On Wednesday 10 July 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Giannis Kefalogiannis, visited Lesvos, where he was welcomed by the Commander of the 98 Higher National Guard Battalions Command (“ARCHIPELAGOUS”), Major General Konstantinos Kolokotronis.
Mr Kefalogiannis visited the 359 Squadron of Public Services Air Service, welcomed by the Commander Colonel Nikolaos Kalogerias and toured a group of fire fighting aircraft PZL, congratulating the personnel for the high level of readiness and its contribution to the fire fighting.
Next, he went to the Headquarters of the 98 Higher National Guard Battalions Command, where he was briefed on the organisation, the structure, the mission and its current activities, in the presence of the General Regional Police Chief of Northern Aegean Major General Mihail Sevdinidis, the Commander of the Regional Fire Service Command of Northern Aegean Brigadier General Panagiotis Kypriotellis, the Commander of the 9th Regional Command of the Port Authority-Hellenic Coast Guard Captain Efstratios Psyrras, the Deputy Commander of Lesvos Naval Station Lieutenant Commander Mihail Georgellis HN and the Commander of the 3rd Electronic Control Flight Major Georgios Karagiannopoulos.
He also awarded Sergeant Major Dimitrios Panagopoulos, who was assigned as driver for the cover of the needs of the National Emergency Aid Centre, at Antissa Health Centre and acted rapidly transporting a 13 year-old to Mytilene hospital, who had multiple bee stings, saving his life.
Next, he went to the Surveillance Outpost “PROVOSKIDA”, where he was welcomed by the Commander of the 296 Mechanised National Guard Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Theodoros Rentifis, he toured its facilities, was briefed on its staffing and addressed the members and soldiers.
Mr Kefalogiannis visited the headquarters of the 265 Mechanised National Guard Battalion at “MITROPOLITI GERMANOU KARAVAGGELI” Camp, where he was welcomed by the Commander of the 22 National Guard Battalions Command Colonel (INF) Vasileios Bonoropoulos, the Commander of the 265 Mechanised National Guard Battalion Lt Col (INF) Spyridon Mamakos and the Commander of the 98 National Guard Anti-Tank Battalions Company Major (INF) Gregorios Kazazis. In this context, he was briefed on the organisation and the mission of the Unit, while he observed a demonstration of the Rapid Reaction Platoon, the special equipment of a pair of Special Missions Snipers, as well as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System.
Afterwards, he met with the Commanders and National Guardsmen of the National Guard Battalions of Antissa, Kalloni, Mytilene, Polichnitos, with whom he had an extensive talk and thanked them for their contribution in defending the territorial integrity of our Country, while he expressed the will of the State to upgrade the institution. A real proof of that is the recent passage of a new legal framework for the rationalisation of the recruitment provisions and the upgrade of the institution.
Next, he went to “FIRST LIEUTENANT (INF) MAKRIS MIHAIL” Camp, where he was briefed by the members of the crew of Helicopter UH-1H Huey of the 3rd Helicopters Battalion on the flights, the cooperation operations with the Special Forces, as well as the actions of public utility services, like the air fire fighting and the air evacuation.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence went to the Pammegistoi Taxiarches Church, welcomed by the Senior Commissioner Stratis Dissos and the Vicar Christos Tsitmidellis. In this context, he met with the Reverend Metropolitan of Mytilene Iakovos at the Metropolis of Mytilene, Eressos and Plomari and the Reverend Metropolitan of Mythimni Chrysostomos at Mythimni Metropolis.
Finally, he visited the General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostaneio” and met with the three Military Doctors (Ophthalmologist, Oncologist and Invasive Cardiologist) who are assigned there to cover its needs and he thanked them for their contribution to the local community.
