Hellenic Air Force Administrative NCO Academy

Mission

The mission of HAF’s Administrative NCO Academy is to produce NCOs of administrative specialties, enabling them to successfully meet the exceptionally increased obligations as well as the duties to be assigned to them within the framework of an organization of technologically high standards, such as the Hellenic Air Force.

Emblem

The emblem of SYD comprises a composition depicted on a shield.

On the upper part of the shield the following ancient saying of Pindarus can be read: “Discover your abilities and use them”.

The remaining part of the shield is covered by the emblem which comprises four sections.

On the upper right section one can see a bee symbolizing the specialties of the Recruiting NCO, the Finance NCO & the Intelligence (Information) NCO. On the upper left section one can see a thunder symbolizing the specialties of Airfields Defense NCO & Meteorologist. On the right section below one can see a book which symbolizes learning. On the left section below you can see the White Tower which signifies Thessaloniki where the Academy’s premises are.
In the center of the shield you can see the Vergina sixteen-ray sun, i.e. Macedonia’s historic symbol and place where the premises of SYD are located.

Organization

SYD is an independent HAF Unit, equivalent to a Group and subordinate to HAF’s Air Tranining Command (HATC).

Location

The Unit is located at SEDES Air Base (Municipality of Thermi) approximately 15 km from the center of Thessaloniki.

History

• 1954 The Administrative NCO Academy was established and started operating on October 6, 1954 at SEDES airport in Thessaloniki. Being, initially, under the command of 113 Joint Training Wing provided training on the following specialties: meterologists, airfield defense guards, Air controllers, photographers, and recruiting, intelligence, transport, paramedics, accounting NCOs. The candidates were High School graduates.
• 1975 The Academy becomes subordinate to 125 Administrative NCO Training Group, an Air Training Command (HATC) unit.
• 1978 The overall duration of the cadets’ training was two years, consisting of just the following specialties: recruiting, meteorology, Airfield defense, intelligence and accounting.
• 1980-83 Examinations for admission to the Administrative NCO Academy did not take place.
• 1985 After the suspension of operation of the 125 Administrative NCO Training Group, the School was an independent AF Unit subordinate to  ATC having its own Rules and Regulations.
• 1987 After the suspension of operations of the HATC and until 1993, the Administrative NCO Academy was subordinate to the Hellenic Air Force Support Command (HAFSC).
• 1988 The Academy moved from the SEDES airport premises to Dekelia air base. It went on with its activities for two more years training cadets who had already completed a two-year course. After their graduation, examinations for admission to the Academy did not take place till 1991.
• 1990 The AF Supreme Council approved the Academy’s relocation to SEDES Airport, where it used its former premises.
• 1992 Candidates were admitted to the Academy through the General Exams System, sanctioned by the Ministry of Education.
• 1993 The HATC was re-established and the Administrative NCO Academy became subordinate to it.
• 1996 The admission of women to the Academy is a fact.

Since 1954, thirty eight (38) classes of cadets have graduated the Academy. More specifically 1,946 candidates joined the Academy and 1,820 cadets graduated.

Apart from Greek, students from Cyprus, Moldova and other countries, mainly African ones, have been trained in the Academy.

Education & Training Provided

Training is the Academy’s main task. Its purpose is to provide cadets with knowledge of high standards in order to carry out their mission successfully serving as AF regular staff.

The duration of the overall training is two (2) academic years. The academic year begins on October 1st and finishes on September 30th of the following year. Each academic year is divided into two (2) semesters and includes academic courses, military training courses as well as sports.

The overall training is divided into: Academic Courses,  Military Training Courses, and physical training.

Teaching personnel

The Academy’s teaching personnel consists of Higher Education Institution graduates as well as military officers.

Specialties

After the completion of their basic military training, the Administrative NCO Academy provides its cadets with the possibility to choose among five (5) specialties.

The five specialties provided by the Academy are the following:

• RECRUITING NCO
• METEOROLOGIST
• AIRFIELD DEFENSE GUARD
• CASHIER
• INTELLIGENCE NCO

Training Support

In order to apply the academic courses effectively, the Academy uses the following supporting assets:

Workshops

There are four (4) workshops equipped with modern equipment.

• Informatics workshop
• Computer Based training workshop
• Meteorology workshop
• Air Photo Interpretation workshop

Libraries

The Academy’s lending library holds a collection of books - up to 2000 items -, and is the focal point of Greek and foreign journals.

Activities

During their studies, cadets participate in several educational visits to sites of cultural and historical interest. They also participate in educational trips to various places in the country in order to broaden their historic, cultural and military knowledge.