Visit to the Military Equipment Training Center in Lamia, where last week the first women volunteers in the army, was held by Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias.
“The Training Center in Lamia marks a significant and major turning point in the history of the Hellenic Armed Forces. It was here that the first female volunteer privates of the Greek Army were enlisted. The legal framework had existed since 1977, but for 49 years it remained completely inactive, and now we are reactivating this provision of the law with an improved legal framework,” emphasized Nikos Dendias during his visit to the Lamia Recruit Training Center (KEUF), where the first female volunteer privates of the Greek Armed Forces were enlisted.
During his visit to the KEN in Lamia (KEUF), the Minister of National Defense was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis. Mr. Dendias was briefed in detail by the commander of the KEN, observed part of the training of the female volunteer soldiers, toured their company’s barracks, and subsequently visited the dining facilities, kitchens, and the restaurant. He also had the opportunity to speak with the female volunteers, whom he thanked for their choice and wished them a successful service.
Among others, Mr. Dendias expressed his gratitude “to the female volunteers who came and enlisted in the Greek Army,” because, as he said, “they set a shining example for Greek women, and for Hellenism in general.”
And he added: “An example of service to the Armed Forces, service to the security of Greek citizens, service to society, service to the homeland, service to the Nation.”
“We will draw useful conclusions from this first example. We will study them carefully so that we can expand this capability. Because numbers are what determine the need. As you know, Greece—and historically, Hellenism—has been based on the citizen army, alongside our brilliant professional officers, who form the core and backbone of the Armed Forces, there is also the Greek citizen, every Greek man and, in the future, every Greek woman, so that they may provide the Nation and Greek society with the great good of security that will allow us to continue our journey toward the future, toward development, toward the prosperity of every Greek woman and every Greek man,” the minister clarified.
Regarding the Lamia Education Center, he noted that “it has another unique feature”, because “it is the first renovated center.”
As he explained, in Lamia “the model has been implemented, which by the end of the year will be replicated in all Recruit Training Centers across our country, so that the facilities can fulfill the great purpose they serve: the training of Greek citizens”.
“This will be achieved largely through donations—funds that Greek citizens, recognizing their great duty to their homeland, have contributed to this collective effort of ours: By 2030, we will have the strongest Armed Forces that Hellenism has ever had in history,” he noted.
Speaking to the volunteers, Mr. Dendias, among other things, warmly thanked them for their choice, emphasizing that “it is extremely important to us”.
“The presence of female volunteers in the Greek Army has been legislated for 50 years. This is the first time it’s happening because there were difficulties, understandable difficulties. We are trying to overcome these difficulties, and you are giving us the opportunity to do so. So, thank you for your choice,” she said.
“The second thing I want to ask for is honesty on your part toward the officers and your officers. We need to understand what isn’t being done right, what needs to change. I don’t want us to misunderstand each other. This is the Army; it’s not a vacation, and it’s not a hotel. But it is a citizen’s Army. Which means we want every single one of you to feel that you are contributing to your country and to society,” he explained.
“They used to call it ‘military service—a chore.’ We want to make it ‘military service—an opportunity’. That is, for someone to contribute to their homeland, to contribute to society, but also to contribute to themselves, by learning new things and gaining new skills,” he clarified.
“You have the most difficult task of all: to start a process. Here, the unit has a motto: ‘The beginning is half the battle.’ The beginning is half of everything. It’s always like that. If we make a start, the rest comes more easily. “So, you will help us, you will help your country, your family, society—not just us—so that we can achieve this,” he said.
“We would like, over time, to have you close to the Armed Forces, not just for a short period of a few months, but forever, in various capacities. Because your presence here shows that you, too, feel something for the national emblem you wear, for the uniform you wear,” he emphasized.
Also present at the visit were the Inspector General of the Army, Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, the Director of Military Education, Major General Anastasios Dimoulas, the Commander of the Lamia Recruit Training Center, Colonel of the Quartermaster Corps Christos Athanatos, as well as the Commander of the Recruit Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Konstantina Klonari.
