The first group of women recruits to join Greece’s Armed Forces under a new voluntary military service program reported for duty on Thursday, marking the launch of a pilot initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for women in the military.

A total of 72 recruits arrived at a training center in Lamia, central Greece, specially adapted to accommodate female volunteers, where they will begin basic training, local media lamiareport.gr reported.

The program is open to women ages 20 to 26 and provides for 12 months of voluntary service in the Hellenic Army.

There were initially 100 positions and 180 young women applied in total.

The new recruits will remain at the Lamia Recruit Training Center for a total of 10 weeks where they will follow the first phase of their training, which consists of initial training and fighter training.

“The Army is something I have been chasing since I was little. I also have the support of my husband who is a soldier. I am not stressed. I have only questions,” said new recruit Fotini Theopisti.

Authorities have promoted the program as a way to strengthen military participation while offering career incentives.

The incentives are not a few if one takes into consideration the difficulties in the country’s labor market.

The incentives include

1. time spent in service will be recognized as work experience
2. participants will receive additional points in public-sector recruitment competitions, including applications to become professional soldiers or civilian employees of the armed forces
3. priority recruitment of graduates as civil servants (nurses, nursery teachers, administrative staff, etc.)
4. access to benefits for Armed Forces personnel (military hospitals, clubs, etc.).

The initiative is currently being implemented on a trial basis, with officials expected to assess its results before deciding on its future expansion.