The Hellenic Army aims to attract the younger generation using its own communication codes, with the goal of increasing interest and the number of future students in the country’s Military Academies.
After raising the monthly compensation for students in these Academies through a decision by the Ministry of National Defense’s political leadership, the baton is now passed to a more dynamic communication campaign, which, in the case of the Greek Army, has even reached… TikTok.

Specifically, utilizing every semiotic tool in its “arsenal,” the Hellenic Army General Staff has, since July 3rd, maintained an official account on this popular social media platform, counting 8,229 followers and 79,450 likes.

What’s more, the aesthetic quality emerging from nighttime shooting drills, parachute jumps, long marches, and much more doesn’t lag behind high-tech cinematic productions, pleasantly surprising those who watch them. After all, the use of social networks for maximum dissemination of information is a standard practice of Armed Forces in many countries, as familiarizing the public with their daily work boosts morale and offers psychological reassurance.

The technical excellence of the audiovisual material presented by the Hellenic Army General Staff is the product of a multi-layered effort. For the TikTok videos, editors, cameramen, photographers, communication experts, press office staff, and drone operators collaborate in what could be described as a truly “joint”… exercise.

At the end of the day, attracting young people, promoting extroversion, publicizing the Hellenic Army’s activities, and showcasing the people who form its backbone, alongside highlighting the Hellenic Army General Staff’s social contributions, explain the Armed Forces’ leap into the digital era.

In the digital space, the Hellenic Army has so far sought to familiarize the public with:

• Exercises,
• Social contribution initiatives,
• Introducing military academies,
• Military competitions,
• Training programs,
• Military factories,
• The Presidential Guard,
• The National Guard,
• And above all, the operational capabilities of its weapon systems.

The Hellenic Army’s audiovisual content on social media varies depending on the time of year and the activities taking place in Greece during that period. For instance, different videos are showcased before the submission of application forms for high school seniors entering the Military Academies.
Simultaneously, topics of immediate interest to the followers of the Hellenic Army account are addressed, while using new technologies to showcase the Armed Forces’ social contributions across the country. These efforts were evident both before and after the pandemic, as well as in their swift response to climate change emergencies, such as fires and floods.