The Greek Pentagon is promoting a package of innovative measures aimed at ‘placing particular emphasis on developing more flexible and resilient Hellenic Armed Forces’, with the changes now becoming visible not only in terms of the infrastructure and renovations already being carried out by the Army.

Keeping a low profile but with its eyes firmly fixed on the new geopolitical reality, the transition to the new model of military service is almost complete, with the aim of providing realistic and fairly demanding training that nevertheless strengthens the country’s deterrent capability. In this context, military service should be viewed as an opportunity to develop technical and professional skills rather than as an interruption to young people’s careers. ‘They should be encouraged to see military service as enhancing their technical skills,’ Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Dimitrios Houpis, said yesterday, with innovations in the new military service being introduced across five areas:

• Training
• Meals
• Barracks and accommodation
• Voluntary military service for women
• Incentives

Training

In the area of training, the following measures have already been set in motion:

• Redefining the training objectives and determining the corresponding subjects, with a focus on the modern requirements of warfare, extending the duration and increasing the intensity of training, with an emphasis on physical education, live-fire exercises and cross-cutting skills (Unmanned Aerial Systems – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).
• Upgrading training in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) through the use of Greek-made FPVs and the construction of new, more challenging training courses.
• Training assessments by HNDGS Evaluation Directorate committees — continuous feedback, improvement and upgrading of training.
• Adding self-defence training to the 2026 C’ Conscription Series.

Meals

Changes have also been made to meals. Specifically:

• Increasing the number of food items served at lunch and dinner (at least four), with the introduction of a unified meal programme by the HNDGS.
• Introducing a buffet-style breakfast, with an increased range of food items.
• Allowing conscripts to submit their views on meals via a questionnaire (barcode).
• A substantial revision of the General Armed Forces Food Supply Regulations after 40 years.

Barracks & accomodation

With regard to barracks and accommodation infrastructure, the following measures have been developed:

• Renovation of the facilities of the 625 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
• Renovation of a building at the Lamia Training Centre (4th Company).
• Renovation of the buildings at Training Centres through private donations.

Voluntary military service for women

For the first time, voluntary military service for women has also been provided for, with:

• The enlistment, for the first time in the Hellenic Army, of female volunteers at the Lamia Training Centre in June 2026.
• The implementation of a training programme equivalent to that of male conscripts.
• The selection of three women as Reserve Second Lieutenants: nine in the Armed Forces and two in the Navy.

Incentives

Incentives have also been introduced to attract interest, including:

• Restructuring the pay of conscripts.
• Increasing the staffing levels of operational Border Campaign Units through the reassignment of conscripts.