Today, Thursday 11 June 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, visited the Newly Recruited Soldier Training Centre of Lamia where the first female volunteer enlisted soldiers of the Hellenic Armed Forces enlisted.
During his visit to the Newly Recruited Soldier Training Centre of Lamia, the Minister of National Defence was briefed extensively by the Training Centre’s Commander, attended part of the female volunteer enlisted soldiers’ training, and was given a tour of their Company’s living quarters, followed by a visit to the messing facilities, the kitchen and the messing hall. He also had the opportunity to discuss with the female volunteers, whom he thanked for their choice and wished all the best during their service.
The visit was also attended by the Army Inspector General/Commander EU-OHQ, Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, the Director of the Military Training Directorate, Major General Anastasios Dimoulas, the Commander of the Newly Recruited Soldier Training Centre of Lamia, Ordnance Corps Colonel Christos Athanatos, as well as the Commander of the Newly Recruited Soldier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Konstantina Klonari.
Addressing the first female volunteer enlisted soldiers of the Hellenic Army, Mr. Dendias stated the following:
“First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Nikos Dendias, I am the Minister of National Defence. This means that I am responsible for the combat readiness of the Hellenic Army. First, I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your choice. It is very important for us.
The provision for female volunteers in the Hellenic Army has existed for 50 years. This is the first time this is implemented because there were difficulties, understandable difficulties. So we are trying to overcome these difficulties and you enable us to do so. So thank you for your choice.
Second, I would like you to be honest on your part with your officers, male and female. We must understand what is not done right, what needs to change. I don’t want to be misunderstood. This is the Army, not holidays, not a hotel. But it is an Army of citizens. Which means that we want everyone to feel that they contribute to the country and society.
They used to say that military service is a drag. We want to change this to a military service that is an opportunity. An opportunity to contribute to the country, to society, and to oneself by learning things and acquiring capabilities.
So you have the most difficult task of all. To start a procedure. The Unit here had a motto: «Αρχή παντός ήμισυ». The beginning is half of the whole. It’s always like that. If we make a start, the rest becomes easier. So you will help us, you will help the country, your family, society, not us in the narrow sense, to be able to achieve this.
And we stand – just like your officers – beside you. I told you before, we really appreciate what you are doing. Really. Deeply. And we would like to keep you close to the Armed Forces over time, not just for a short period of a few months, but for ever, in different capacities. Because your presence here shows that you also feel something for the national coat of arms you carry and the uniform you wear.
I wholeheartedly thank you again! All the best to you and your families. And don’t forget that we will stand beside you in this effort.
Let me also tell you something else. The building in which you are quartered is the model for all Newly Recruited Soldier Training Centres which will be made until the end of the year, not just for women, but for men too, so if anything is not as it should be, we would like to know. The user is the best to judge.
Ladies, girls, it was a pleasure! It is my great honour and I wholeheartedly thank you! I wish you all the best! All the best during your service! All the best!”
In his statement, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here today in Lamia, at the Training Centre, where an essential and great breakthrough in the history of the Hellenic Armed Forces is taking place.
The first female volunteer enlisted soldiers of the Hellenic Army enlisted here. The institutional framework has existed since 1977, but for 49 years it remained inactive and now we reactivate this provision with an improved institutional framework.
On this opportunity, I would like to express my absolute gratitude and support to the female volunteers, the first female volunteers who came and enlisted in the Hellenic Army. They set a bright example for the women of Greece and Hellenism in general. An example of contribution to the Armed Forces, to the security of Greek citizens, to society, to the country, to the Nation.
And, from this first example, we will draw useful conclusions. We will study these carefully in order to be able to expand this institution. Because it is the numbers that necessitate this.
As you know, in Greece, Hellenism has historically depended on an Army of citizens; our great professional cadre, which constitutes the core and backbone of the Armed Forces, is joined by Greek citizens, every Greek man and, in the future, every Greek woman, in order to be able to provide the Nation and Greek society with the great good of security, which will enable us to continue our path into the future, to development, and to the prosperity of every woman and man of Greece.
But the Training Centre of Lamia introduces yet another first. It is the first renovated centre. This building is the model which, by the end of the year, will be copied in all of our country’s Newly Recruited Training Centres, so that the facilities can respond to the great purpose they serve, the training of Greek citizens.
This will be done largely with money from donations, money which Greek citizens, realising their great obligation to the country, contributed to this great effort by all: To have by 2030 the strongest Armed Forces in the history of Hellenism.”
