The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis, attended the oath- taking ceremony of newly recruited soldiers of 2016 F Enlistment Series at the Recruit Training Centre of Grevena.

The Minister of National Defence, in his address, stated, among other things:

“I am particularly pleased to be here with you today, in the beautiful town of Grevena, for the oath-taking ceremony of our newly recruited soldiers of the 2016 F Enlistment Series.

I would like to thank the Authorities and all of you in particular, for attending the ceremony.

New recruits,

This is a special day for you, for your families, as well as for the big family of the Army. Your enlistment in the Armed Forces, apart from a constitutional provision, is also a major duty to the community.

You took the oath before the sacred Greek flag under which generations of Greeks fought, for us to be free today. You are therefore, called on to serve the supreme mission and satisfy the expectations and confidence of the Greek people.

From today on, you will be guarding our borders at Units of the Hellenic Army, as alert guards, in every corner of the Greek territory, as well as supporters of the residents of our borderline areas who rely so much on you help.

You will serve your homeland in a period of complex financial and geopolitical challenges for our country. There are too high requirements, this is why I am asking you to demonstrate interest, mature way of thinking and active participation in your training all along during your service period.

I would like to state that the possibility, during your military service, to follow training which will help you acquire professional certification that will be useful later on during your professional careers, is a priority in our plans.

In any case, the Ministry of National Defence and the military leadership will stand by you and your parents because we are aware and deeply conscious of the real condition, of the difficulties and problems which you are facing; this is why we pay particular attention to the human aspect which is crucial for maintaining a high battle worthiness and a high morale.

In parallel, you must be disciplined and follow the orders of your superiors, as enacted by the Military Regulations and the oath which you just took.

You are one of the most important factors for the battle worthiness and the deterrence capability of our Armed Forces. Do not ever forget about that.

Addressing your Officers and NCOs, I would like to remind them that they lead people who serve and contribute to the community and to our homeland unselfishly. Keep an immediate, constant and unbreakable personal relation with the new soldiers whom their families entrusted to your care. You ought to return them not only healthy, but useful citizens, ready to confront any difficulty in the future as well.

Dear parents,

Be proud of your children because they will dedicate a short, yet important part of their lives to the service of our country, and support them in any manner during their service.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Greece, in an environment of volatility and insecurity, is the main pillar of stability, security and peace in the wider region of South-eastern Mediterranean.

Thanks to the Hellenic Armed Forces, the entire Greek people feel safe. We are not afraid of threats, we are not afraid of challenges. We are ready to face any challenge and defend our country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Here, in Macedonia, the only Macedonia, the real Macedonia.

Aiming mainly to ensure our national defence, the political and military leaderships are working constantly for a rational financial management, for the best manner of employment of the personnel, and to find a solution of long lasting problems.

Dear conscripts,

I congratulate you on your official recruitment in our country’s Armed Forces and I call on you to continue your service with responsibility, high morale, zeal and loyalty to our traditions and military virtues.

I urge you to continue the historical legacy of your predecessors. In a few years, your service will be a chapter of your lives which you will recollect with nostalgia, like your predecessors.  

I would like to wish you and your families health and prosperity, easy adaptation and good luck in your military service.

As a conclusion, Mayor, I would like to thank the citizens of your beautiful town for their great love to the Armed Forces, to their personnel and their families and we would like to reciprocate it.

Thank you”.