The government has announced significant salary increases for military personnel in an effort to curb staff attrition and encourage recruitment.
The raises, which range from 13 to 20%, will be implemented in three phases between April and October, with a total budget of €268 million.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias outlined the details of the initiative, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving the financial well-being of service members.
“We want our personnel to live with pride, just as the country is proud of them. They should not endure ‘honorable poverty,’” Dendias said.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the increases as “a small token of gratitude to the tireless guardians of our nation’s freedom and independence.”
The pay raises are made possible through budget reallocations, including cuts in excess personnel and efficiency reforms within the armed forces. Approximately 60% of the funding comes from optimizing the structure and operations of the military, according to the government.
Under the new structure, a second lieutenant will see an annual gross salary increase of €3,540, raising their monthly take-home pay from €990 to €1,186. Similarly, a sergeant will receive an additional €2,760 annually, with their net salary increasing from 780 to approximately 934 euros per month.
Higher-ranking officers will see even more substantial increases. A lieutenant colonel commanding a unit or a navy commander in charge of a warship will receive a net monthly salary of €2,294, up from €1,968.
Beyond salary adjustments, the government is also rolling out non-monetary incentives, including affordable military housing projects and improvements to military hospitals. These measures aim to provide long-term support for service members and their families.
In an effort to attract new recruits, the monthly stipend for cadets in military academies will double from approximately €300 to €600. The government hopes this initiative will make a career in the armed forces more appealing to young Greeks.
The pay raises complement previous financial incentives, such as a €24-million bonus for naval personnel and a €16-million package for overseas missions.
The Greek military has faced challenges in retaining and recruiting personnel in recent years, a trend that the government aims to reverse with these sweeping reforms.