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Hellenic Army Ελληνικός Στρατός

"Freedom stems from Valor" "ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΤΟ ΕΥΨΥΧΟΝ"

Components List of formations Structure of the Hellenic Army History History of the Hellenic Army Timeline of the Hellenic Army Personnel List of senior officers Officer rank insignia Warrant officer rank insignia Enlisted rank insignia Equipment Current equipment Historical equipment

Military of Greece Hellenic Army Hellenic Navy Hellenic Air Force

The Hellenic Army (Greek: Ελληνικός Στρατός) is the land force of Greece. The Army of the modern nation of Greece has a history of nearly 190 years and came to its present form, gradually through those years.

Motto of the Hellenic Army is "Freedom Stems from Valor" (Greek: "Ελεύθερον το Εύψυχον") and the Hellenic Army Emblem represents the two-headed eagle looking both left and right and the white cross in blue background placed in the middle.

Main article: History of the Hellenic Army

The sortie of Messolonghi by Theodoros Vryzakis - Greek War of Independence

The modern Hellenic Army was formed shorty after the creation of the State in 1828. The first tactical army battalion was established in August, 1828 after the respective order was given by the first head of state of the independent Greece, Ioannis Capodistrias. The new tactical army would replace the military bands of the capetanei (καπεταναίοι - commanders) who had led the revolt against Ottoman Empire in 1821.

The Hellenic Army has taken part in the following wars:

• Greek War of Independence (1821-1830)
• First Balkan War (1912)
• Second Balkan War (1913)
• World War I (1917-1918)
• Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
• Greco-Italian War (1940-1941)
• World War II (1940-1945)
• Greek Civil War (1946-1949)
• Korean War (1950–1953)
• War in Afghanistan (2001-present)

Main article: Structure of the Hellenic Army

Hellenic Army General Staff

• Hellenic National Defense General Staff
  • Hellenic Army General Staff
    Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού (ΓΕΣ)
    • Chief-of-Staff of the Army
      Αρχηγός ΓΕΣ
    • Inspector General of the Army
      Γενικός Επιθεωρητής Στρατού / Διοικητής ΔΙΔΟΕΕ
    • 1st Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army
      A' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ
    • 2nd Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army
      Β' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ

• Most combat arms are called "Arm" (Όπλον). This term denotes army elements that, more or less, have direct participation in combat.
• Most support branches are called "Corps" (Σώμα), with some exceptions.

Main article: Formations of the Hellenic Army

After two major reorganisations in the last five years, currently the Hellenic Army consists of two major commands, the Hellenic Army General Staff-HAGS and the Hellenic National Defense General Staff-HNDGS.

Formations under the command of HAGS include the I and IV Army Corps, tasked with the defence of the terrestrial borders; the Supreme Military Command of Interior and Islands, which is responsible for the Aegean islands; the Supreme Military Support Command, which provides logistic support to the Army; and the Order of Battle, Training and Inspection Command, which oversees the administration, education and training of the officer corps. The other component of the Hellenic Army, HNDGS, commands the II Army Corps, which functions as the rapid reaction force of the Hellenic Army and comprises special, elite and aviation forces.

Evelpidon Military Academy Emblem

There are three classes of personnel in the Hellenic Army, namely professional, volunteer and conscript. Conscript enlisted men and non-commissioned officers wear special rank insignia to differentiate them from volunteers. There are currently 109,266 personnel on active duty. Mobilization strength is 365,000 more.

Most professional officers graduate from the Evelpidon Military Academy in Athens (Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων) and the Corps Officers Military Academy in Thessaloniki (Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αξιωματικών Σωμάτων), while the rest graduate from various Military Schools according to their specialization.

In the chain of command, graduates of the two Military Academies in Athens and Thessaloniki are considered higher in seniority compared to professional officers of the same rank who graduate from specialised Military Schools. The latter officers are followed in seniority by volunteer and finally conscript staff.

Main article: List of equipment of the Hellenic Army

Main article: List of historical equipment of the Hellenic Army

The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is mostly of foreign manufacture, from German, French, American, British and Russian suppliers. A notable exception is the native-built Leonidas armored fighting vehicle by the Hellenic Vehicles Manufacturer Industry (ELBO).

Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the art to obsolescent Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired.

please visit main article for detailed description of ranks.

Main article: Hellenic Army officer rank insignia

Senior Officer Ranks (2004)

Junior Officer Academy Ranks (2004)

Junior Officer Uniforms (1977-2010)

The various uniforms of the Presidential Guard.
Left to right: Islander, Macedonian, traditional mainland, modernised mainland, Pontic

• Evzones - The Hellenic Army Honour Guards
• Evelpidon Military Academy

• Hellenic Ministry of Defense - Official Site
• Hellenic National Defense General Staff - Official Site
• Hellenic Army General Staff - Official Site

Military of Greece
Hellenic Navy | Hellenic Army | Hellenic Air Force

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