklet

In civil defense, the blue service booklet will also be replaced digitally by the Civil Defense Duty Manager (DIM ZS) on June 1, 2026. It is based on the existing platform of the Armed Forces Duty Manager and therefore uses a proven and stable solution.

The service booklet remains valid as evidence for all entries up to this date and must be kept until the person is released from their protective service obligations.

The Civil Protection Service Manager has been in a pilot phase since February and is already available to the first members of the civil protection services of individual cantons. In future, everyone will be able to benefit from a digital solution that is available anytime, anywhere and simplifies administrative processes.

Source: babs.admin.ch