Greek Americans,Greek military information

[Prokomenos]

This page contains general information about Greek laws and regulations concerning conscription, military obligations, and related privileges of interest to American men of Greek extraction.

Greek males between the ages of 20 and 45 are required by Greek law to perform military service. This applies to any individual whom the Greek authorities consider to be Greek, regardless of whether or not the individual considers himself Greek, has a foreign citizenship and passport, or was born or lives outside of Greece. The US Embassy cannot intercede with the Greek recruitment authorities on behalf of individuals in Greece who are considered Greeks.

Generally, obligatory non-voluntary military service in Greece will not affect US citizenship. Specific questions on this subject should be addressed to the citizenship section of the US Embassy in Athens.

Please note, only the Greek recruiting authorities have the right to decide, on a case-by-case basis, the eligibility of an individual to settle his military obligations in a method other than the full military service. (As of January 2003, the Ministry of National Defense has set the military service to 12 months for the Army, 15 months for the Navy and 14 months for the Air Force)

The American Embassy in Athens recommends that before traveling to Greece, American men of Greek extraction, who may or may not have pending military obligations, discuss their case with the Greek Consulate in the area of their residence. They may also apply through relatives in Greece to the appropriate recruiting office (Stratologiko Grafeio) or directly to the Greek military recruiting offices website.....


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[Ellinas]

Last summer I met a Greek-Canadian who came here for vacation and the recruitment authorities detected him, lol - before this I did not have an idea about this law. You have to be careful when coming to Greece :D.

[Prokomenos]

My brother in law has a similar problem. Since he was born in Greece and is getting married they are going to snatch him at the airport upon arrival. He is trying to fix this problem as we speak lol. What a big headache he is going through to fix this.

[Napalm]

One of my relatives went in his 30s after studying abroad and they discharged him after 2 weeks of basic training. I think the "case by case" statement is true of older disporia.

[Prokomenos]

Thats good for him. My brother n law is still under his thirties. Anyways hopefully he can settle this. He has been going back and forth to the Greek embassy lol.

[Telemahkos]

Does military service mandatory for Americans with a Greek mother but not a Greek father. Meaning I don't have a Greek last name and I'm a Half Greek.

[half greek]

Originally Posted by Telemahkos
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Does military service mandatory for Americans with a Greek mother but not a Greek father. Meaning I don't have a Greek last name and I'm a Half Greek.

They will not know you are Greek as you don't have a Greek Surname. In Cyprus when you go through passport control as soon as they see you have a Greek name they check your name on the computer to make sure you have done your military service, if not they ask to see your letter that excuses you. I believe the same applies for Greece, but since you are like me and do not have a Greek name they will not know.

[Telemahkos]

but I do have a Greek passport (no citizenship) should I not use my passport?

[gorgona]

Some may take this as antagonistic, but I don’t mean it to be.

My husband volunteered for his military service as early as was allowed. He was 17 and feels he grew up considerably during his time as a fantaro. In his mind, there is no question whether our son will do his duty when the time comes, even though he was born and raised here (the US). Of course as a mother, I bristle at the idea of my child in the military, but as a Greek, I understand my husband’s point of view.

Greece has given us so much that it is almost futile to try to list her gifts here. And of course everyone here knows what she has given to humanity as a whole. We as Hellenes are entrusted with that legacy. It falls on us to protect her if the need arise. But how are we to do that if we are unprepared and untrained?

We give a lot of lip service to being Greek, but what will happen if we are called to put our money where our mouths are? Many of us say Greece can count on us (the Diaspora), but can she really?

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by gorgona
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Some may take this as antagonistic, but I don’t mean it to be.

My husband volunteered for his military service as early as was allowed. He was 17 and feels he grew up considerably during his time as a fantaro. In his mind, there is no question whether our son will do his duty when the time comes, even though he was born and raised here (the US). Of course as a mother, I bristle at the idea of my child in the military, but as a Greek, I understand my husband’s point of view.

Greece has given us so much that it is almost futile to try to list her gifts here. And of course everyone here knows what she has given to humanity as a whole. We as Hellenes are entrusted with that legacy. It falls on us to protect her if the need arise. But how are we to do that if we are unprepared and untrained?

We give a lot of lip service to being Greek, but what will happen if we are called to put our money where our mouths are? Many of us say Greece can count on us (the Diaspora), but can she really?

Well said gorgona and Im not any different. I say I will rush to Greece's aid but when the time comes who really knows.