Greece announced on Sunday that its male citizens’ mandatory military service will be increased “soon” from nine to twelve months.
Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that the increased military service,, in combination with the recruitment of professional officers and the increase of students in the productive schools “will significantly strengthen the Armed Forces.”
Panagiotopoulos did not specify when the change will take place, but reports suggest that it will be applied from early 2021. The General Staff is expected to submit the relevant suggestions for the military service increase in the next days.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had spoke about the issue in September and said that the increase would not go beyond 12 months.
He added that there are thoughts for compulsory conscription at 18. This “is an issue that I am discussing and the government is discussing it, but I am not ready to say anything more,” Mitsotakis said, who also stressed the need for new recruits to develop skills that will be useful to them in their life after the Army.
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