You're in the Army now

[bktheirregular]

As it turns out, if I want to take advantage of the fact that I've been a foreign resident (from the Greek perspective) for basically my whole life, I need to do my military service in the Greek army (or maybe the navy or the air force) within six months after the issuance of the certificate stating I've been a "foreign resident".

Induction times are in February, May, August, and November. I've got August marked off for Greek lessons. Not going to sacrifice those for the stinkin' Army. (After all, it's still insubordination if you don't understand the orders you've been given, isn't it?)

Since I'm over 35, I've got the option of just going through basic training and then buying off the rest of my service time - if I do it this year, it's something like three thousand euros; if I wait, I've got to pay over ten thousand.

Ah, well. Not like I've got a lot of choice in the matter. Although I suspect that whoever I draw as a drill sergeant probably will be younger than me.

Comments

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

Go for the navy, and see if you can get a berth on the trireme Olympias? ::g::

[bktheirregular]

Intriguing, but doubtful. That, I suspect, might be a bit more of a prestige post, and somehow I doubt that they're going to give one of those to a damned Yankee whose reflexive answer to "jump" is "what gives?"

All I can see myself doing is rolling the dice and hoping I don't end up with the Hellenic equivalent of Gunny Hartman.