Swiss Grenadiers The Swiss Grenadiers are an infantry corps of the Swiss Army specialised in rapid offensive operations , intel gathering and operations in urban areas , open fields and other difficult terrains , capable of acting on short notice . Grenadiers are subjected to considerable physical strain , applicants are required to be in excellent physical conditions , and recruits are chosen through a strict selection process . The Grenadiers have been part of the " Grenadier Command 1 " since the " Army XXI " reform in late 2004 , before which Grenadier units were integrated in other regiments . Grenadier Command 1 , subordinated to the " Reconnaissance Formations of the Armed Forces and Grenadiers " , is headquartered in Rivera . The Grenadiers ' motto , shared with many other military institutions and most famously with the US Marines , is " Semper Fidelis " . History . Soldiers denominated " grenadiers " have long been part of Switzerland ' s military tradition : even before the 19th century , grenadiers served as part of the cantonal contingents of the Swiss Confederacy . Modern Grenadiers were formed in the early 1940s , originating from the " Infantry Pioneers " trained by Chief instructor Matthias Brunner , the commander of a riflemen company who developed a close combat technique in the shooting schools of Walenstadt . This company , made up of volunteers , faced a stricter and more intensive training than other infantry companies . In 1943 , General Henri Guisan , convinced of the necessity of shock troops specially trained for close combat , decided to form a similar company in each of the 37 infantry regiments of the army . In the same year , the designation of " Grenadiers " replaced that of " Pioneers " , marking the birth of the corps . Also in 1943 , the first recruit school of Grenadiers were held in Locarno and Solduno . After the war , the makeshift training grounds were relocated twice , first to Losone , but after complains about having a military installation in a touristic area they were moved again to Isone , where they remain to this day . In 1968 , to answer the necessity of a specific training for combat and deployment in difficult terrains , units of Mountain Grenadiers were created . In 1970 Airborne Grenadiers , while subordinated to aviation troops , were first trained in the Grenadier recruit school . In 1971 , companies of motorised Grenadiers were created . In the 1970s , the guerrilla tactics first introduced in 1943 were resumed and adapted with the name of " hunting war " ( ) . The Army XXI reform of 2004 reassembled all Grenadier formations of the previous " Army 95 " model in the Grenadier Command 1 . Structure . Grenadier Command 1 is an infantry formation of about 3 , 000 soldiers including : Training . The recruitment process of Grenadier units takes place one year before recruit school , and generally matches the ones of other corps , with the exception that one must volunteer to become a Grenadier . Those interested are subjected to comprehensive medical and psychological tests . Recruit school , extending over a period of 25 weeks , is very demanding , both physically and psychologically . Those who , during the first 11 weeks , prove incapable of the necessary performances , are moved to other incorporations . Training for NCOs and officers begins after 9 weeks of recruit school , who undertake respectively 41 and 56 additional weeks of grade - specific training . Additional courses offered to recruits include basic training for marksmen / snipers ( for the 8 . 6 mm SSGw 04 ( " Scharfschützengewehr " 04 ) rifle and 12 . 7 mm 12 . 7mm PGw 04 ( 12 . 7 mm " Präzisionsgewehr " 04 ) rifle and survival techniques .