The Council of Ministers approved a proposal from the Ministry of Defense regarding the announcement for the recruitment of Contract Soldiers of the National Guard to fill approximately 700 positions that have been vacant in the past period, Minister of Defense Vassilis Palmas announced today.
The announcement will be published after the Easter holidays, he said.
In statements after the meeting of the Council of Ministers under the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Defense clarified possible ambiguities created by the institution, as presented in publications in recent days.
He recalled that the institution of SYOPs, which was implemented since 2016, contributed to improving the operational capability and capacity of the National Police, and along the way, as the data varied, some weaknesses were identified that needed improvement.
In order to alleviate the problems identified and to upgrade the institution so that it becomes sustainable and attractive, the Ministry of Defense and the current government have proceeded to adopt measures in this direction, the Minister added.
He stated that SYOPs are hired for service up to the age of 42 by concluding successive contracts following a selection process, as specified in the applicable regulations.
The salary scale for recruitment will be scale A2, which was established by the current Government, from July 2024 and a corresponding increase will be granted for each year of service. From the same period, the granting of a monthly allowance of 100 euros and 200 euros was implemented for SYOPs serving in selected departments of the National Police.
He stated that following written examinations to be determined by the Ministry of Defense and concerning SYOP who will complete their 10th year of service, successful candidates will be given the right to extend their retirement age to their 57th year.
Successful candidates will be placed on the combined salary scale A2-A5-A7 and this development arises due to the retirements of Contractual Non-Commissioned Officers (CNOs) who occupy 1100 positions in the National Guard.
The Minister said that the filling of the vacant positions will be done over time, starting from the fall of 2026 and the number will depend on the available positions, that is, those SYP who retire, the corresponding positions will be filled after an examination process by SYOP. This arrangement was made with the consent of the Minister of Finance and is in the Legal Service for legal review, he clarified.
He explained that those who are approaching their 10th year of service in the National Guard, depending on the number of positions that will be vacant by the SYP, the SYOP will be able to claim those positions to remain until their 57th year.
Mr. Palmas said that the first contract soldiers will begin to complete 10 years in 2026 and therefore emphasized that from 2026, SYOP will be entitled to claim these positions.
Those who will now enter the National Police after the announcement of the positions after Easter will fill the existing gap of 700 positions, if and as long as there is such interest, and the employment terms will apply as he explained.
