On Friday, 12 July 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, attended the oath-taking ceremony of the Career Sergeants Class of 2024 “Colonel (Inf) Vasileios Papalambrou” of the NCO School at its facilities, in Trikala, and awarded the diplomas to those who took the oath.

The ceremony was attended by Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Commanding General of the Hellenic First Army, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Konstantakos, the Army Inspector General, Lieutenant General Spyridon Alfantakis, His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Trikki, Gardiki, and Pyli Chrysostomos, the Mayor of Trikala, Mr. Nikos Sakkas, representatives of local government and agencies, Security Forces, active duty and retired Officers, as well as relatives of the new Sergeants.

228 Regular Sergeants graduated from the School, 192 from Greece and 36 from Cyprus.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

“With great pride and pleasure I awarded today the diplomas at the oath-taking ceremony of the new Career Sergeants of the Army, at the NCO School; all those who will staff critical specialties and will constitute the spearhead in defending the territorial integrity and the interests of our Country, as well as in the broader contribution to society. I would like to congratulate the Commandant and the personnel of the School, because they deliver to the Hellenic Army outstandingly trained members, as well as the families of the new Career Sergeants that entrusted their children to the Armed Forces. The new Career Sergeants deserve warm congratulations for the successful completion of their studies. I wish them a good career and I am certain that they will execute their duty to the fullest. I would also like to encourage them to continue training on their tasks and to assure them that their work will be rewarded. The political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, always in excellent cooperation with the military leadership, will be by the side of the women and men of the Armed Forces, so that their living conditions are the best possible in order to be able to fulfil their high mission undisturbed.”