Cabinet approves recruitment of 400 contract NCOs from National Guard soldiers

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cabinet approved on Thursday the recruitment of 400 contract non-commissioned officers (NCOs) from among the National Guard’s contract soldiers (Syop). Defence Minister Vassilis Palmas said appointments would follow the rankings from a selection process that included written examinations and take effect in November.

Promotion and operational readiness

Those appointed can be promoted to a maximum rank of first lieutenant on salary scale A8, corresponding to around €24,500 annually or €2,335 gross per month.

Palmas described the move as “the continuation of a targeted reform” that would strengthen prospects for professional advancement and contribute “decisively” to the National Guard’s operational readiness.

Changes to service and entry age limits

The government tabled the reform bill in the House defence committee on February 26. It raised the maximum service age for Syops from 42 to 57 and the entry age limit from 27 to 35.

The ministry also introduced a route for promotion to contract NCO through written examinations.

“It is preferable to retain experienced personnel up to 57 than to lose 1,000 to 1,500 people from the national guard,” Palmas told MPs at the time.

Salary and allowance increases

Salaries have moved from scale A1 to A2, increasing from €15,109 to €18,544 annually, or from €1,260 to €1,545 per month.

The monthly allowance has risen from €100 to €150 for all Syops and from €200 to €250 for those in high-risk units, including special forces (Oyk), underwater demining teams (Myk) and medics.

Committee chairman Marinos Sizopoulos said Syops were “of crucial importance for the operational capacity and combat value of the national guard”.