Guest Talks About Time In Greek Army - Cover Down

[@FLORATOSOTHON]

You were listed as a Greek American returning to Greece in order to do his military service as a Greek national, this is why you only served for 7 months. I served from 1984 to 1987 as a reserve officer and at the time the service time was 22 months for the Army soldiers and 28 months for reserve officers. If a recruit's father had died, he was entitled a reduced service of 12 months. Also Greeks who lived abroad and did not returned for military service, were allowed to be exempt by buying their time in the Greek army after a certain age. Today the military service is only 12 months and one can lower it to 9 months if he chooses to stay for the duration of his service time in a border zone unit, or if he was entitled reduced service for other reasons. They do not select soldiers for different branches based on your home's location, but they are selecting based on studies or profession, the recruitment period of the year and the needs of the service. In my time we had to go through a selection board during the last year of high school, but the ones that get a deferment for university studies are reselected based on their field of studies. When I was originally selected for service in 1977, I was assigned as a medium tank gunner. However when I returned from my studies in the US, with a mechanical engineering degree, I was re-assigned to the Service Corps as tank FCS technician and later after going through reserve officers training, my specialty was vehicle technician (there were two fields of specialty for service corps reserve officers: Vehicle and Electronics Technicians, based on their university degrees). A cousin of mine was a dentist and after his deferment ended, he served in the medical corps. Most people however go to the Infantry. In order to go for Reserve Officer training, or serve in the Greek Special Forces you need to state it when you enlist for BT. The unit that a soldier transfers after BT, is usually as close as possible to his village home, because the Army prefers to have soldiers acquainted with the region they serve as much as this is possible. However people from large cities like Athens, serve wherever unit requirements need them to go. It used to be that some people were selected for BT in Air Force or Navy training centers for a 24 month service (when in the Army was 22 months). Later they made the Navy an all volunteer professional force, but recently they started getting some recruits again.

[@user-qe2nl7yg6z]

Could you provide more information about the Navy all volunteer period, especially the particular years it was in place? Thanks in advance (and maybe provide a source, if exists)

[@FLORATOSOTHON]

@@user-qe2nl7yg6z I did not serve in the NAVY, so I do not know details about the all Professional period, as far as personnel goes. I think it was a correct measure because of the high level of training required in a modern warship. However, they returned to mixed crews with mostly professionals and some conscripts in ships crews, that I guess they are used in auxiliary positions. Maybe this was done in order to reduce costs or they could not find enough people for all professional crews, probably both.

[@dimitrhsrap65]

The unit that a soldier transfers after BT, is usually as close as possible to his village home, because the Army prefers to have soldiers acquainted with the region. Not exactly, unless you know somebody from the higher up's the brass or political or worst case scenario health issues family issues etc. there gonna send you to wherever they see fit. Trust me I know, 20 years of service and still going, 21 years if you count my 1 year as a conscript in the army. Now I'm in the navy and I'm a master chief petty officer aka Monimos or Stelexos ton enoplon dynameon.

[@FLORATOSOTHON]

@@dimitrhsrap65 As I said, people from large cities of course they go anywhere they are needed, but people from border areas do serve as close to their home areas as possible. I don't want to get into details here, but when I served, the unit I was in, had many people from the same or nearby islands and also from Crete, although Crete was not as close.

[@Rousseau4469]

Its not an absolute rule that your origin defines the branch you will serve. I was born and raised in Piraeus which along with neighbouring islands of Hydra Aegina Salamis and Poros usually the male population goes to navy. Two of my cousins despite their studies preferred not to use their studies and credentials and they were drafted to the Navy. One of them in a FRIGATE the other in a submarine. But because I studied an engineer and always had a crush for planes I applied for Airforce and along with my credentials I was accepted in HAF ( Hellenic AirForce) as a conscript engineer in Mirage 2000's where I was trained in a school for 3 months there and can be used as an assistant engineer as other 11 of my series. In the same way other 12 guys were trained as conscript assistant engineers in F-16's. But none could manage to escape the duty in the kitchen or in toilets or in collecting garbages as your guest there did 😅😅😅😅. I think that he served only 7 months as a protector ( protector in one family is the first born if his dad is very old in age or disabled or dead) because he had also a younger brother who served 12 months. Lucky them in my era we did 20 months, actually 19 and some days as we had saved some days of from blood donation or provided great services in the core. So after 19 months and a week or 10 days I got my absence leaves and then returned to be honourably discharged.

[@psyvatordarkpsy5284]

Greetings from Greece. The army has changed a lot since then. However It is still mandatory for all males to serve.

[@coverdown]

What's up Greece! Happy to see you watched the show AND that things are getting better!

[@ΤάσοςΚαυσοκαλυβίτης]

@@coverdown > AND that things are getting better! Yo! He said "changed" not "improved" ;)

[@thanasiskadditis]

I don't want to serve but it's mandatory and I will go to prison or something who knows maybe I will just pay a fine but most prison

[@ΤάσοςΚαυσοκαλυβίτης]

@@thanasiskadditis > I don't want to serve You should go, not because it is mandatory, but because it is useful. Didn't you hear the fellow in the video? The man said he wouldn't change it for the world. You will meet good people and bad people. And you will learn IMPORTANT life lessons from both of them. Don't listen to the other young strutting morons that talk crap about an experience they have no idea about. Every young man has heard the "poem" ... you know what's the problem with that? Everyone talks, but none of them gets any consequences for their foolishness. Just be careful not ending up paying dearly for what OTHER people say and believe.

[@psyvatordarkpsy5284]

@@thanasiskadditis you can just take an exception for psychological reasons

[@ThESlAcKeR-r5r]

everyone can volunteer for the green berets in Greece....i was one of them

[@alext8930]

Well Said CommandoS , MANY CAN COME AND TRY , FEW CAN STAY AND SUCCEED

[@CaptainMyron]

As a Greek it is always nice to see the diaspora rejoin for their service. I remember how fun it was to server with some Greek immigrants. P.S. What Nikos probably didn't know is that there is also the national guard which are voluntary corps that any reserve soldier can join. They have training and combat exercises once a week and some of them also serve as guards and patrols on some outposts. Overall the national guard is a lot more militarized and focused because people that join have a clear purpose and conviction.

[@coverdown]

We love the community involvement from this video. Keep them coming! We might have him back on!

[@moonwalker9266]

My husband served in Cyprus in an era when the tensions between Cyprus (and Greece) where extremely high and we almost went to war. He served 12 months and under one of the craziest commander ever in the Greek military. The guy was in the borders with Turkey and due to tensions (yet again) he went in alone and whipped out the guard cutting their ears and taking them as souvenirs.

[@coverdown]

... wooooooo THAT'S CRAZY!

[@moonwalker9266]

@@coverdown i know... The guy is pretty much a legend in the Greek army forces. He went on to become a lieutenant general. My husband was during 1998/1999 almost two years after the imia incident and the two civilian murders in Cyprus during unrests there...

[@sir2657]

As recently as 2020 2 turkish soldiers that i know off had been killed and several other turkish officials...they shoot at us we shoot st them...there are times where we have mini battles and shows of force in evros

[@michaelhadjimichael4778]

When did this happen

[@moonwalker9266]

oof decades ago but it's an unconfirmed event. @@michaelhadjimichael4778

[@t-nt7101]

For us the Greeks who leave in Greece ... we can not pay.. we must serve

[@coverdown]

How do the citizens of Greece feel about mandatory service?

[@t-nt7101]

@coverdown its an honor and are dutty

[@sdepountis]

​@@coverdownWell, as in everything in life, there's a mix of different opinions. The majority sees it as an obligation they have to fulfill, but would avoid it if they could. There's a portion that is flat out opposed, and a portion that is all for it. Granted, most of us recognise that the geopolitical situation in Greece does dictate that conscription is necessary. However, having been there for 18 months some 20 odd years ago, I realised that the Hellenic Armed forces need to be modernised and treat the conscripts as potentially valuable units, rather than cheap labour.

[@t-nt7101]

@sdepountis u represent the majority????

[@sdepountis]

@@t-nt7101 I don't represent anyone. I don't have actual metrics but I saw the general feeling when I was there. If you want to know where I stand, I admit that I would not go if I could avoid it. Apart from learning your limits and dealing with people you would never deal with in real life, I gained no other skills and lost precious time from my professional development. Don't get me wrong, once I was there I gave it my best. And yes, there were times of immense pride. But for most of the time I felt like a cheap labour force. Did I hate it? No. As I said I understand why we need conscription and support it. And I will send my son to serve as well. But the reality is not that everyone feels super honoured and privileged to be there.

[@athenianheretic3395]

Military service is the highest honor a civilian came have by serving their country or their host country. I gave the Hellenic Forces 24 months as a tank crew commander and the US Army 20th Special Forces Group, Alabama National Guard 10 years as the A team weapons sergeant. Never regret a minute of it

[@coverdown]

Yeeeeeees! We love TANKS!!!!!

[@christosgaitanis8630]

First things first. thank you for your service. :) im not gonna scoll down to read all the comments cause im lazy , so i m gonna give ya some heads up . In Greece , serving is mandatory. that means all males at the age of 18 and above must serve. before that and on the last year of high school, you go to the army recruiting office for selection . On which branch u will serve is not defined by from where u live. for example i live in a seaside city and i was not drafted in the Navy , nor the Air force ( we had an air force base near ) . On the Interview you choose one of the branches Army Navy Air force. Navy (go marines) and Air force are kinda standard positions of what u can do, guarding mostly :) cause for pilots or weapon officers in da navy there are military schools for that which are like univercity standars. In the army you can choose armor infantry and artillery . infantry is divided in corps like regular [mobile (not mechanized. dont use the exact word to english :P ) special forces National guard ] . Armor and Artillery is just like that, armor and artillery . those three brances are called Weapons and under those are the Corps ( mechs , medics , logistics , transmitions , techs etc ) . Corps are merged to weapons , for example combat medic on armor division , or technitian on infantry division. That leads to my story now :P I choose to go to special forces as paratrooper and they drafted me to armor as tank driver . i postponed my service for a year i got another interview and choose again paratrooper and this time i got drafted to special forces with the indication to became a reserve officer (extra serving time as first lieutenant) and i joined after 5 months training to infantry serving 18 months total . i got selected twice for retraining after that and now i hold the rank of Captain :) thats all . thank you for ur patience.

[@James-hs3tu]

Interesting!!!!!!

[@coverdown]

Very!

[@sdepountis]

You guys should look up Pennsylvania born Andreas Holevas. He travelled back to Greece twice to reclaim his Hellenic citizenship in order to serve in the Greek Presidential Guard. It's a hell of a story.

[@seraph_86]

308 here 2009

[@user-yc3pb1ij7g]

I was Σειρα 208.

[@coverdown]

What's that? This is exciting. We love learning from you guys!

[@user-yc3pb1ij7g]

@coverdown Oh, σειρά means row, and that refers to the cycle of recruits. I think there are two cycles in a year and the number increments. Glad to hear he was treated well as there was mockery at Americans or Greek Americans.

[@giorkro479]

Who is this guy??

[@coverdown]

He's the Greek Freak!

[@MrSilver2nd]

Is he an immigrant or the son of an immigrant? He sounds 100% American to me...

[@coverdown]

He goes more into his story in the full episode. But he immigrated as a child. 😀

[@jorgepeters7474]

All Americans are immigrants except for the first nation people ...the Indians.

[@johngaytes-ex7nt]

I grow up in New Jersey from the age 9 to 19 and came back to Greece in 1991 at the age of 19 , I came in June 20 and by May 21 I joined the Greek special forces' actually the Greek marines 575 battalion it was the experience of a life time.....

[@coverdown]

Maybe we can have you on the show?

[@johngaytes-ex7nt]

Thank you but Ι live in Greece now .... 😍😍😍😍@@coverdown

[@sdepountis]

​@@johngaytes-ex7ntthat is what Skype is for. I'd love to hear your experience. Born and raised Greek here. 1999-2000 18 month Signal Corps private (cryptographer)

[@coverdown]

@@johngaytes-ex7nt The Internet can do wonderful things.

[@badseednut]

I couldn't wait to be enlisted and serve. I came to realise that all the stories I had heard were true. The biggest disappointment and the second most wasted time of my life.

[@coverdown]

It always saddens us when we hear these stories. We wish every veteran could have the experiences we did.

[@apostolosbrooklyn]

That’s true pay to get discharged , like me volunteering in 89 and I disappeared

[@katastrafika5253]

Village = Horio, Χωριό