Greece’s armed forces, primarily the Hellenic Army, are moving toward voluntary military service for women, with the latter inviting eligible candidate between the ages of 20 to 26 to apply by the end of this month, part of a pilot program expected to begin this summer.
The Greek army’s general staff released a promotional video this week, in fact, recruiting eligible women for the armed forces under the new initiative. Officials aim to recruit a first batch of 200 volunteers in the first phase of the program.
Those selected will report for duty and undergo basic training at a camp near the south-central city of Lamia. The tour of duty will last 12 months.
The defense ministry has previously announced that the program is part of a new legislative framework adopted earlier this year. Defense officials, both the civilian leadership and the military’s “top brass”, have indicated that voluntary participation is the current emphasis, though discussions about broader military service policies are taking place amid concerns over Greece’s declining birth rate.
Applications will be accepted through March 31 on the army’s official website, with the first group of volunteers expected to begin training by the summer.
Preparations for the program are already underway. A government transparency notice published this week announced a contract worth 74,400 euros for renovation work at a building in the Lamia training center that will house the volunteer women’s company.
According to defense officials, the training will rely on existing military infrastructure and will focus on areas such as logistics, IT and administrative support.
Priority will be given to applicants who hold degrees from universities and other tertiary institutes, as well as vocational diplomas in fields such as information technology, administration and health care.
Candidates will undergo the same medical examinations and psychometric testing required of male conscripts.
After completing the 12-month term, volunteers will receive additional bonus points that can be used in applications for jobs in the public sector, local government entities and future hirings for professional NCOs and law enforcement. The exact number of points will be announced later.
Participants will also receive official certifications documenting the skills they acquired during their service — such as nurse assistant, data analyst or telecoms technician.
