NEWS

The National joint exercise under the name “Parmenion” is once again conducted this year after a two-year gap.

“Parmenion” is a large-scale exercise, which was designed and coordinated by GEETHA, with the assistance of the General Staffs with regard to the training of personnel in operations and involves Armored, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry Units in cooperation with the Hellenic Air Force and Army Aviation.

According to the announcement of the Army, the final phase of Parmenion will be held on September 29, in the morning, at the firing range “Psilos Stalos” in Lavara of Evros, while in the evening of the same day the exercise will continue at the firing range “Aetos” in Alexandroupolis.

For this reason, the 12th Mechanised Infantry Division issued an announcement that from Monday 20 to Wednesday 29 September 2021 from 07:00 to 00:00, in the context of the Tactical Exercises “PARMENION – 21” and “NIGHT LIGHTNING – 21”, munitions of curved and straight-track trajectory will be fired at the Exercise-Shooting Field “AETOS”. The areas, enclosed by the following points, are characterized as dangerous:

• Makris quarry
• Kazania mound
• Korakas mound
• Aliki Ruins
• Ouranos mound

In the above area, the movement or stay of people, vehicles, and animals are forbidden during the firing so as to avoid accidents. Non-explosive munitions that may be detected should not be moved and the nearest military, civilian or police authority should be notified immediately.

Also read: Infantry Heavy Weapons Shooting by Class 2021 Hoplites

Initial Briefing

On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the Chief of GEETHA, General Constantinos Floros, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Air Marshal George Blioumis, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, and Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petraki, attended the initial briefing regarding the tactical framing and planning of the National Large-Scale Joint Exercise “PARMENION – 21”.

The Exercise which was designed and coordinated by GEETHA will be held from Friday 24 September to Friday 01 October 2021 in the entire Area of ​​Responsibility of the Chief of GEETHA.

During the initial briefing, the Chief of GEETHA gave directions for the safe and successful conduct of the Exercise, giving special emphasis to the conclusions from the incidents the Armed Forces were called to manage in the period 2020 – 2021, in the lessons learned from previous exercises, in dealing with realistic pre-planned and unexpected incidents in accordance with the procedures in force, shedding light on all the details which play a decisive role in the fulfillment of the assigned mission.

In the exercise, which is carried out on a 24-hour basis, apart from GEETHA, participate the General Staffs and the Major Commands, along with their following Formations and Units, to the extent required, the Security Forces as well as bodies of the Civil Sector.

The main objectives of the exercise are:

• The assessment and treatment of the situation created by international developments in the immediate and wider region of our country.
• The implementation of plans as well as the training of the Staffs and Units in the implementation of the procedures of the Joint Doctrine of Command and Control as well as in the design and conduct of joint operations.
• Maintaining and promoting the combat capability of the Armed Forces on the Integrated Battlefield.
• The implementation of the Crisis Management System and the National Alarm System as well as the testing of plans for the organization and operation of Civil Defence and Emergency Planning Services.
• The promotion of the cooperation and the coordination between the Branches of the Hellenic Special Forces, the Civil Sector, the Hellenic Police, and the Hellenic Coast Guard during the implementation of National Plans.

Also read: “Hercules 2021” | Special Forces Exercise of Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates