Hi , I wondered if anyone could give me advice? My twin boys will be turning 18 in September. Somebody told me they will not receive the dreaded letter until they're 19. My husband and I are trying to talk them into going in now, as they don't want to go onto higher education yet, but at the same time they want to wait till they're 19 to go in. My question is, does anyone know if freshly turned 18 is too young for the national service, or is it better to wait till they're 19? I just feel they will waste a year sitting around, when they could be getting it out of the way ! Alison
Message posted by MartynG on 22 July 2011 at 4:14pm - IP Logged
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Just seen this thread - it reminds me of the situation a few years ago when my secretary and her Greek husband went to Greece on holiday - he was arrested (for avoiding national service) when he turned up at the airport for the return flight to the UK.
Apparently, he had been born in Greece but had emigrated with his parents as a baby.
Martyn
Message posted by Susanna on 22 July 2011 at 4:52pm - IP Logged
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Alibux, I think they should have already registered for National Service by now. As I recall, this happens some time in the second class of senior high school, well before the 18th birthday. A letter should be sent out to all students in the school whose appropriate birthday has passed. (My eldest missed his letter because he had already gone to the UK to school, and he had to do 2 extra months in the army as "punishment" when he finally did his national service).
My sons did their service when they had finished both first and second University degrees and it seemed to work well for them, but I would agree that it seems a shame to waste a year doing nothing, when they will then basically waste another year in the army. Unfortunately, it does seem that the time is wasted, no matter what service they do or where. My youngest chose to enter Special Forces which he thought would be more physically and mentally demanding (on the grounds that if you have to do it you might as well do it properly). Even he reckons to have been frustrated by bureaucracy and to have wasted a lot of time on fairly useless activities and not to have been stretched to his full capabilities.
Unless your boys are particularly sensitive and likely to be homesick, I would recommend that they get it over with.
Hope this helps.
Message posted by Alibux on 22 July 2011 at 7:22pm - IP Logged
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Thanks Susanna, yes, your reply does help, I was beginning to wonder if I'm the soft one, as my husband wants them in NOW!!! They're not soft at all, but anti war/guns etc, and just hate the idea of it...well that's beside the point. Thanks fort your help, and glad for you that your sons have finished it!
Alison
Message posted by nikolop on 27 July 2011 at 5:23pm - IP Logged
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I was born in Canada, Greek parents, lived there my whole life.
I have done a lot of research on the topic, because it affected me personally.
If the child was born abroad, and, has lived abroad for 15 consecutive years, then they have "foreign residence'' status.
This means that they are allowed to stay in Greece for up to 6 months per calender year, without risk of conscription.
If the child was born in Greece, papers will find their way to wherever they were registered, regardless of how long they lived in Greece. According to law, it is up to the conscript (or someone with Power of Attorney) to ask for a postponement of the military service. My understanding is that while it is postponed, they can travel to Greece for a certain period of time without risk. The pain is that it has to be constantly postponed, until they turn 45, otherwise they are considered a draft dodger and can only visit with special permission.
Message posted by shilpa on 27 July 2011 at 6:04pm - IP Logged
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Shilpa - I am not sure why someone would go to the trouble of registering a child who was both born and lives outside the country....but my understanding of the law is that they are allowed to stay in the country for 6 months per calender year, with no risk of military service.
Message posted by janmanessi on 02 August 2011 at 7:30pm - IP Logged
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nikolop I am not sure why someone would go to the trouble of registering a child who was both born and lives outside the country.
Because expatriates are often more patriotic than those who live in the country, and wish to establish that their child is Greek, wherever he may have been born, or live, as it is his birthright. Or maybe they came back on holiday and had the baptism here.
Message posted by bobbo on 17 August 2011 at 10:56pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by Alibux on 22 July 2011
Hi , I wondered if anyone could give me advice? My twin boys will be turning 18 in September. Somebody told me they will not receive the dreaded letter until they're 19. My husband and I are trying to talk them into going in now, as they don't want to go onto higher education yet, but at the same time they want to wait till they're 19 to go in. My question is, does anyone know if freshly turned 18 is too young for the national service, or is it better to wait till they're 19?
I just feel they will waste a year sitting around, when they could be getting it out of the way !
Alison
As long as they are big and strong enough, I've seen plenty of young Corfiot lads struggling to bus stops on their way back from leave, with 2 bags of kit almost as tall as they were!
Message posted by mistert on 20 August 2011 at 9:36pm - IP Logged
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I haven't read all the threads on this subject but one thing I think is rather strange, if a child has at least one Greek parent why oh why did they not teach it to speak the language.
Frank.
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