Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17

The Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 (German: Fallschirmaufklärer Kompanie 17, Fsch Aufkl Kp 17; French: Compagnie d'éclaireurs parachutistes; Italian: Compagnia di esploratori paracadutisti),[1] also known as the Fernspäh-Grenadiers, is tier two special operations forces, it's one of the main units under Switzerland Special Forces Command.

While the names have changed, the number 17 has been a constant in Switzerland's only parachute company, leading current and former members to refer to themselves as a "17-er".

[3] FSK-17, like most of the Swiss Air Force, is a militia based service, which makes selection and training different from in most militaries.

[5] Over the following year the candidate will provide documentation to prove their Swiss citizenship and will attend a one-day screening in Dübendorf near Zürich.

While portions of the standard Swiss Army basic training are included, this course focuses on the elements that are relevant for the company.

There are weekly marches of increasing length and difficulty, culminating in the "Ironman" exercise which must be passed by each candidate.

Some individual training relates to building of bivouacs, behaviour and patrolling in the hostile area as well as approaches with contact with dogs.