The Swiss concept of civil defense calls for almost total mobilization of civilian manpower in the survival system. Nearly every adult member of the community is given an emergency assignment as a fire fighter, a medical attendant, a stretcher bearer, a member of the welfare service, or another essential job. Virtually all key assignments are filled by personnel with compulsory civil defense service commitments. To fill the demand for personnel, women are encouraged to accept assignments on a voluntary basis whenever the nature of the job permits.