The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Ioannis Kefalogiannis went to Evros today, Wednesday 03 April 2024, where he conducted visits to Army Formations, Units and Surveillance Outposts in the Area of Responsibility of the D’ Army Corps.
Mr Kefalogiannis, accompanied by the Commander of the D’ Army Corps Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos and the Commander of ΧΙΙ Mechanised Infantry Division Major General Ioannis Korres, visited the KIPON Bridge and the “G. KIPON” Surveillance Outpost, where he was received by the Commander of the 31 Mechanised Brigade Brigadier General Georgios Selaidinakos and attended a short briefing.
He then went to the HQ of the XII Mechanised Infantry Division in Alexandroupoli, where he was briefed on the operational organisation, the mission and the current activities of the Formation.
Mr Kefalogiannis had a meeting with members of the Division’s National Guard Battalions and talked with them. He stressed that the National Guard constitutes the connecting bond between the Armed Forces and the local society and – composed of locals – the best example of “battle for hearth and home”. At the same time, he stressed that for the Ministry of National Defence, the National Guard constitutes a force multiplier and for that reason one of the main goals is the institution’s upgrade, with the objective of improving training and enhancing the operational capabilities of the National Guard Units. An actual proof of the Ministry’s intentions is the recent passage of a new bill for the rationalisation of the recruiting clauses and the upgrade of the institution, in order to render it more effective.
He then went to the Holy Church of Saint Georgios in the premises of “PATSOUKA” Camp, to the 216 Mobile Field Surgical Hospital, where he was briefed on the structure, the staffing and the operation of the Hospital and to the Alexandroupoli Army Daycare, where he received, with great pleasure, the present of the preschoolers accommodated there, while in each case he was received by the Commander of the 216 Mobile Field Surgical Hospital Colonel (Med/Doc) Thomas Michos and the Director of the Alexandroupoli Army Daycare Major (Med/Nurse) Brigadier General Stella Kapetanidou.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister visited the Simulators Centre and observed a demonstration. The Centre provides high level training on issues of operation and tactics to the tank crews of Armour Units, in highly modern facilities. He was received by the Commander of the ΧΧΙΙΙ Armour Brigade Brigadier General Konstantinos Prokidis and the Commander of the Simulators Centre Lieutenant Colonel (Armour) Andreas Syropoulos.
Finally, Mr Kefalogiannis had a meeting with His Eminence the Metropolitan Bishop of Alexandroupoli Mr Anthimos.
After the completion of his visits, the Deputy Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“I am particularly happy to be in Alexandroupoli today, a city of major strategic significance for our Homeland and the Western world in general, with a decisive role in the energy security of the entire Europe, where I have the honour to visit units under the D’ Army Corps. As stated by the Minister of National Defence Mr Dendias, Evros constitutes for us the cornerstone of our Homeland’s deterrence power, along with the islands of the Eastern Aegean. I had the opportunity to discuss with the members of the Armed Forces, but also with the members of the National Guard who play a twofold role, as members of the local community but also of the Armed Forces. I visited border Outposts and ascertained that the morale is high, the facilities are in excellent condition, since, following the events of 2020, efforts have been made by the Political and Military Leadership of the Ministry of National Defence for the complete modernisation and upgrade of infrastructures. I could not fail to also mention the intense social imprint of the Armed Forces, which we recently witnessed in actuality, during the Evros wildfires, but also in general when it comes to Civil Protection. For the Political Leadership’s part, the care for the personnel and their family members, constitutes a national force multiplier and main priority, emphasising the facilitation of everyday life, so that they can fulfil undistracted and effectively their noble mission. In this framework, we will readily proceed with an immense project of residencies’ building throughout the territory, starting from Evros and the islands of the Eastern Aegean, with approximately 700 new residencies for the Armed Forces members, so that we can indirectly boost their income, but mainly because we consider it the solution to many of the problems that they and their families face“.
