As the New Year approaches, the Ministry of National Defence is planning to redistribute its forces through camp mergers, in an effort to streamline, but also to substantially strengthen the human resources and formations of the Armed Forces. Following announcements by the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, who stated that “we are going to close 137 camps, and that this should end by 2025″, the first ten units to be moved by New Year’s Day were announced yesterday, as part of the new structure of the Armed Forces, with a horizon of 2035.

“We are going to flexible units of high occupancy. At the moment there are units in Evros with an occupancy of less than 30% and a unit in the Peloponnese with 130%,” Mr. Dendias had said in this regard at one of the last meetings of the Parliament’s Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, initiating from this the General Staff of National Defense the first mergers of camps from Evros.

Already 10 units on the move

As can be seen from yesterday’s announcement by the Ministry of National Defense, most of the camps that will be merged by the end of this year are located in the area of responsibility of the 3rd Mechanized Brigade bearing the historic name “Rimini”, as well as the 31st Mechanized Brigade. And while some of the camps in the border county may be closed, the units will nevertheless be transferred to other camps in the border region, aiming to make better use of human resources, given that for security tasks and the daily obligations of a camp, their manning will now be significantly increased.

At the same time, the camp in Lago Evros, where some units will be moved, is one of the largest camps in the whole country, and is also multi-purpose, now acquiring another importance for the wider region. This camp was created in the early 90s and is the headquarters of the 30th Mechanized Brigade.

In detail, the announcement of the Ministry of National Defence:

The General Staff of National Defense (GNDF), in implementation of the relevant directive of the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, is immediately implementing the first phase of the planning of unit transfers and mergers, due to the change in the arrangement of the formations and the abolition of Army Land Forces camps, in the context of the reorganization of the Armed Forces and their New Structure. Phase A will be completed by 31 December 2024.
The first phase will be completed by 31 December 2024.

The aim is to increase the staffing rate by abolishing understaffed units and merging them where necessary, as well as increasing their operational capabilities and the capabilities of the formations, based on modern operational requirements.

Specifically, the following changes will take place by December 31, 2024:

– The Camp “PANAGIOTIS MANTOUVALOU”, in Gythio, Laconia will be abolished and the Unit based there will be transferred to the Camp “KONSTANTINOU DAVAKI”, in Xirokabi, Laconia.

– The Camp “NIKOLAOU ΓERAKINI”, in Malakasa, Attica is abolished and the Unit based there will be transferred to the Camp “ΕΦ.ANΘΛΓΟΥ ΔHIMITΡIOU PANOURGIA”, in Avlaki, Stylida, Fthiotida.

– The Camp “ILCHOU IOANNOU KALLERGI”, in Omrgi Fthiotida is abolished and the Unit based there will be transferred to the Camp “ANTHLGOU DIMITRIOU PANOURGIA”, in Avlaki Stylidos, Fthiotida.

– The Camp “IOANNOU VELISSARIOU”, in Ioannina is abolished and the units based there will be transferred to the Camp “YPTGOU KHARALAMBOS KATSIMITROS”, in Perama, Ioannina, and to the Camp “LORENZOU MAVILI”, in Kalpaki, Ioannina.

– The Camp “PAPAPASHALI”, in Panorama Thessaloniki is abolished and the Unit based there will be transferred to the Camp “VASILEIOU PAPASTAYROS”, in Nea Mesimvria Thessaloniki.

– The Unit based at Camp “DIMITRIUS KALLERGI”, in Antimachia Kos, is merged with the Unit based at Camp “IOANNOU MAKRYGIANI”, in Pyli Kos. The Camp “DIMITRIUS KALERGI” is abolished.

– The Unit based at Camp “CAPETAN EVANGELOU MATSIANI”, in Lepti Orestiad Evros, is merged with the Unit based at Camp “SHI (PZ) IOANNOU THEODORAKI”, in Hare Evros. The Camp “CAPETAN EVANGELOU MATSIANI MATSIANI” is abolished.

– The Unit located at Camp “EF.ANTHLGOU (PZ) MILTIADI ZAHOU”, in Nea Vyssa Evros, is merged with the Unit located at Camp “LGOU (MH) IOANNOU GOUMENAKI”, in Rizia Evros. The Camp “EF.ANTHLGOU (PZ) MILTIADI ZAHOU” is abolished.

– The Unit based at Camp “ANTHLGOU (Pv) DIMITRIUS ANAGNOSTOU”, in Peplo Evros, is merged with the Unit based at Camp “OPLARCHIGU CHRYSOMALIDI”, in Doriskos Evros. Camp “ANTHLGOU (PB) DIMITRIU ANAGNOSTOU” is abolished.

– The National Guard Battalion based at Camp “OPLARCHIGO THEODORE ABATZOPOULOU”, in Metaxades Evros, is merged with the National Guard Battalion based at Camp “Aghias Foteinis”, in Didymoteicho Evros. The Camp “OPLARCHIGU THEODOROS ABATZOPOULOU” is abolished.

This will be followed by the second phase of Camp abolition and relocation – mergers of units, which will be implemented by 31 March 2025.

For the above Camps, with the completion of the relocations – mergers, the actions of the National Defence Fund (NDF) for their optimal utilisation will start immediately.

Dangerousness allowance to 79,677 military personnel

Meanwhile, on July 1, 2025, the risk allowance will begin to be granted, as the leadership of the Ministry of Finance clarified yesterday, with the responsible Deputy Minister, Thanos Petralias, stressing that “in recognition of the contribution of the members of the security forces and the armed forces, the risk allowance is recognized and increased by 100 euros per month from July 1, 2025.” It is noted that the 100 euros is added to the Special Working Conditions Allowance, which uniformed personnel already receive.

In line with the Prime Minister’s announcements, the measure will apply to 153,240 uniformed personnel and members of the Armed Forces, while the allowance is expected to be paid to 79,677 military personnel, meeting one of the sector’s long-standing demands.