The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, accompanied by the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis and the Commander of the 3rd Army Corps Lieutenant General Athanasios Garinis, visited on Thursday 5 September 2024 the headquarters of the Service Support Division and the Command and General Staff College in Kalamaria, where he was welcomed by the Commander of the Service Support Division Major General Dimitrios Arambatzis and the Commander of the Command and General Staff College Brigadier General Anastasios Kyriakidis respectively.
During his visits, Mr. Kefalogiannis had been informed on their organization, their mission and their current activities, and had a tour at their premises. He had conversations with the personnel, while he addressed to the students of the Command and General Staff College.
The Deputy Minister congratulated the College’s Instructors and the Administration for the particularly high level of training and encouraged the Students to pursue their effort to remain informed and trained throughout their working life, in order to enhance their critical perspective and their strategic mindset. At the same time, he noted that the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence looks forward to continuously upgrading the College and will offer its assistance to anything that might be required, with a view to promoting the training work.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated amongst others the following:
“It is a great pleasure for me to be here today, at the Command and General Staff College. The College that trains Army Officers in the planning, management and conduct of operations at tactical level and provides them with the knowledge base to fill critical staff positions in Formations. At the same time, however, it prepares them to assume the primary and most honorable task in their career. That of the Commander. It is generally agreed that the level of training offered by the College is particularly high and this is evidenced by the performance of graduates, when they fill related posts. Your studies at Schools of Arms and Corps so far, the demanding preliminary examinations, but also the experience you have acquired while performing your duties, form the base for the College’s success. Accordingly, the structure of the course, the way in which subjects are approached and studied, the high standards, the effective training of instructors, let alone the abiding interest on the part of the military leadership, leave no room for anything less than excellent.
Our country is situated in a wider region, characterized by uncertainty and serious security challenges that undermine peace and stability, while intensifying citizens’ security dilemmas. The invasion of Russia in Ukraine triggers the fears of a conventional war in Europe, while instability in the Middle East and the nexus of hybrid threats increases insecurity. Therefore, the existence of powerful Armed Forces, as a deterrent mechanism, that guarantee territorial integrity and the independence of our Country, and strengthen the sense of security, is deemed to be particularly imperative. It is not disputed that our Country is a pillar of stability and peace in the region. Nobody wants a war, and we all want to retain the chance of lasting peace. Powerful deterrent force is required to ensure peace. Powerful Armed Forces are required.
As professionals, you should never forget that war is by its very nature dynamic, and not static. The way war is conducted changes; doctrines evolve, while technology development introduces new weapon systems that have overwhelming results in the battlefield. That means a lot to you. Practically, you should be constantly informed, keep up with the developments and be ahead of them. Moreover, you should be pioneers in adopting innovation. To accomplish all this, you are required to try hard during your studies. Although this alone is not enough. Technology and tactics evolve rapidly and you should always be in a position to keep pace with them. For this reason, taking your training in this College as a starting point, you should continue your effort to be informed and trained throughout your working life. Your attendance offers great opportunities for your further career development. You should take advantage of the intensive course offered, in order to go into greater depth on tactics, but also strengthen your leadership skills. These are necessary qualities for your career development. At the same time, these qualities shall give added value to our army. Take advantage of your instructors’ experience, in order to enhance your knowledge base and expand your staff and leadership skills. Make proper use of the internet and international literature, in order to reinforce your professional knowledge. Tackle problems from several directions and consider them thoroughly. Because only then, you will be able to enhance your critical perspective. In addition, since I am addressing to rising Officers, I would like to urge you not to stop your efforts here, at tactical level.
From this College, you lay the foundations for a remarkable progress in the other two levels: the operational and the strategic, as a logical continuation of the tactical one. You should continue your military education both at the Supreme Joint War College and at the National Defence College, in order to become established Officers and obtain the formal qualifications, but also the merits to ascend to high military offices. You should continue your academic education, because in this way you will expand your horizons, enhance your critical perspective and acquire strategic thinking.
Perfect your knowledge of English, since it is the key to monitor developments, and at the same time it is a fundamental asset of your professional development. Finally, endeavor to obtain varied staff and leadership experience, by serving at various national posts, but also at International Organizations. Remember, you have a bright future in front of you and you should be equipped with many skills and qualifications to have a successful career.
At this point, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the instructors, the Command, but also the College’s personnel, for their effort on a daily basis to maintain such an enviable level of training. Addressing also to the Commander, I would like to congratulate all those who were in command of this College over time and helped turn the vision into this excellent reality. Finally, prompted by the presence of the Chief HAGS at the College today, I would like to highlight the praiseworthy efforts made both by him and by the rest of the military leadership to upgrade the College and hence, to improve the training provided by all military educational institutions. An effort that has already left a positive footprint in the field of military education and training.
Concluding, I would like to reassure you that the military leadership, in the context of improving the education and training provided, looks forward to the College’s continuous upgrading. Therefore, I urge you to submit your proposals and your views in this respect. And let me assure you that you will have our support and we will offer our assistance to anything that might be required, with a view to promoting the educational work”.