The Austrian Army, also known as Bundesheer, can trace their history back to 1867 when the country was called the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Established in: "1920"

Motto: "Schutz und Hilfe"
Translation: Protection and help.

Bundesheer Oath: "Ich gelobe, mein Vaterland, die Republik Österreich, und sein Volk zu schützen und mit der Waffe zu verteidigen. Ich gelobe, den Gesetzen und den gesetzmäßigen Behörden Treue und Gehorsam zu leisten, alle Befehle meiner Vorgesetzten pünktlich und genau zu befolgen und mit allen meinen Kräften der Republik Österreich und dem österreichischen Volke zu dienen."

Translation: "I vow to protect my country, the Republic of Austria, its citizens, and to defend it with my weapon. I vow to obey the law and the lawful authorities, follow all orders of my superiors punctually and accurately and to serve with all my strength the Republic of Austria and the Austrian people. "

Bundesheer Physical Requirements

The fitness test to get into the Bundesheer involves 6 different exercises, which have to be completed in the listed order. Technically a candidate can have a lower score than the ones listed in some categories but would need to make it up in another category. To not completely fail, one must at least score 17 pushups, run the 2400 meter in 12:30 min, Jump and reach 42 cm, and perform 12 inverted pullups. The candidate again would need to make up the low score on the push-ups for example with a very much faster run to compensate for the low score. The candidates have 3 attempts on the Jump and reach. Also, the candidate cannot lose tension during their inverted pullups, or the event is done.

Bundesheer Other Requirements

Conscription is active for all men in Austria for at least 6 months. Those individuals who don't want to join have to do mandatory community service. There is no active conscription for Women. For any men or women to join, one must at least be 156 cm tall (5ft 1). The candidates will also undergo health checks, psychological tests, and have to pass a German test. The candidate needs to be an Austrian Citizen to join. After successful completion of Basic training in the Bundesheer, one can join Jakdo, Special Forces of Austria. (Click here for more information).

K2 - Physical Fitness Routine

Every soldier in Austria knows about K2. K2 is a physical fitness circuit compromised of 12 exercises. Those exercises are Hoch-Strecksprung (which means to jump forward, jump backward and then jump upwards), Knieheben (raise right knee, jump with the left foot, then switch and vice versa), Hock-Liegestütz (burpee), Rumpfspannen (sort of a flexed sit-up), Schrittsprung (sort of an alternated jump squat), Achterliegestütz (jump into a pushup and then stand back up), Knieheben mit Rumpfdrehen (which means knee up and twist, and then do the same on the other side), Drehen in der Rumpfbeuge (tilted forward and twist at the hip), Kniebeuge (Squats), Rumpfheben (which translates to hip thrust motion), Grätschsprung mit Armstoßen (Sort of Jumping Jacks) and then Liegestütz (Pushups)