The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis attended the inauguration ceremony of the statue to the honour of Career NCOs, which was held at the Hellenic Army Park, Goudi. The ceremony was also attended by the Honorary Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos.

In his address, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:

     “Mr. Honorary Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff,

     Mr. Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff,

     Mr. Mayor,

     General,

     Officers, NCOs,

    Cadets,

    Mr. Chairman of the Panhellenic Association of Officers and NCOs of the Career NCO School,

Mr. Chairmen of the Associations of retired officers and NCOs,

Former Mayor of Papagou,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am particularly pleased to have the honour and pleasure to attend today the inauguration ceremony of a statue to the honour of Careen Officers; of a body whose struggles are touching and also are a proof of Greeks’ constant devotion to age old values and to the ideals of our people; of a body that has constantly been and still is the backbone of the Armed Forces.

Actions and initiatives, such as this one, keep a live memory and demonstrate the contribution of Greek NCOs, their love for their Homeland, democracy and freedom.

Since 1884, when the “Preliminary School of NCOs” was founded until the foundation of the contemporary School of NCOs, it was the cradle in which our Army’s Non Commissioned Officers were born and educated.

The statue that I have today the honour to inaugurate, together with the Chiefs and the President, is a least tribute to the Greek NCOs.

To this unsung hero who serves our country with a spirit of self-denial and pure patriotism, and gives an everyday struggle to defence our national borders.

To the junior leader, to whom our Nation entrusts its conscript youth in peace and in war time, so that he will train them, guide them and deliver them not only healthy, yet also mature and conscientious citizens. To him, to whom our country confides armament worth of tenths of millions and who is the backbone that supports the entire edifice of the Army.

All over the Aegean, on the islets, in every outpost of the Army that I had the honour to visit over these last seven months, one can see that it is usually a Career NCO who is in charge.

To this direction, the Ministry, realizing the multi-faceted role of the NCO is considering, on the one hand, to establish a three-year course of studies and to consolidate a modern academic programme as part of the education provided in military academies and, on the other hand, to upgrade the military and academic education in compliance with the modern methods of the educational science. We will keep the initiatives that we took during our previous tenure to improve the living conditions, to restore the living standards to previous levels, to reinforce meritocracy and establish transparency. In this context, you probably saw that the benefit of service in the borderline area was restored, which is only a small start.

I wish to ask the Chairman of the Association, as well as the Chairmen of other Associations, as well as the active personnel, to initiate a debate, in the framework of the new transformation of the structure of the Armed Forces and see how we can use the international experience about NCOs in the best possible manner.

We should consider whether we can descuss about an American model with the possibility for NCOs to be promoted according to a separate register of their own, in which they might also reach the rank of General.

We do not live in an angels’ neighbourhood. We are surrendered by instability and force that try to covet us. This is why we must have high battle morale and a powerful army.

This is why we must keep a military force of high operational readiness to defend the territorial integrity and security, as well as global peace.

The Armed Forces are, in parallel, a guarantee and a shield of our national interests which they serve decisively and steadily, always according to the rule of law, the constitutional provisions and the state legislation.

Today, we honour the Greek NCOs. Because, as our poet wrote “freedom requires virtue and boldness” and Greek NCOs have proved, through the bloody battles and glorious struggles that the Greek Army gave, that they have too much of both.

Thank you very much.”