Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands

The Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (Greek: Ανώτερη Στρατιωτική Διοίκηση Εσωτερικού και Νήσων, ΑΣΔΕΝ; Anóteri Stratiotikí Deíkisi Esoterikoú ke Níson, ASDEN), more commonly known as ASDEN, is a Corps-sized formation of the Hellenic Army responsible for the defence of the Aegean Islands.[1]

Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands
Ανωτάτη Στρατιωτική Διοίκηση Εσωτερικού και Νήσων (ΑΣΔΕΝ)
Emblem of the ASDEN
Active1945–present
Country Greece
Branch Hellenic Army
SizeArmy Corps
Part ofHellenic Army General Staff
Garrison/HQAthens, Attica
Motto(s)Defending One's Country
ΑΜΥΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΠΕΡΙ ΠΑΤΡΗΣ
Aminesthe peri patris
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt. General Sotirios Kostakoglou

History

Formed in Athens in 1945 as the Higher Military Command of Attica (Greek: Ανωτέρα Στρατιωτική Διοίκηση Αττικής, ΑΣΔΑ; Anotéra Stratiotikí Deíkisi Attikís, ASDA), by 1961 it had evolved from a territorial defence force to a Corps-sized formation, overseeing the Aegean region's four National Guard Commands. It was soon renamed to the Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (Greek: Ανωτάτη Στρατιωτική Διοίκηση Εσωτερικού και Νήσων, ΑΣΔΕΝ; Anotati Stratiotikí Deíkisi Esoterikoú ke Níson, ASDEN) to reflect the expansion of its role.[2]

In 1995, the command's headquarters were relocated to the suburb of Karea in Athens, Attica, and by 2005 it had become a major operational formation of the Hellenic Army, consisting of two division and five brigade-strength, mechanized, National Guard Battalion Higher Commands (Greek: Ανώτερη Διοίκηση Ταγμάτων Εθνοφυλακής, ΑΔΤΕ; Anóteri Deíkisi Tagmáton Ethnofylakís, ADTE).[3] After a wide-ranging defense review in 2013, the Corps' capabilities were strengthened with the 5th Infantry Brigade reorganized as an air assault brigade to become ASDEN's rapid reaction force.

Emblem and Motto

The emblem of the ASDEN depicts the Lion Gate of Mycenae. It symbolizes power through unity.

The Corps' motto, Defending One's Country (Greek: ΑΜΥΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΠΕΡΙ ΠΑΤΡΗΣ; Amýnesthae Perí Pátris), is from Homer's Iliad, attributed to the Trojan Prince Hector in the final days of the Trojan War, when Polydamas advised him to stop the attack on the Achaeans because the omens were not auspicious. Hector replied "There's one good omen, defending one's country!" (Greek: «Εις οιωνός άριστος αμύνεσθαι περί πάτρης»).[4]

Structure
Locations of ASDEN units
Supreme Military Command of the Interior & Islands Structure
  1. Στρατός και Ενημέρωση, ΙΟΥΛ-ΑΥΓ-ΣΕΠ 2009 (PDF) (in Greek). www.army.gr. 12 November 2009.
  2. Στρατός και Ενημέρωση, ΙΟΥΛ-ΑΥΓ-ΣΕΠ 2009 (PDF) (in Greek). www.army.gr. 12 November 2009.
  3. Στρατός και Ενημέρωση, ΙΟΥΛ-ΑΥΓ-ΣΕΠ 2009 (PDF) (in Greek). www.army.gr. 12 November 2009.
  4. Στρατός και Ενημέρωση, ΙΟΥΛ-ΑΥΓ-ΣΕΠ 2009 (PDF) (in Greek). www.army.gr. 12 November 2009.
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