Expected changes in the mandatory conscription regime will include an “intensification” of basic and specialty training aimed at achieving a more combat-ready military, according to a report in the Athens daily “Ta Nea” this week.

A draft bill including several reforms and changes in the military conscription system is expected to be tabled in late October.

One of the measures reportedly readied to achieve a more combat-ready body of conscript soldiers will be a doubling of the basic training period, but without increasing the overall service term.

Conscripts, in this case young adult male citizens of Greece, now only serve in the army, as the air force and navy branches field only NCOs and officers.

Currently, the conscription term in the Hellenic Army is 12 months, unless a serviceman chooses to complete his tour of duty entirely in border regions or in the special forces, whereby it drops to nine months.

Basic training now lasts for three weeks, followed by another three weeks of basic specialty training.

Another looming reform will be traning in small battlefield drone or anti-drone system operation, depending on a unit’s mission. Tactical drones in this case are used for battlefield reconnaissance and even offensive action, such as dropping or firing lightweight ordnance at enemy positions and targets.