Evzones The Evzones , or Evzoni , ( ) is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army . Today , it refers to the members of the Presidential Guard ( ) , an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ( ) , the Presidential Mansion ( ) and the gate of Evzones camp in Athens . The Evzones are also known , colloquially , as Tsoliades ( ; singular : Τσολιάς - Tsolias ) . Though the Presidential Guard is a predominantly ceremonial unit , all Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army ' s Infantry , Artillery and Armoured Corps . Prospective Evzones are usually identified at the Army Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training ; there is a minimum height requirement of 1 . 86 m ( 6 ' 1 . 2 " ) to join . The unit is famous around the world for its unique traditional uniform , which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klepht s who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece . The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella , a kilt - like garment . Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier , especially among foreigners . Etymology . The word " evzōnos " ( ) is first attested in Homer ' s Iliad and derives from , meaning the " well - girt " men , implying an elite status . As a word it has been used by ancient writers for centuries to describe a type of light infantry of unidentified equipment , probably used as a generic term to denote light infantry . History . In 1833 , after the arrival of King Otto , the Greek Army was organized along new lines . The Bavarians that had come with Otto formed the majority of the " European " Line Infantry battalions ( Τάγματα Γραμμής ) . In these units , one rifle company , designated " Skirmisher " ( Λόχος Ακροβολιστών ) or " Evzone " ( Λόχος Ευζώνων ) , existed . In addition , ten light " Skirmisher " battalions ( Τάγματα Ακροβολιστών ) were formed from Greeks , dressed in a uniform based on the garb of the klephts of the War of Independence ( 1821 – 1829 ) . In 1836 these battalions were reduced to four , and eight " Mountain Guard " battalions ( Τάγματα Οροφυλακής ) were formed in their stead ; they were grouped into four regiments in 1843 . These units were primarily engaged in patrolling the Greco - Ottoman border , combating insurgents and hunting down the many brigands that infested the countryside . The Mountain Guard was incorporated in the strengthened " Skirmisher " battalions in 1854 . In December 1867 , the first four elite " Evzone " light battalions were formed , of four companies each ( soon expanded to five ) , with the task of guarding the frontier . On 12 December 1868 , the Royal Guard detachment , initially named " Agema " ( Άγημα ) , later the " Palace Guard " ( Ανακτορική Φρουρά ) , composed of two Evzone infantry companies and a cavalry troop , was formed . In 1880 - 1881 , the Evzone units were expanded to nine battalions . They participated in the disastrous 1897 war with Turkey as elements of the regular infantry divisions . In the aftermath of the war , through various reorganizations , the number of Evzone battalions varied from eight to six , operating either independently or divided between the infantry divisions , and were among the first units to be equipped with machine guns . During the Balkan Wars , eight Evzone battalions existed which operated independently on the vanguard or the flanks of the army . They distinguished themselves for their fighting spirit suffering high casualties , especially among officers . The Evzone units , totalling at their height five regiments , fought with distinction as elite shock troops in the First World War , the Asia Minor Campaign and the Greco - Italian War . During the German invasion in 1941 , a memorable event occurred : on April 27 , as the German Army was entering Athens , the Germans ascended to the Acropolis of Athens and ordered the young Evzone who was guarding the flag post , Konstantinos Koukidis , to haul the Greek flag down and replace it with the swastika flag . The young soldier did so , but refused to hand over the Greek flag to the Germans , and instead wrapped himself in it and fell off the Acropolis to his death . After the occupation of the country , in 1943 , the collaborationist government raised a number of " Security Battalions " ( Τάγματα Ασφαλείας ) , which were dressed in the Evzone uniform and participated in operations against the EAM - ELAS partisans . They were derisively known as " Germanotsoliades " or " Tagmatasfalites " , and were disbanded after liberation in 1944 . After the war , the reconstituted Hellenic Army did not raise the Evzone regiments again , their elite status and role being assumed by the newly established Mountain Raiding Companies ( LOK ) special forces . As a ceremonial unit it had many names : Palace Guard ( ) , Flag Guard ( ) , Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard ( ) , Royal Guard ( ) and after 1974 , with the abolition of the monarchy , it was renamed as the Presidential Guard ( ) . Present . Today the Evzones form the Presidential Guard , a battalion composed of 2 Evzone companies and 1 command company . They operate out of the Georgios Tzavelas barracks ( named to honor Georgios Tzavelas , a chieftain and hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821 ) on Herodou Attikou Street , just behind the Parliament building . The Guard takes precedence in all military parades . Their march style consists of normal march time , and at intervals , for several paces , striking the ground forcefully with the right foot . Their standard marching music is the " " Evzonaki " " ( " little Evzone " ) ( ) march , played at 48 beats / min . They guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier round the clock . Guards on duty perform their movements in a very slow and highly stylized manner . They switch positions with each other every fifteen minutes and remain completely motionless and at attention in the meantime . Since the Guards are required to be totally still at all times , there is one Evzone in normal fatigues uniform and police surveillance to ensure that no one approaches or harasses the Guards while on duty . The " little changes " take place every hour on the hour , and involve the two incoming and two outgoing sentries , and a supervising " Corporal of the Change " . The Grand Change takes place at 11 am on Sunday mornings , and involves the whole Guard with its officers and a military band , all marching from the Guard Barracks to the Tomb for the Change , and back . The Grand Change is a popular Sunday morning spectacle for Athenians and tourists alike . During a demonstration in front of the Parliament in 2001 , a Molotov cocktail was thrown at one of the guardhouses . In no time , the wooden construction was engulfed in flames . The Evzone standing next to it did not even blink his eyes , let alone move , until the officer in standard uniform came and gave him the order to move . With a scorched and partly smoking uniform on one side , the Evzone did so . In January 2010 , a makeshift bomb was placed 20 meters from where the Evzones guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , at Syntagma Square . Although the police informed the Evzones of the imminent threat , the Guards refused to leave their posts and remained on guard while the bomb exploded . Former units . The historical units were numbered and known as Τάγμα Ευζώνων ( " Evzone Battalion " ) or Σύνταγμα Ευζώνων ( " Evzone Regiment " ) . Since the regiments were distinctive , elite units , they had dual numbers - the first , numbering them in the Evzones hierarchy , the second , in the overall infantry hierarchy . Thus the 5 / 42 Evzone Regiment was the 5th Evzone regiment , but also the 42nd infantry regiment . Uniform . In 1833 , the uniform of the Evzones ( as in all infantry companies of the line battalions ) was in the much - maligned Bavarian style , complete with pants , tailcoats and shako , distinguished only by green braid and plumes . In 1837 , a new uniform was created based on the traditional fustanella style worn by the klepht s , armatoli , and many of the famous fighters of the Greek War of Independence . At first , it was only issued to the native light infantry battalions , but its popularity led to its adoption as the official uniform of the Evzones in 1867 . After a few minor changes over the years , it became the familiar uniform seen today . Present - day uniforms . Ceremonial uniforms . The present - day ceremonial uniform consists of the following items : They are armed with a M1 Garand semi - automatic rifle , with bayonet . Everyday uniform consists of the " doulamas " , " foustanella " , " stockings , garters and " tsarouchia " . Formal dress , which is worn on Sundays , on important national holidays , at the reception of foreign dignitaries and on other special occasions , substitutes the " ypodetes " with the " fermeli " and the " krossia " for the " doulamas " . The first king of modern Greece , Otto , often wore this uniform in public . Today , many Greek boys dress up as tsoliades on Greek Independence Day . Cretan and Pontic variants . Members of the guard can also sometimes be seen in a royal blue and red uniform based on the traditional male costume of Crete or in the black traditional habit once worn by the Pontic Greeks . The Cretan uniform consists of a tassel - less " farion " , Cretan - style coat in blue with a red vest and white shirt , blue Cretan breeches , Cretan - style belt with a Cretan knife and white leather thigh - high boots . Officers ' uniform . The uniform of the officers is closer to the original dress worn by the klephts . Its main differences are the longer " foustanella " , the more elaborate " fermeli " in red with gold embroidery , whose sleeves are worn closed on the arms instead of being fastened to the coat , red - and - gold gaiters ( τουζλούκια , " touzloukia " ) that cover the whole lower leg worn over red trousers , and red boots ( σταβάλια , " stavalia " ) . Their rank is indicated below the national emblem on the " farion " , and they are armed with a " kilij " - style sword . The uniforms ( of the officers and the soldiers ) are completely handmade . They are sewn and maintained by civilian personnel of the Presidential Guard in workshops in the camp . Service uniform . The Evzones wear the regular Hellenic Army uniform when not in guard service . They are distinguished from the other Army units by a cyan beret and blue embroidered patch es on the shoulders which have white letters that form the words : ΠΡΟΕΔΡΙΚΗ ΦΡΟΥΡΑ ( " Proedriki Froura " , " Presidential Guard " ) .