Contract soldiers can serve in National Guard until age 57, Palmas says

Nicosia, Cyprus. Contract soldiers can now remain in the National Guard until they are 57, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said on Thursday at a swearing-in ceremony for new recruits. He also outlined changes to pay, allowances and permanent positions.

Pay and permanent positions

Palmas said contract soldiers are now paid the equivalent of the government’s A2 salary, which ranged from €15,109 to €18,544 a year last year.

The special monthly allowance has risen from €100 to €150 for regular contract soldiers. For those in the special forces, demining and explosive ordnance disposal, as well as nurses and engineering machinery operators, it has risen from €200 to €250.

He said 400 non-commissioned officer positions are available, allowing the top 400 applicants to receive permanent positions and serve until age 57.

Staffing needs and EU funding

Palmas said there had been “strong interest” in the positions and that staffing needs had increased partly because of programmes under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe, or Safe, mechanism.

The Cypriot government and the European Commission signed an agreement in June allowing Cyprus to receive loans under Safe. European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said at the time that EU support would “very soon” begin reaching Cyprus’ military and industry.

Cyprus secured more than €1 billion through the programme. Palmas said last year that the funding would enable the National Guard to acquire military hardware to “cover [its] priorities” until 2030.

Palmas said Safe had emerged as EU member states faced significant defence shortfalls and an urgent need for equipment programmes and joint procurement. He said the €150 billion to be invested by member states in jointly procuring high-tech weapons systems could help bring about “a new promising era for European defence”, with the goal of autonomy, technological dominance and resilience.