The Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the National Guard (GEEF) are considering various scenarios for this year’s classification of recruits in the National Guard. The classification may be affected due to the pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19.

According to a statement of the Ministry’s Spokesman Christos Pieris, at the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the whole issue is in the Ministry’s attention, whose representatives have set up a joint committee with GEEF officials. The committee is currently examining the various scenarios for this year’s classification.

The joint committee, as stated, is preparing a proposal with all the possible scenarios for the classification. The proposal will be ready and will be delivered to the Minister Mr Savvas Angelides around mid-April.

These scenarios, as Mr. Pieris stated, are essentially based on when this year’s school season will begin and end. This is because the classification of the conscripts in the National Guard  is inextricably linked to the pre-admission exams for the university institutions of Cyprus and Greece, the graduations of the students as well as the final grade of graduation. The last factor has its own significance regarding the division in which the newly-recruited soldiers will be appointed to serve.

Also, a lot will depend on the situation in Greece, as the exams for admission to Greek and Cypriot universities will also depend on the course of the pandemic in Greece.

As already mentioned, the Committee of the Ministry and the GEEF, taking all the above into consideration, is preparing the various alternatives which are inextricably linked to the resumption and completion of the school year. Once there is a decision and an official announcement regarding the school year and the exams, an announcement  will follow regarding this year’s classification.

Another issue being discussed is the dismissal of the 2019 series of conscripts currently serving in the National Guard. However, whether their dismissal will be affected is a far-fetched scenario, as in order for this to happen, the classification will have to take place after the summer of 2020.

With information from CNA