On Monday, September 05, 2022, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Konstantinos Floros, awarded an “Honorable Mention” to six Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the newly-established Special Warfare Command. The said officers excelled in the international military “European Best Sniper Team Competition 2022”. 

According to an announcement by the HNDGS, the Competition was organized by the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) of the 7th US Army Training Command and took place in Hohenfels, Germany. 

The Special Warfare Command of HNDGS participated with 2 Teams (pairs) of Snipers which won 1st (Special Paratroopers Unit) and 4th place (7th Special Forces Squadron) among 36 teams from 18 countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Estonia, USA, Italy, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Czech Republic, and Finland).

The ceremony, which took place at the Special Forces Training Center at the “MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREAS KALLINSKI” Camp in Nea Peramos, Attica, was attended by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Air Marshal Themistoklis Bourolias, the Inspector General of the Army – Commander of Doctrine and Training, Lt. General Nikolaos Flaris, as representative of the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lt. Gen. Charalambos Lalousis, the Commander of the Special Warfare Command, Lt. Gen. Georgios Tsitsikostas, the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Georgios Manouras, and the Director of the Hellenic Army General Staff/Special Forces Directorate, Lt. Gen. Dimitrios Vounisios.

During his brief greeting, the Chief of HNDGS pointed out that the significant distinction of the Hellenic Special Forces and Special Operations Forces is a great and enviable success, stressing that the determination combined with their persistent and painstaking training makes them capable of responding to demanding scenarios of increased complexity and difficulty.

Also read: Greece | Winner of European Best Sniper Team Competition 2022

He also pointed out that since it was established in April 2020, the Special Warfare Command has modernized and upgraded the possibilities of designing and executing Special Operations, contributing to the promotion of joint operational understanding. He also referred to the acclaim and acceptance enjoyed at an international level by both the Command and the Commands and Units falling under the same, due to their excellent performance in exercises as well as joint and operational actions with friends, partners, and allies.

Concluding his greeting, he congratulated the winners on their success in the Competition and urged the Command personnel to continue developing their skills and capabilities, promoting the Greek fighting capability at an international level.

This was followed by a static demonstration of sniper equipment and a presentation of two newly-acquired POLARIS MRZR Special Mission Vehicles, used in reconnaissance missions, material, and casualty transport and can be transported by the Hellenic Armed Forces aircraft.

He then gave instructions and directions for the completion of the works at the new facilities of the Special Forces Training Center, which, in combination with those that have already been completed and in addition to the significant upgrade of the operational and repair capabilities of the Command, will also be a pole of attraction for the Special Operations Forces of friendly, partner and allied countries and for the joint execution of high-level training activities.

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