Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has announced sweeping salary increases and housing programs for military personnel and their families, calling the measures the most comprehensive support package ever implemented for the country’s Armed Forces.
Speaking at an Armed Forces Day event in Athens, Mr. Dendias said the government will roll out a new pay system retroactive to Oct. 1, offering wage increases ranging from 13% to 53% depending on rank and position.
Some officers serving in remote areas could see monthly pay rise by more than €1,000.
“If we want a strong defense, weapons systems are not enough,” Mr. Dendias said. “We need a complete framework of care for the person serving and their family.”
The plan, part of the government’s “Agenda 2030” for the military community, includes:
• A new wage scale separating rank from pay progression
• Additional allowances for remote postings, command duties and responsibility
• Free housing for personnel transferred away from their preferred location
• Expanded childcare and maternity support
• Investments in military hospitals and medical services
• Support programs for retired personnel and people with disabilities
The housing initiative includes 10,454 new residences and upgrades to 7,030 existing units, totaling 17,484 homes — the largest military housing program undertaken in Greece.
The first 49 new units will be delivered this week in Haidari, with 1,059 completed by the end of 2026.
Mr. Dendias also highlighted efforts to reduce living costs through centralized supply management, aiming to make military store prices 20% to 23% lower than market levels.
On health care, the minister announced modernization plans for military hospitals, partnerships with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for logistics software, and new trauma training centers. Several private donations will fund new hospital wings, equipment and facilities.
The package includes measures to support families facing social hardship, such as parental leave, reduced work hours, exemptions from overnight duty and policies allowing spouses to be stationed together.
Mr. Dendias said the reforms reflect a shift in defense policy that places military families at the center.
“We do not see the family as an obstacle to operational readiness,” he said. “It is a fundamental condition for fulfilling the Armed Forces’ mission.”
The announcement comes as Greece continues to increase defense spending and modernize its forces amid regional tensions and broader geopolitical uncertainty in the eastern Mediterranean.