Radical changes to the structure and operation of the Armed Forces were announced on Wednesday by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, describing the “second phase of rationalization” of the military, aimed at operational autonomy, reducing bureaucracy and saving resources.
Armed Forces: End of Navy and Air Force conscription
The most significant announcement concerns the complete abolition of conscription in the Navy and Air Force from January 1, 2026.
All conscripts will be exclusively assigned to the Army, with their training beginning in September of the same year. As Minister Dendias characteristically stated, “the new model is not static – it is flexible, adapted to the lessons of modern warfare.”
Command levels abolished – End of First Army
At the level of supreme military command, intermediate levels are being abolished, specifically the First Army, while four autonomous geographical commands are being created: Thrace, Western Macedonia, Aegean-Eastern Mediterranean, and Attica.
Simultaneously, unmanned systems commands are being established in all Arms and Corps, while the Army General Inspection is being upgraded.
New wave of military base mergers
Minister Dendias announced a new wave of mergers: 45 additional military bases are being added to the 137 that have already closed. Additionally, military courts are being reduced from 15 to 6, with total annual savings of 85 million euros, plus 16.5 million from the mergers.
The closure of the Stamatia base alone, as he said, frees up 300,000 man-hours monthly.
New defense projects in Evros and islands
The minister noted that, based on experiences from modern conflicts, construction of new defensive fortification works is proceeding in Evros and the Eastern Aegean islands. Meanwhile, a new food supply regulation is being implemented, aimed at substantially improving nutritional quality and strict monitoring of its compliance.
“Children cannot be eating from garbage or burnt food,” he stated characteristically.
Armed Forces: Pay increases for soldiers and military academy students
Nikos Dendias announced generous increases in soldier compensation, with a new calculation base of 100 euros monthly:
For those serving in border areas, compensation reaches 100 euros (from 8.80).
For inland areas, 50 euros.
He also highlighted increases in fleet allowances, special duty allowances, and for military academy students, which will take effect from October.
New Real Estate Utilization Fund
He made special mention of the bill submitted to Parliament concerning the unification of the three Armed Forces funds into a new unified body, which will utilize the real estate property of the Armed Forces.
“I understand the suspicion, but everything is done with transparency and broad political coordination. In Defense, we must be united,” he emphasized, adding that the goal is modernization and functional restructuring of the Armed Forces, based on real conditions and new threats.
