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As Cyprus prepares to mark another year, a troubling picture emerges from within the National Guard: many of the country’s young conscripts are living in financial hardship so severe that it affects their daily lives and even their willingness to leave the camp.
According to a report by PhileNews, a recent visit by the Pancyprian Committee of Mothers and Relatives of National Guardsmen (PEMSE) to the BMH camp revealed soldiers, including new fathers, struggling to cover basic needs like food and housing. Some conscripts are reportedly skipping leave because they have nowhere to stay or no money to eat. In extreme cases, young men have even hesitated to complete their service, fearing the challenges outside the military gates.
“The financial burden doesn’t stop at the camp gate,” the PEMSE report notes. “For some, a simple military meal is a necessary lifeline rather than a daily inconvenience.”
The situation has prompted commanders to step in personally, often contributing from their own pockets to help soldiers in need. Officials from the National Guard General Staff (GEEF) and the Ministry of Defence say they are aware of the problem, and while the Guard reflects wider society’s economic challenges, they acknowledge the State has a responsibility to support those protecting it.
The government has set up programs like the National Guardsmen Poverty Scheme and the Social Problems Committee, providing small financial relief, €100 at Christmas and Easter, to about 200 soldiers each holiday. Monthly allowances are also available for conscripts deemed indigent, and some may receive help with transportation and meals. Still, with a basic salary of just €168 per month (rising slightly for families), these measures barely scratch the surface.
Experts warn that poverty at such a formative age can have severe mental health consequences, particularly in a high-pressure environment like the National Guard. With past incidents of suicide among conscripts, social and financial support is more than a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of life and death.
The Ministry of Defence stresses that the National Guard alone cannot solve the country’s wider economic issues, urging a coordinated approach across the state. But for now, young men tasked with defending Cyprus are facing a stark reality: serving their nation while struggling to survive.
