The Presidential Decree Introduces Seven Basic Innovations:

1) A Study Centre is created with the purpose of collaborating with scientific organizations, universities and specialized research institutes. It will undertake the drafting of studies and analyses of issues of interest to EIP.

2) A staff [strategy] planning council [steering committee] is created regarding the Service's policy and for crisis management.

3) Emphasis is placed on training with the creation of a Training Directorate, aiming for modern training, education and specialization of personnel.

4) A Sub-Directorate for National Issues is created.

5) A Directorate for International Cooperation is created, for better exchange of information with allied services.

6) A Sub-Directorate for International Terrorism and Organized Crime is being established, for the EIP to be able to answer to the needs of the new era. And

7) The personnel are allowed to carry arms in the execution of special operational duties.

With the Presidential Decree, the provisions of the Civil Service Code are extended to cover the EIP civilian personnel, which includes the personnel in specific beneficial provisions. According to the new organization, there are positions for 1,800 civilian personnel, 54 for Armed Forces personnel from the rank of captain up to brigadier, 58 Greek Police officers from the rank of lieutenant to police brigadier, 15 Coast Guard officers from the rank of ensign to captain and 520 petty officers and privates from the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard or lower-ranking employees from the Police Force, for the EIP security. The new structure indicates a significant reduction in the number of uniformed personnel, which is a development in keeping with the international models in this sector. Aside from the personnel's obligations resulting from their status as civil servants, each member of staff serving in the EIP is obliged, among other points, to inform the service in detail of any travel abroad, the unions or organizations of any category or nature in which he participates, the person with whom he intends to enter into an engagement or marriage (entering into marriage with a person deemed by the service to be dangerous to national security constitutes justification for the employee's transfer). Moreover, the members of the EIP staff are forbidden from coming into contact with persons belonging to the staff of foreign embassies and delegations, just as they are forbidden from entering into relations or maintaining contacts with persons seeking to overthrow the democratic political system, without the service's knowledge or permission.

Created in 1957, MYK's initial cadre consisted of two naval officers. The men were sent to Little Creek Amphibious Base near Norfolk, Virginia; where both men undertook the US Navy UDT/R training (the forerunner to today's BUD/S course). Upon completion of training, the two men returned home and trained an additional dozen men. This group was assigned to the Greek Navy's amphibious operations command. In 1959 the unit established its own headquarters and training facilities at Squaramanga Naval Base, but additional training was provided my detachments of USN SEALS and UDT personnel. In 1970 the unit underwent a reorganization and is currently composed of 110 men divided into four operational detachments and a headquarters unit. Each Det is composed of 25 men and specializes in a certain type of mission: OYK1- unconventional warfare/ intelligence missions OYK2- unconventional warfare/ intelligence missions OYK3- beach recon and hydrographic survey OYK4- conducts EOD operations. There is also a reserve OYK called OYK5 that would be activated during wartime.