The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief on the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis, attended the oath-taking ceremony of 2018 C Enlistment Series new naval cadets, which took place at ‘Kanellopoulos’ Naval Base at Skaramangas Naval Fort.
The Minister of National Defence addressed the following:
“It is with great pleasure that we are here today, on the occasion of the oath-taking ceremony of 2018 C Enlistment Series new naval cadets, who will officially join the glorious Navy family.
New Seamen,
This day is special. A while ago you took the oath, through which you undertook the national obligation to protect the country. At the same time, you made the promise that you owe to all those who fought for freedom, one of the Country’s noble ideals.
I am confident that you are ready to execute the mission assigned to you flawlessly, assuring national independence and freedom for all Greeks. You should know that your enlistment is not only a constitutional mandate and an ever-lasting duty of the active Greek citizens, but it is also a great honor and responsibility.
You form part of the Navy’s family, in a period of its reorganization, during which we proceeded to the modernization of weapon systems, like P-3 Orion aircraft, as well as to the creation of the Navy’s Aviation.
Within the next months, all Navy’s assets, floating and air assets, will become modernized.
But, the modern weapon systems need an appropriately trained personnel. The biggest weapon that Greece possesses is the soul of the personnel, the officers, the NCOs and the conscripts.
Both the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Navy’s leadership believe that the manpower is the core and the most important force multiplier of our Armed Forces and we pay special attention to your training. I invite you to show maturity, responsibility and interest in your training and in all activities, during your term of service.
Remember that your term of service is a creative phase in your life, during which you actively contribute in the defence and protection of the country, and at the same time, it is a period which you will recall with nostalgia in the future.
Dear parents,
Always stand by the side of your children and be proud that they will devote a small, but very important part of their lives to serve the Country.
The leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Navy acknowledge your contribution and honor you, taking into account that you offer to the Country the most valuable thing for you, your own children.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The geographical composition of our country, with thousands of islands, rocks and islets, defined our historical fate as naval people through centuries.
The great meaning of the sea power regarding the security and survival of our nation, familiarized the Greeks with the sea and distinguished them as the most capable seamen of the world. The Navy’s great tradition makes us all certain of our Country’s future, because Greece and the sea are two interrelated concepts.
Our seamen, together with the Navy’s members, send a message to all everyday, that we protect the ancient and holy spirit of the Country with determination, boldness and composure.
Such determination is apparent both in every exercise conducted and in every challenge faced by our Navy’s ships. For this high level of readiness of our Armed Forces members and draftees, we are all proud.
Dear Seamen,
Concluding, I would like to point out that you should execute your duties with high morale, constantly justifying our people’s trust towards the Armed Forces.
I wish, from the bottom of my heart, to you and your families, good health and prosperity and that Saint Nikolas protects you. Have a smooth and creative term of service and be certain that the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Navy, as all Greek people, are constantly by your side.”
