Major upheaval in military service comes with the new model, which will be inaugurated with the classification of the 1st ESSO 2026, from February 24-27, affecting the Armed Forces. As Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has emphasized, “the new military service constitutes one of the main pillars of the ‘Agenda 2030’ reform.”
Read: Military service: Who qualifies for reduced service in 2026
New military service model: All changes in detail
Minister Nikos Dendias has emphasized that the changes are considered necessary due to the need to adapt to modern conditions, geopolitical realignments, technological developments, and new approaches to military operations in recent conflicts.
Sources from the Ministry of Defense emphasize that the goal of the changes is to provide substantial training and specializations/skills that shape a capable fighter for the reserves and deliver a useful and trained citizen to society. The same sources stress that this achieves a transition from service as drudgery to service with substance and value.
A central pillar of the changes is the basic training lasting 10 weeks, exclusively in the Army. It provides comprehensive training for the modern fighter with the addition of new subjects (from drone operation to first aid) and significant upgrading of existing ones (multiplication of shooting, marches, exercises). A substantial change in the new service is the provision of specialized knowledge at the Armed Forces Lifelong Learning Centers in specializations that become professional skills and will serve as assets for the life of every young person who chooses them.
The basic changes include, additionally, the qualitative and quantitative upgrade of meals, the new medical examination system at classification centers, the transfer of all conscripts to operational units after training, and the significant increase in monthly compensation from €8.80 to €100 for those serving in Thrace and Eastern Aegean islands and €50 for those serving in the mainland.
In detail:
- ESSOs are reduced from 6 to 4 (February, May, August, and November).
- All conscripts are classified in the Army. Only soldiers with specialized professional qualifications will be internally transferred to other branches, the Air Force, and Navy.
- Conscripts are classified in 13 Training Centers.
- Soldiers serve 12 months except those classified as regulars or first-called and those who choose or are selected to serve in Thrace and Eastern Aegean islands, ELDYK, and the Evzones Company of the Presidential Guard, who will serve 9 months.
Soldier training stages
- First stage of basic training, conducted at classification centers and includes: a) initial training, including the classification week, which concludes with the soldiers’ oath ceremony and b) fighter training, where the soldier’s operational capability as a fighter is fully developed.
- Second stage of specialized training, conducted at Specialty Training Units of Major Commands or Formations, under which the units where they have been placed fall, or at Lifelong Learning Centers. During this stage, soldiers are trained in specializations and vertical skills, respectively.
- Third training stage, conducted in the units where soldiers are placed or transferred to fulfill the remainder of their main military obligation and concerns the operational integration of soldiers.
Basic training lasting 10 weeks
- The time for practical training is increased.
- The number and type of shooting exercises are increased. Night shooting, pistol shooting, and training grenade throwing are added.
- The number of tactical subjects, marches, small group exercises, night training is increased while combined training of increasing difficulty is attempted, such as combining marches with shooting, night march-shooting, and overnight stays in the field.
- Training in horizontal skills useful in soldiers’ later life is introduced in first aid, fire protection, and environmental education subjects.
- Training in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is introduced, which includes theoretical training, detection-identification-countermeasure methods, and practical exercise on simulators with scenarios of increasing difficulty. Those who successfully pass the initial basic scenarios on the simulator undergo a final test on the training UAS. Successful candidates are selected to attend the final two weeks of training, acquire UAS operator skills, and receive a special distinctive badge worn on their uniform.
Specialized training lasting 4 weeks
- Conducted at selected operational Units under the care of Major Commands-Formations, at specially specialized Centers and Schools, and at Lifelong Learning Centers (LLCs). There are also specializations that are transferred directly to Units (doctors, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, microbiologists, IT soldiers, musicians, chemists, etc.).
- Specializations that do not align with modern operational environment requirements are abolished and grouped into 19 training specializations (from 46 main ones).
- Pilot implementation of specializations-skills at LLCs begins with training and practical training programs that will provide soldiers with certified specialization in their chosen fields. For the 1st ESSO, the skills of Machine Operator, Lifeguard-Diver, Armorer, Drone Operator, as well as a special Cybersecurity program at the Computer Programmers School are planned.
- Training-skills programs will be expanded to more fields in subsequent ESSOs.
Placement in Operational Readiness Units (12 weeks) and Selection Units (in the 7th month)
- After completing basic and specialized training, soldiers are placed in Operational Maneuver Units – Combat Support – Administrative Support Units of high requirements and with absolute priority in units in Thrace and the Eastern Aegean (70% of soldiers).
- Soldiers are entitled to regular transfer from their initial placement unit after completing 6 months from their classification date, until completion of their service for 12 weeks (9-month service) or 26 weeks (12-month service). Placements are made with point scoring (knowledge, skills, preferred location-locality).
Monthly compensation increase
- Conscript soldiers will receive €100 when serving in border areas and €50 when serving in the mainland, up from €8.80 today. Soldiers from large families will receive €150 up from €35, while significant increases will be given to soldier parents (€150 for one child, €200 for two, with an additional €50 for each additional child). Finally, unmarried soldiers orphaned from both parents will receive €200 up from the current €100.
Meal service upgrade
- The qualitative and quantitative upgrade of meal service consists of implementing the new food regulation according to modern dietary standards and increasing the cost of the food portion from €4.50 to €6.40. The new menu has been enriched with new items based on the necessary daily caloric value for each soldier’s needs, provides the possibility of personalized portions, and will be provided simultaneously at all training centers.
Source: ANA-MPA
