The Director of EKEO and Head of the Hellenic Security Advisors, Prof.Dr. Theodore Liolios, is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Physical Sciences at the Hellenic Army Academy. EKEO is presenting the brief History of the Academy copying information from the Academy’s website. The Video shows a few moments from the Cadet Basic Training which takes place every year at Litohoro Pierias in Northern Greece. Professor Dr. Theodore Liolios was there accompanying the Deputy Commandant of the Hellenic Army Academy.

The Hellenic Army Academy ( Sxoli Evelpidon), was the personal vision of the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, who is also its founder. In June 1828, he announced its establishment and was the one that called the first five students “Evelpides”.

The long-lasting History of the School has been tightly connected with the History of the Greek Nation of modern times, as it has been the fertile soil out of which sprang personalities that played a significant role in the history of our country.

The School has made its presence felt in every single struggle of the nation through active participation, since it has always been the cradle for officers who fight and sacrifice themselves for whatever our Nation regards as “Sacred” and “Ideal”.

Having acknowledged the Academy’s tremendous contribution to the Nation’s service, the Greek State awarded a War Flag to the Academy in 1926 and then in 1931 decorated it with the Medal for Military Valor, A’ Class; the War Cross, A’ Class in 1943; the Knight Commander of Order of Merit for Gallant Actions in 1946; and the Grand Cross Star of the Royal Order of the Redeemer in 1978.

The main mission of the Academy is to provide the Hellenic Army with leaders versed in the military science through living in a military environment and undergoing the many-sided military and academic education.

The Cadets’ entrance to the Academy is made possible after they have successfully passed the Pan-Hellenic University Entrance Exams and achieved high grades. The Education Program lasts four years. Each academic year is divided in two semesters. The Winter Semester starts in September and ends in February, while the Spring Semester starts in March and ends in August. Each semester includes both Military and Academic Education, theoretical as well as practical.

Each Academic Year consists of 39 weeks, 26 of which are of academic nature and 13 are of purely military one. Four of these weeks are devoted to the Final Written Exams of Semesters A and B, while for 8 weeks Cadets are on a leave of absence away from the Academy.

The Academy provides Cadets with broad Academic education which both complements and broadens Military education and training.. The Academic Program includes courses from a broad field of sciences, ranging from Humanities and Social Studies to Applied Sciences, from Chemistry to History, and from Psychology to Engineering.

Military education starts in the first year when each Cadet undergoes Basic Military Education and is trained in individual tactics. His training continues in the following years till he/she becomes well-versed in how to command a team and a platoon; he/she also learns the basic elements of organization and function of an Infantry Company. Military Education and Training takes place either in the area of Vari or in other places around Greece, such as Litochoro in Pieria, and Parnassus, etc.

Physical training plays an important role in each Cadet’s education as it aims at making his/her body strong enough to face hardships of all sorts in a demanding military life on the one hand, and secondly to prepare him/her for the role of the prospective educator/trainer, who will be able to prepare his/her own safe and effective program of physical training for his subordinates.
Source: Hellenic Army Academy

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