From Pike to Shot

The older generation always said that the transition from Pike to Shot (1680 - 1700) was the most difficult period in Swiss military history. Pike had always been the weapon of choice for us and we had been the creme-de-la-creme of European soldiers for nearly 200 years. Loosing the weapon that elevated us to that position was like swallowing a jagged little pill. It was tough but necessary.

Still it is difficult to believe that the change was any worse that what we had been through over the last few years. A lot had changed and, for those of us that understood, a lot still had to change.Every marathon begins with a single step and we had taken that first step...

[The Chateau de Grandson - training camp for Infantry]