The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis attended the oath taking ceremony of the new “Captain (ENG) Sotirios Stavrianakos” 2024 Class Second Lieutenants, which took place in the Hellenic Army Academy, in Vari, Attica, as representative of the Hellenic Government. The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, who presented the new Second Lieutenants with their swords.
It was also attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, the chief of the Cypriot National Guard General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Major General (HAF) Ioannis Kotsakis, as well as Members of the Supreme Military Council.
It was also attended by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Glyfada – Elliniko – Voula – Vouliagmeni, and Vari, Mr. Antonios, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Mesogea and Lavreotiki, Mr. Nikolaos, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Fthiotis Mr. Symeon, MP Mr. Athanasios Bouras as representative of the Hellenic Parliament, the Mayor of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni, Mr. Grigoris Konstantellos, representatives of Political Parties, the Security Forces, Embassies, Honorary Chiefs, active duty and retired Officers, family members of the new Second Lieutenants, as well as family members of the hero, Captain (ENG) Sotirios Stavrianakos.
In total, 179 Second Lieutenants graduated from the Academy, of which 156 came from Greece, 18 from Cyprus, 1 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 from Montenegro and 3 from Tunisia.
After the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“I would like to express my sincere congratulations to our new Second Lieutenants for completing their studies and wish for all the best in their careers. They are the current and future leaders of the Army and the ensurers of the security and territorial integrity of our Country. It is time for them to fulfil their mission with responsibility, dedication and professionalism by showing the virtue, skills, high academic level and operational capabilities of Greek Officers. I want to make sure that we trust them completely and we will be beside them in all ways possible”