Hellenic Force in Cyprus

Hellenic (Greek) Force in Cyprus
Ελληνική Δύναμη Κύπρου (ΕΛΔΥΚ)
Active	1959–present
Country	Cyprus
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece (1959–1973)  Greece (1973–present)
Branch	Army
Type	Mechanized Group
Role	Military Force
Size	c. 950
Part of	Hellenic Army
Garrison/HQ	Nicosia, Cyprus ("Camp of Major Sotirios Staurianakos")
Nickname(s)	Eldykarioi (Greek: Ελδυκάριοι)
Motto(s)	Το όμαιμόν τε και ομόγλωσσον και ομόθρησκον και ομότροπον (The same ancestry and common language and common religion and common traditions)
Uniform Camouflage	Greek Lizard
Service Rifle	G3
Engagements	Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Website	Hellenic Army Official Website
Commanders
Current Commander	Colonel Asterios Despoudios
Notable commanders	Dionysios Arbouzis (first) Nikolaos Nikolaidis
Insignia
Patch of the formal uniforms
Patch of the everyday and combat uniforms (low visibility)
Abbreviation	ΕΛΔΥΚ or ΕΛ.ΔΥ.Κ.

The Hellenic Force in Cyprus (Greek: Ελληνική Δύναμη Κύπρου, Turkish: Kıbrıs Yunan Alayı), commonly known in its abbreviated form as ELDYK or EL.DY.K. (Greek: ΕΛΔΥΚ or ΕΛ.ΔΥ.Κ., Greek pronunciation: [elðˈik], Turkish: KYA, Turkish pronunciation: [kejea]) is the permanent, battalion-sized Greek military force stationed in the Republic of Cyprus. Its role is to help and support the Cypriot National Guard. Soldiers are selected from the ranks of conscripts doing their military service in the Greek army.