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{{about|the land force of modern Greece|the military systems in Ancient Greece|Hoplite}}
{{short description|Land branch of the Greek military}}
{{morefootnotes|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Hellenic Army
| native_name                   = {{lang|el|Ελληνικός Στρατός}}
| image                         = [[File:HellenicArmySeal.svg|140px|Hellenic Army Seal]]
| caption                       = Hellenic Army Seal
| start_date                    = 1821 (''de facto'')<br>1828 (official)
| dates                         = 
| country                       = {{GRE}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = Land Forces
| role                          = National Defence
| size                          = ''' In peacetime:'''<br/>200,000 personnel<ref>'' Ελληνική Άμυνα και Τεχνολογία, Ετήσια Ανασκόπηση, Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2016–2017'', Εκδόσεις Δυρός</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://eda.europa.eu/publications-and-data/defence-data/Greece/year/2015|title=Defence Data Portal|website=Default|date=30 November 2023 }}</ref><hr />'''Wartime strength:'''<br/>1,750,000+<ref>'' Ελληνική Άμυνα και Τεχνολογία, Ετήσια Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2019–2020'', Εκδόσεις Δυρός</ref><ref name="auto"/>
| command_structure             = [[Hellenic Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = [[Formations of the Hellenic Army]]
| garrison_label                = Formations
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = [[Saint George]]
| motto                         = {{lang|grc|Ἐλεύθερον τὸ Εὔψυχον}}<br>"Freedom Stems from Valour"
| colors                        = [[Blue-gray]], [[Khaki]] & [[Olive (color)|Olive]] {{color box|#4682B4}}{{color box|#BDB76B}}{{color box|#556B2F}}
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 1,365 [[Main Battle Tank|MBTs]]<br>6,143 [[Infantry Fighting Vehicle|IFVs]] & [[Armoured Personnel Carrier|APCs]]<br>4,840 [[Artillery|Artillery pieces]]
| equipment_label               = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honors                 = 
| disbanded                     = 
| website                       = {{URL|army.gr|Hellenic Army}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1                    = Lt. Gen. Georgios Kostidis <ref>[https://www.naftemporiki.gr/politics/1566287/georgios-kostidis-poios-einai-o-neos-archigos-ges-to-viografiko-toy/ Georgios Kostidis: Who is the new Chief of General Staff - His CV]
</ref>
| commander1_label              = [[Hellenic Army General Staff|Chief of the Army General Staff]]
| notable_commanders            = Lt. Gen. [[Theodoros Kolokotronis]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Panagiotis Danglis]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Leonidas Paraskevopoulos]]<br>Fld. Marshal [[Constantine I of Greece|Constantine I]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Ioannis Metaxas]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Georgios Kondylis]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Nikolaos Plastiras]]<br>Fld. Marshal [[Alexander Papagos]]<br>Lt. Gen. [[Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos]]<br>(''see [[List of Hellenic Army generals|list of generals]]'')
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = <big>'''ΕΣ'''</big>
| identification_symbol_label   = Identification marking
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Hellenic Army military vehicles roundel.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Vehicle marking
| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:Hellenic Army War Flag.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = {{nowrap|[[War flag]]}}
}}

The '''Hellenic Army''' ({{langx|el|Ελληνικός Στρατός|Ellinikós Stratós}}, sometimes abbreviated as '''ΕΣ'''), formed in 1828, is the [[army|land force]] of [[Greece]]. The term [[Names of the Greeks|'' Hellenic'']] is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is the largest of the three branches of the [[Hellenic Armed Forces]], also constituted by the [[Hellenic Air Force]] (HAF) and the [[Hellenic Navy]] (HN). The army is commanded by the chief of the [[Hellenic Army General Staff]] (HAGS), which in turn is under the command of [[Hellenic National Defence General Staff]] (HNDGS).

The motto of the Hellenic Army is {{lang|grc|Ἐλεύθερον τὸ Εὔψυχον}} ({{transliteration|grc|Eleftheron to Efpsychon}}) {{gloss|Freedom stems from valour}}, from [[Thucydides]]'s ''[[History of the Peloponnesian War|History of the Peloponnesian War (2.43.4)]]'', a remembrance of the ancient warriors that defended Greek lands in old times. The Hellenic Army Emblem is the [[two-headed eagle]] with a [[Cross|Greek Cross]] escutcheon in the centre.

The Hellenic Army is also the main contributor to, and lead nation of, the [[Balkan Battle Group]], a combined-arms rapid-response force under the [[EU Battlegroup]] structure.<ref>[http://www.geetha.mil.gr/media/HELBROC/HELBROC-EN.doc Official Greek Defence Staff PR (18MB)].</ref>

==Mission==
The main missions of the Hellenic Army are the defence of the state's independence and integrity, the safeguarding of national territory, and the decisive contribution to the achievement of the country's policy objectives.<ref>[http://www.mod.mil.gr/Pages/MainAnalysisPage2.asp?HyperLinkID=2 Υπουργείο Εθνικής 'Αμυνας (2004) – Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις].</ref>

During peacetime, the Army has the following main objectives:

*The maintenance of high operational readiness for the prevention and effective confrontation of dangers and threats, as well as ensuring rapid response capability.
*The contribution to international security and peace.
*The contribution to social aid activities and the support of state services for the confrontation of emergencies.

==History==
{{Main|History of the Hellenic Army|Timeline of the Hellenic Army}}

===Early history: early 19th century===
<gallery>
Image:AlexanderYpsilantisPruth.jpg|''[[Alexander Ypsilantis]] (in [[Sacred Band (1821)|Sacred Band]] uniform) crosses the Pruth'', starting the [[Greek War of Independence]]. Painting by [[Peter von Hess]]
File:Prince Demitrios Ipsilantis, President of the Legislative Body of the Greek Government in 1822 - Friedel Adam De - 1830.jpg|[[Demetrios Ypsilantis]] was commander of the tactical Greek forces during the [[Battle of Petra]] (1829), final battle of the War of Independence
File:Kolokotronis Theodore.JPG|[[Theodoros Kolokotronis]], the most important commander of the Greek irregular forces during the Revolution
File:RODIOS-1.JPG|[[:el:Παναγιώτης Ρόδιος|Panagiotis Rodios]], as Army's colonel, one of the early supporters for the creation of regular army during the Revolution
</gallery>

The Hellenic Army traces its origin to the [[regular army|regular units]] established by the [[First Hellenic Republic|Greek provisional government]] during the [[Greek War of Independence]] (1821–1829). The first of these, an infantry regiment and a small [[artillery battery]], were established in April 1822, and were commanded by European [[Philhellenes]] (such as [[Joseph Balestra]] and others). Lack of funds however forced its disbandment soon after, and it was not until July 1824 that regular units were reformed, under the Greek Colonel [[Panagiotis Rodios]]. In May 1825, the first law on conscription was passed, and the command of the entire regular forces entrusted to the French Colonel [[Charles Fabvier]]. Under Fabvier, the regular corps expanded, and for the first time came to include cavalry, military music detachments, and, with [[Lord Byron]]'s aid, military hospitals. 

The governorship of [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] (1828–1831) saw a drastic reorganization of the national military: a Secretariat on Army and Naval Affairs and the [[Hellenic Army Academy]] were created, the Army Engineering Corps was founded (28 July 1829), and a concerted effort was made to reform the various irregular forces into regular [[light infantry]] battalions. Throughout these early years, French influence pervaded the Greek regular army, in tactics as well as appearance, as most of the instructors were French—at first Philhellenes, and later serving officers of [[Nicolas Joseph Maison|General Maison's]] [[Morea Expedition|Expeditionary Corps]].<ref name="History-EarlyYears">{{cite web | url = http://www.army.gr/files/File/ISTORIA%20MAIN%20PAGE/Main1d.pdf | script-title=el:Οι πρώτες προσπάθειες οργάνωσης τακτικού Στρατού (1821–1831) |trans-title=The first efforts towards organizing a regular Army (1821–1831) | publisher = Hellenic Army General Staff | language = el | access-date = 18 April 2012}}</ref>

After Kapodistrias' assassination in 1831 and in the subsequent internal turmoil over the next two years, however, the regular army all but ceased to exist. The first king of the newly independent Greek kingdom, the Bavarian prince [[Otto of Greece|Otto]], initially relied on a [[Bavarian Auxiliary Corps|4,000-strong German contingent]]. The royal government re-established the regular army and dissolved the irregular forces that had largely fought the War of Independence.<ref name="History-Otto">{{cite web | url = http://www.army.gr/files/File/ISTORIA%20MAIN%20PAGE/Main2d.pdf | script-title=el:Ο Στρατός επί της βασιλείας του Όθωνα (1833–1863) |trans-title=The Army during the reign of Otto (1833–1863) | publisher = Hellenic Army General Staff | language = el | access-date = 18 April 2012}}</ref> Following the ousting of Otto in 1862, the Army continued relying on the Army Organization Statute of 1833. The Greek royal army in 1860 was approximately 200,000 men. The first major reforms were undertaken in 1877, in response to the Balkan Crisis that eventually led to the [[Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]]. Among other measures, for the first time the Hellenic Army was briefly subdivided into [[division (military)|divisions]] and [[brigade]]s. [[Universal conscription]] was introduced in 1879, and under the premiership of [[Charilaos Trikoupis]], in 1882–1885 major steps were undertaken to improve the training and education of the officer corps: a [[French military mission to Greece (1884–1887)|French military mission]] was called to Greece, new schools were founded and Greek officers were sent abroad for studies, and efforts were made to make officers on active service refrain from participating in politics and focus on their professional duties. The Army also underwent its first [[mobilization]]s, in July 1880 – April 1882 due to the Greek annexation of [[Thessaly]], and again in September 1885 – May 1886, when [[Principality of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]] annexed [[Eastern Rumelia]]. The great financial burden of these long periods of mobilization, however, exhausted the public treasury, and stalled the reform process.<ref name="History-Before1897">{{cite web | url = http://www.army.gr/files/File/ISTORIA%20MAIN%20PAGE/Main3d.pdf | script-title=el:Ο Ελληνικός Στρατός από το 1864 μέχρι τον Ελληνοτουρκικό Πόλεμο του 1897 |trans-title=The Hellenic Army from 1864 until the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 | publisher = Hellenic Army General Staff | language = el | access-date = 18 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Tsoukalas | first = Konstantinos | chapter = Η ανορθωτική προσπάθεια του Χαριλάου Τρικούπη 1882–1895 |trans-chapter=The recovery effort of Charilaos Trikoupis 1882–1895 | script-title=el:Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΔ′: Νεώτερος Ελληνισμός από το 1881 ως το 1913 |trans-title=History of the Greek Nation, Volume XIV: Modern Hellenism from 1881 to 1913 |publisher = Ekdotiki Athinon | year = 1977 | pages =8–87 | language = el}}</ref> The result was that the Hellenic Army was wholly unprepared for war on the outbreak of the [[Greco-Turkish War of 1897]]: plans, fortifications and weapons were non-existent, the mass of the officer corps was unsuited to its tasks, and training was inadequate. As a result, the numerically superior, better organized, equipped and led Ottoman forces pushed the Greek forces south out of Thessaly.<ref>Erickson (2003), pp. 14–15</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Pikros | first = Ioannis | chapter = Ο Ελληνοτουρκικός Πόλεμος του 1897 |trans-chapter=The Greco-Turkish War of 1897 | script-title=el:Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΔ′: Νεώτερος Ελληνισμός από το 1881 ως το 1913 |trans-title=History of the Greek Nation, Volume XIV: Modern Hellenism from 1881 to 1913 |publisher = Ekdotiki Athinon | year = 1977 | pages = 125–160 | language = el}}</ref>

===Decade of wars: 1912–1922===
[[File:Moritz Ruhl - Griechische Armee 1914 - Feld- und Dienstuniformen.jpg|thumb|left|Field and service uniforms of the Greek Army, 1914.]]
[[File:Moritz Ruhl - Griechische Armee 1914 - Paradeuniformen.jpg|thumb|left|Parade uniforms of the Greek Army, 1914.]]
[[File:Bizani Infantry charge.jpg|thumb|200px|Greek infantry preparing to launch an attack at the [[Battle of Bizani]] (1913)]]
[[File:Greek gun at Dova Tepe fort.jpg|thumb|200px|Greek artillery gun at the [[Macedonian front]] during [[WWI]]]]
[[File:M.Asia-almyra-erimos.JPG|thumb|200px|Greek infantry marches through the steppe during the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–22)]]]][[File:Greek Army during Primavera Offensive Klisura March 1941.JPG|thumb|200x200px|Unit of the Greek Army during the [[Italian Spring Offensive]] during the [[Greco-Italian War|Greco-Italian war]], [[WWII]]]]

The dismal performance of the Hellenic Army in the war of 1897 led to a major reform programme under the administration of [[Georgios Theotokis]] (1899–1901, 1903–1904 and 1906–1909). A new Army Organization Statute was issued in 1904 (revised in 1910), purchases of new artillery material (including the [[75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09]] gun) and of the [[Mannlicher–Schönauer]] rifle were made, and a new, [[khaki]] field uniform was introduced in 1908.<ref name="History-1897-1912">{{cite web | url = http://www.army.gr/files/File/ISTORIA%20MAIN%20PAGE/Main4d.pdf | script-title=el:Η αναδιοργάνωση του Στρατού μετά το 1897 και η μεγάλη εθνική εξόρμηση 1912–13 |trans-title=The reorganization of the Army after 1897 and the great national assault 1912–13 | publisher = Hellenic Army General Staff | language = el | access-date = 18 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Oikonomou | first = Nikolaos | chapter = Η αναδιοργάνωση του στρατού από την κυβέρνηση Θεοτόκη |trans-chapter=Reorganization of the army by the Theotokis government | script-title=el:Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΔ′: Νεώτερος Ελληνισμός από το 1881 ως το 1913 |trans-title=History of the Greek Nation, Volume XIV: Modern Hellenism from 1881 to 1913 |publisher = Ekdotiki Athinon | year = 1977 | pages = 186–192 | language = el}}</ref> Reform was accelerated after the [[Goudi coup]] of 1909.

The new government under [[Eleftherios Venizelos]] brought a [[French military mission to Greece (1911–1914)|French military mission]] to train the Hellenic Army. Under its supervision, the Greeks had adopted the triangular infantry division as their main formation, but more importantly, the overhaul of the mobilization system allowed the country to field and equip a far greater number of troops than it had in 1897: while foreign observers estimated a mobilized force of approximately 50,000 men, the Army eventually fielded 125,000, with another 140,000 in the National Guard and reserves.<ref>Erickson (2003), p. 70</ref><ref>Fotakis (2005), p. 42</ref>

After the victorious [[Balkan Wars]], the country doubled its territory. During the WWI, a disagreement between King [[Constantine I of Greece|Constantine]] and Prime Minister [[Eleftherios Venizelos]] caused a [[National Schism]], but eventually a united Greece joined in 1917 the Allies.

As a winner of the war, Greece annexed [[Western Thrace|Western]] and [[Eastern Thrace]] and landed units in 1919 at [[Asia Minor]], starting so the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-22)]], which was unsuccessful for Greece, in 1922.

===World War II, Civil War, and Korea===
The country joined WWII with the Allies side in October 1940, when dictator [[Ioannis Metaxas]] rejected an Italian ultimatum by Mussolini. In the [[Greco-Italian War]], the Hellenic Army pushed back the Italian and occupied large parts of southern Albania, but after a German invasion ([[Battle of Greece]]) fell under the Axis domination.

Leo Niehorster's website shows the higher organisation of the Greek Army on 15 August 1940, with the General Staff of the Army directly supervising five corps, three divisions, and the Thessaloniki Fortress.<ref>{{cite web |last=Niehorster |first=Leo |title=Hellenic Army, 15 August 1940 |url=http://niehorster.org/027_greece/40-08-15/_p-army.html |website=niehorster.org}}</ref>

The exiled Greek government, with units of the Army, were transferred to the Middle East, where they continued the war with the Allies as the [[Greek Armed Forces in the Middle East]]. The [[Sacred Band (World War II)|Sacred Band]] and the [[3rd Greek Mountain Brigade]] were formed in exile, and took part in various operations; including the [[Tunisian campaign]] and the [[Battle of Rimini (1944)]].

After the war, Greece incorporated the [[Dodecanese]]. Soon, the political polarization between communist (or leftist) and anticommunist forces, led to a three-and-a-half-year-long [[Greek civil war|civil war]], which ended with communist defeat.

The [[Greek Expeditionary Force (Korea)|Greek Expeditionary Force]] took part in the [[Korean War]] with a total of 10,255 Greek personnel, of whom 186 or 187 were killed and 617 were wounded.

The army was briefly renamed "Royal Hellenic Army" from August 20th,<ref>Royal Decree No. 541 ''On the supersession of the title of the Army'' (lit. Land Army), Government Gazette Issue (ΦΕΚ) A 156/1964</ref> to October 25th, 1964,<ref>Royal Decree No. 677 ''On the recall of the 541/1964 R. Decree "on the supersession of the title of the Army"'', Government Gazette Issue (ΦΕΚ) A 203/1964</ref> on the initiative of then [[Ministry of National Defence (Greece)|Minister of National Defence]] [[Petros Garoufalias]].

== Engagements ==
In total, the Hellenic Army has taken part in the following engagements:

* [[Greek War of Independence]] (1821–1829)
* [[Greco-Turkish War (1897)|Greco-Turkish War of 1897]]
* [[First Balkan War]] (1912–1913)
* [[Second Balkan War]] (1913)
* [[First World War]]
** Annexation of [[Northern Epirus]] (1914–1917)
** [[Macedonian front (World War I)|Macedonian Front of World War I]] (1916–1918)
* [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War]] (1919)
* [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922]]
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Greco-Italian War]] (1940–1941)
** [[Battle of Greece|German invasion]] and [[Battle of Crete]] (1941)
** [[North African Campaign]] (1941–1943)
** [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] (1944)
* [[Greek Civil War]] (1946–1949)
* [[Korean War]] (1950–1953)
* [[Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish Invasion of Cyprus]] (1974)
* [[United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission]] (1991–2003)
* [[Unified Task Force]] (1993–1994)
* [[Implementation Force]] and [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Stabilisation Force]] (1995–2004)
* [[1997 Albanian civil unrest]] (1997)
* [[Kosovo Force|Kosovo]] (1999–present) 
* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] (2001–2012)
* [[War on Terrorism]] (2001–present)

==Structure==
{{main|Structure of the Hellenic Army}}
{{Location map+ | Greece
| width = 440
| caption = {{center|'''Hellenic Army major combat unit locations'''<br>Key: red – infantry, green – mech, gold – armour, purple – aviation<br>large pin – division, small pin – brigade}}
| places =
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Ioannina|8th]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | lat_deg = 39  | lat_min = 40 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 20  | lon_min = 51 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Kozani|9th]]</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | lat_deg = 40 | lat_min = 18 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 21 | lon_min = 47 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Serres|10th]]</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | marksize = 5
    | lat_deg = 41  | lat_min = 05 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 23  | lon_min = 33 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Alexandroupoli|12th Div.]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 40  | lat_min = 51 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 25  | lon_min = 52 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Didymoteicho|16th Div.]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 41  | lat_min = 21 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26  | lon_min = 30 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Kavala|20th Div.]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Gold pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 40  | lat_min = 56 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 24  | lon_min = 24 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Veria|1st Div.]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | lat_deg = 40  | lat_min = 31 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 22  | lon_min = 12 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Edessa, Greece|2nd Div.]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 40  | lat_min = 48 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 22  | lon_min = 03 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Komotini|29th]]</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 41  | lat_min = 07 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 25  | lon_min = 24 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Soufli|50th]]</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 41  | lat_min = 12 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26  | lon_min = 18 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Samos|79th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 37  | lat_min = 45 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26  | lon_min = 50 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Kos|80th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 36  | lat_min = 51 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 27  | lon_min = 14 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Chania|5th]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | lat_deg = 35  | lat_min = 31 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 24  | lon_min = 01 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Lemnos|88th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 39  | lat_min = 53 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 25  | lon_min = 04 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Rhodes|95th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 36  | lat_min = 10 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 28  | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Chios|96th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | marksize = 6
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 38  | lat_min = 24 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26  | lon_min = 01 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~ | Greece
    | label = <small>[[Lesbos|98th NG]]</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 39  | lat_min = 10 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26  | lon_min = 20 | lon_dir = E
  }}
}}

===General Staff===
*'''[[Hellenic National Defence General Staff]]'''
**'''[[Hellenic Army General Staff]]'''<br>Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού (ΓΕΣ)
***'''Chief-of-Staff of the Army'''<br>Αρχηγός ΓΕΣ
***'''Inspector General of the Army'''<br>Γενικός Επιθεωρητής Στρατού / Διοικητής ΔΙΔΟΕΕ
***'''1st Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army'''<br>A' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ
***'''2nd Deputy-of-Staff of the Army'''<br>Β' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ

===Combat and support arms===
*Most combat arms are called "Arm" (Όπλον). This term denotes army elements that, more or less, have direct participation in combat.
*Most support branches are called "Corps" (Σώμα), with some exceptions.

==Army units and formations==
{{main|Formations of the Hellenic Army}}
[[File:Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL arrives at Strike Back 19 Arrives at Strike Back 2019 (5).jpg|thumb|Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL on [[MAN_LX_and_FX_ranges_of_tactical_trucks#FX_range|MAN 40.633 FX DFAETX (Steyr 40Μ60/S40)]] tank transporter.]]

After a major reorganization which occurred in the last decade, which included the transformation of most Infantry formations into Mechanized Brigades and a parallel reduction of personnel, the Hellenic Army's higher command is the [[Hellenic Army General Staff]].

There are four major military commands which supervise all army units,
* [[First Army (Greece)|1st Army]], based at [[Larissa]], that includes the [[IV Army Corps (Greece)|IV Army Corps]], responsible for the defence of the northern and eastern borders.
* [[Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (Greece)|Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands]], based at [[Athens]] with the mission to provide cover for the islands in the [[Aegean Sea]].
* [[Hellenic Army Supreme Military Support Command|Supreme Military Support Command]] undertaking various logistics and organizational tasks.
* [[NDC-GR|NATO Deployable Corps]], based at [[Thessaloniki]], [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]]

Although [[division (military)|divisions]] still exist, having the role of forward commands, the Army is mainly organized in [[brigade]]s, that follow the typical [[NATO]] standards consisting of five [[battalion]]s, three manoeuvre, one artillery, one support and some other company sized formations. According to the latest developments, up to 2015, all active divisions will dissolve, but all brigades will acquire one more manoeuvre battalion, largely eliminating the distinction between mechanized and armoured formations, thus creating a new type brigade, which will be named ''Strike Brigade''.<ref>[http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/media/dogma.166.pdf Ιωάννη Α. Ραγιέ. "ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΟ ΔΟΓΜΑ – Προς ένα ρεαλιστικό αποτρεπτικό δόγμα". ''ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΗ: ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΣΦΑΛΕΙΑ'', Ιούλιος 2008, pp. 118–121] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305034654/http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/media/dogma.166.pdf |date=2009-03-05 }}.</ref>

==Personnel==
{{Main|Conscription in Greece}}
[[File:Gas mask greek.jpg|thumb|200px|Greek personnel wearing [[M17 gas mask]]s]]
[[File:Visit to Greece and Mount Athos 05.jpg|thumb|200px|Army officer in ceremonial uniform]]
[[File:Hellenic Army - M901 - 7227.jpg|thumb|200px|M901 ITV (Improved Tow Vehicle)]]

There are three classes of personnel in the Hellenic Army, namely professional, volunteer and [[Conscription in Greece|conscript]]. There are currently 90,000 personnel on active duty, of which 30,000 are conscripted. The [[Greece|Hellenic Republic]] has mandatory military service (conscription) as of March 2021 of 12 months for all males between the ages of 18 and 45. Citizens discharged from active service are normally placed in the Reserve and are subject to periodic recall of 1–10 days at irregular intervals. [[Greek people|Greek]] males between the age of 18 and 60 who live in strategically sensitive areas may also be required to serve part-time in the [[Hellenic Supreme Military Command of Interior and Islands|National Guard]]. During a mobilization the amount of conscripts may exceed 180,000.<ref>http://www.armedforces.co.uk/Europeandefence/edcountries/countrygreece.htm#Greek Army</ref>

Conscript enlisted men and non-commissioned officers wear special rank insignia to differentiate them from volunteers.

Professional officers graduate from the [[Hellenic Military Academy|Evelpidon Military Academy]] in Athens (''Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων'', {{Abbr|ΣΣΕ|Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων}}), the Corps Officers Military Academy in Thessaloniki (''Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αξιωματικών Σωμάτων,'' {{Abbr|ΣΣΑΣ|Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αξιωματικών Σωμάτων}}) and the [[Hellenic Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy|Non-Commissioned Officers Academy]] (''Σχολή Μονίμων Υπαξιωματικών'') in Trikala. Unlike what the title of the latter suggests, ΣΜΥ graduates do comprise a large part of the officer corps and are able to advance to the rank of [[Antisyntagmatarchis|lieutenant colonel]], starting at the rank of corporal, while their ΣΣΕ and ΣΣΑΣ counterparts graduate as [[Anthypolochagos|second lieutenants]] and could, theoretically, attain [[flag officer]] ranks.

Thus, in the [[command hierarchy|chain of command]], graduates of the two military academies in [[Athens]] and [[Thessaloniki]] are considered higher in seniority compared to professional officers of the same rank who graduated from [[Trikala]]. The latter officers are followed in seniority by volunteer and finally conscript staff.

During war, the Hellenic army battalions are commanded by either a ranking officer [[major general]] or if in a combat mission by another state which in agreement with the Greek state will be commanded by a ranking General of their own.

===Ranks===
{{main|Greek military ranks}}
====Commissioned officer ranks====
The rank insignia of [[commissioned officer]]s.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OF/Greece}}
|}

====Other ranks====
The rank insignia of [[non-commissioned officer]]s and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]].
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Greece}}
|}

==Equipment==
{{main|List of equipment of the Hellenic Army|list of former equipment of the Hellenic Armed Forces}}
[[File:ELDYK APCs.JPG|thumb|200px|[[ELVO Leonidas-2]]]]

The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is mostly of foreign manufacture, from [[Germany|German]], [[France|French]], [[Italy|Italian]], [[United States|American]], [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Russia]]n suppliers. A notable exception is the indigenous [[Leonidas (armoured vehicle)|Leonidas]] armoured personnel carrier which was built by the Hellenic Vehicles Manufacturer Industry [[ELVO]], such as the [[ELVO Kentaurus]] fighting vehicle.

Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the art to obsolete Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired.<ref>{{cite web|last= Nedos|first=Vassilis|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/245979/article/ekathimerini/news/turkish-violations-surge-in-2019|title=Turkish violations surge in 2019|work=Ekathimerini|date=31 October 2019|access-date=17 September 2020}}</ref>

==Uniforms and ranks==
{{main|Hellenic Army officer rank insignia|Hellenic Army Other Ranks rank insignia|Greek Army uniforms}}

The structure of Hellenic Army ranks has its roots in British military traditions and follows [[Ranks and insignia of NATO|NATO standard rank scale]]. The rank of ''Stratarchis'' (Στρατάρχης, equivalent to [[Field Marshal]] or [[General of the Army]]) though, has been historically used, but is no longer extant. It was first awarded to King [[Constantine I of Greece|Constantine I]] for his leadership in the [[Balkan Wars]]. The rank was subsequently assumed by his successors upon accession, until the abolition of the monarchy. The only regular officer to have been awarded the rank was [[Alexander Papagos|General Alexander Papagos]] on 28 October 1949, after he had won the [[Greek Civil War]].

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Peytier - Members of the Greek regular army at parade, 1830.jpg|[[Evzones]] of the regularized "Typikon" formations established by [[Ioannis Kapodistrias|Kapodistrias]], 1830
File:Aspiotis Booklet Greek Army 1911.jpg|Uniforms of the Greek Army. Booklet published by [[Aspioti-ELKA|Aspiotis]] with reproductions of paintings by Pavlos Mathiopoulos.
File:Greek Army uniforms, 1833-1851.png|Uniforms of officers (left) and enlisted men (right) in the Greek Army in the first period of [[Otto of Greece|King Otto]]'s reign. Enlisted men were called ''oplíte'', the ancient [[hoplite]] with modern pronunciation.
File:Greek cavalrymen, 1832.jpg|Cavalry trooper and officer of 1832, outfitted like Bavarian [[uhlan]]s with ''[[Czapka|czapki]]'' hats, in contrast to the [[shako]]s of other branches
File:Greek Artillerymen, 1832.png|Artillerymen during the early years of King [[Otto of Greece|Otto]]: (left to right) soldier, [[bombardier (rank)|bombardier]], and artillery officer
File:Thessaloniki 6 inch 30 cwt Howitzer (Left).jpg|Preserved [[BL 6-inch 30 cwt howitzer]] of the Greek artillery, [[War Museum of Thessaloniki]]
File:Greek officers who took part in the Macedonian Struggle.jpg|Army officers that took part in the [[Macedonian Struggle]] ({{Circa|1909}})
File:Nikolaos Plastiras.jpg|General and later PM [[Nikolaos Plastiras]]
File:Greece-1917-war-poster-02-petros roumbos-56x83cm.jpg|WWI poster
File:Flag of III Greek division.jpg|Preserved flag of the Greek III Division of the [[Macedonian front]] in the [[National Historical Museum, Athens]]
File:Occupation of Constantinople 3.jpg|Greek troops with Allies during the [[occupation of Constantinople]]
File:Greek Parade Paris 1919.jpg|Military formation in the World War I Victory Parade in [[Arc de Triomphe]], Paris
File:Greek soldiers at Afyon Karahisar, 1922.jpg|Greek soldiers at [[Afyonkarahisar]], 1922, [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]]. The soldiers wear [[Adrian helmet]]s and third from left is armed with a [[Chauchat]] machine gun.
File:LracF1greeksfland.jpg|Special forces personnel during an exercise, firing an [[LRAC F1]]
File:Greek-hummer.jpg|[[ELVO]] manufactured Humvee
<!-- [[WP:NFCC]] violation: File:Elbo Kentaurus1.jpg|[[ELVO Kentaurus]] -->
File:Hellenic Army - LEO2A6HEL - 7231.jpg|[[Leopard 2]]A6
File:Przekazanie czołgów Patton 05.jpg|[[M48 Patton]]
File:Przekazanie czołgów Patton 03.jpg|M48A5 MOLF
Image:Hellenic Army CH-47D Chinook.jpg|Greek Army Aviation [[CH-47 Chinook|CH-47SD Chinook]] transport helicopter
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Achilles Shield]]
* [[Hellenic Ministry of National Defence]]
* [[Centauros anti drone system]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* Michalopoulos, Dimitris. "The Evolution of the Greek Army (1828–68)". ''War and Society in East Central Europe'', Vol. XIV, Brooklyn College Press, 1984, pp.&nbsp;317–330, {{ISBN|0-88033-043-0}}.
* {{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 |trans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5|language=el}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hellenic Army}}
{{refbegin}}
* [http://www.mod.mil.gr/ Hellenic Ministry of Defense – Official Site]
* [http://www.geetha.mil.gr/ Hellenic National Defense General Staff – Official Site]
* [http://www.army.gr/ Hellenic Army General Staff – Official Site]
{{refend}}

{{Greece topics}}
{{Greek Military}}
{{Hellenic Army}}
{{Greece field armies}}
{{Greece army corps}}
{{Greece divisions}}
{{Armies in Europe}}
{{Allied Land Command}}

[[Category:Hellenic Army| ]]
[[Category:1828 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1828]]
[[Category:Ioannis Kapodistrias]]