Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 The Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 ( , , ) is a special forces unit of the Swiss army responsible for conducting counter - terrorist activities in Switzerland and abroad . The full cost of maintaining the ARD - DDR - DEE in 2011 will approximately be 16 million franc s . History . As part of the Army XXI reforms , a report on October 24 , 2001 to the Federal Assembly of Switzerland called on the formation of a special forces - trained unit that would be able to conduct counter - terrorist - type actions in the Swiss Army to protect Swiss nationals and soldiers living abroad . In 2003 , the unit had been created with Major Daniel Stoll as the unit ' s first commanding officer with 30 soldiers as its nucleus with Special forces training with its internal structure based on the British SAS . In 2007 , ARD 10 commandos had joined in Exercise Cold Response 2007 . The unit had been unveiled to the public during Army Day 2007 in Lugano from November 20 to November 25 , 2007 . By the year 2011 , its expected that the unit will have 91 soldiers in active duty . It is suggested that the first batch of ARD 10 operators had been given training by foreign special forces instructors . They include instructors from the United States Navy SEALs , American Special Forces and the Special Air Service . There has been calls on the Swiss government to deploy ARD 10 operators to combat Somali pirates with no consensus in Parliament , due to an evenly divided vote against it . The planned mission called for 30 ARD 10 operators to be deployed with a spokesperson for the Swiss army saying that the ARD 10 is ready to be deployed if given the order . Criticisms . Critics had blasted the creation of the ARD 10 , saying that that unit might conduct anti - terrorist missions that may put civilians in harm ' s way contrary to their mission . The Zeit - Fragen , a weekly newspaper , also claimed that the ARD 10 would be a blow to Swiss neutrality , saying that crisis situations involving Swiss nationals are always solved through negotiations . There are concerns that the ARD 10 , like all special forces , can be used covertly against politically active people instead of conducting their missions to their mandate . An article criticized the planned mission to Somalia , questioning on who should ARD 10 operators shoot as pirates when they are on anti - piracy operations since most of them are ex - fisherman and criminals . Furthermore , an article from the Berner Zeitung insists that the ARD 10 deployment is not the solution , but calls for political solutions . The ARD10 was criticized for being " dangerous " when Swiss media leaked out plans to rescue Swiss nationals in Libya on June 28 , 2010 . In addition , it is reported that 40 operators are currently active and not at least 90 as initially planned . According to Albert Stahel of Zurich University ’ s Institute for Strategic Studies , an umbrella of the Swiss military ' s various special forces unit should be created as Switzerland does not have enough resources to strategically transport ARD10 operators to various places around the globe . Unit tasks . The ARD 10 has certain tasks to fulfill as part of their mandate : Requirements . Among the minimal qualification requirements for potential candidates in 18 weeks , these include : Other potential requirements include the following : Candidates who must wear eyeglasses must have a visual acuity of at least 0 . 80 in order to be accepted . The Swiss Army does not institute an age limit for soldiers who wish to join the ARD 10 . Equipment . ARD 10 operators are equipped with the SIG SG 552 ( in - service designation " Sturmgewehr 90 kurz ( Stgw 90 kurz ) " ) assault carbine attached with various tactical and night vision scopes , depending on the operator . Their main sniper rifle is the Sako TRG - 42 ( in - service designation " Scharfschützengewehr 04 ( SSGw 04 ) " ) . The MP5SD3 submachine gun is the standard SMG used by the ARD 10 . Their standard sidearms consist of Glock 17 and the Glock 26 alongside the P220 while there are reports that the SIG Pro series are also issued . For training purposes , the G17T and G26T are used . Their equipment consists of knee protectors , kevlar helmets and anti - splinter vests . The ARD ' s main light infantry vehicle is the AGF . Training . Potential candidates must attend 18 full months , with 6 months dedicated to basic training , of special forces training after completing their compulsory service with the Swiss Army , which is then followed by 40 weeks with infiltration technique training . Candidates will be assessed prior to training their physical and mental state , as well as their health if they are fit to be qualified as ARD 10 soldiers . Candidates must also have clean records from their time after attending compulsory service . Upon ending of training , all ARD 10 soldiers are required to be on standby in case of deployment . Over 300 soldiers who apply for a position in the ARD 10 , only 10 prospective soldiers are chosen for training as ARD 10 operators . Among the specialist courses being taught to all prospective ARD 10 operators include the following : Work conditions . All ARD 10 soldiers are allowed to have a maximum of 20 days off from active service with the unit , as well as an addition of 5 days if required . Accommodations in terms of living quarters and food are taken care of by the unit itself without having the individual soldier pay . ARD 10 soldiers stay in the unit for 5 years . Efforts are underway to raise it up to 10 years of service with the ARD 10 . ARD 10 soldiers are paid , depending on their marital status and economic standing . Extra pay ranges from 397 to 5 , 156 Swiss franc s . Others are paid 4 , 111 Swiss franc s if they have children with extra pay that includes 2 , 654 Swiss franc s . ARD 10 soldiers are also paid if they are deployed abroad , depending on the nature of their mission . Soldiers are paid additionally 6 . 17 Swiss franc s per hour for participating in night duties . All ARD 10 soldiers have insurance as provided by the Swiss military . In addition , ARD 10 soldiers are to reimbursed according to federal law with an accommodation maximum of 130 Swiss franc s .