The Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Avramopoulos, visited today the 124th Basic Training Wing, in Tripoli.
Mr. Avramopoulos had the opportunity to be briefed by the Commander of the unit on its mission and tasks as New Recruits Joint Training Centre, as well as to watch the training and talk personally with new recruits of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS, General Michail Kostarakos, and the Chief of HAFGS, Lieutenant General (AF) Evangelos Tournas.
In the end of the visit, Mr. Avramopoulos stated:
«Today’s visit at the 124th Basic Training Wing, in Tripoli, had a specific purpose. I wanted, along with the military leadership, to watch from up close the progress of the training course which will be completed for this class next week. Apart from the key mission of the Armed Forces which is, as I have said repeatedly, to ensure the country’s independence, a main part of it is related to the young Greek people who serve dedicating a part of their time to the country.
Above all, we share their hopes, we acknowledge their great contribution and we respect the families who entrusted their children to the country’s Armed Forces.
I wish we will never be forced in the future to prove the capabilities of our national defence system in action. But, what I would like to say once more is that we, Greeks, must feel proud of our country’s Armed Forces. And these young people who cross the gate of these training centres to serve the country for a long period of time must know that their contribution is invaluable in the name of our country’s Values, in the name of the constant effort to keep it still and proud and in the name of the Hellenic Republic.
We must notice that the Armed Forces of the country base their battle-worthiness on the courage of the Greek people, whether they serve in the Armed Forces or not. And all people, when the time comes to go back home and begin their careers in the fields they have chosen, it is certain that they will keep the best memories from this period of their lives.
For me, this is a special day because approximately three decades ago I served here, I was trained here.Of course, the military service, at that time, did not last nine months. We served 26 whole months, however, as you may realize, going more than 30 years back, where you lived this experience too, has its own special value.
As a conclusion, I would like to say that this very good idea of creating this joint training camp for all the three services, which came up about two years ago in cooperation with the Chief of HNDGS, was implemented here. Today, before our eyes we saw how our seamen, airmen and privates, in a spirit of solidarity, respond to the country’s call for service, are trained all together and become good soldiers.
The second stage that will follow includes their assignment to the 3 services but it is sure that this stage of training and preliminary training will determine their future progress in the Hellenic Armed Forces. This joint scheme has been proven particularly successful and I wish, frankly, to express my congratulations to the leadership of the Armed Forces for this initiative which inaugurated a new chapter in the training of Greek people who are enlisted to serve the country».