Cantonal responsibility
Civil protection training focuses primarily on dealing with disasters and emergencies, and is a cantonal responsibility. All staff unit members are given basic and ongoing training to prepare them for their functions. Their qualifications are tested in exercises.
Training within partner organisations
Each partner organisation organises its own specialized training. Specialists from other partner organisations or other institutions should be consulted on specific subjects where this is possible and useful. All persons liable to do P&S service receive general and function-specific basic training. They may be called upon to attend ongoing training and/or re-fresher courses.
Support by the Confederation
The Confederation promotes cooperative training between the partner organisations and the army, and may contract out basic and ongoing training from the cantons. Periodically, it organises ongoing training courses for cantonal staff unit personnel. To ensure uniform training of the P&S service, the Confederation, after consultation with the cantons, establishes a joint training framework. The Confederation is in charge of training of P&S unit commanders and their deputies, other leading staff, and certain specialists in management support and cultural property protection. It operates a training infrastructure and invites the instructors of the other partner organisations to take part in these courses.