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Turkish Army
Turkish Army
Turkey is located in the Center of the Caucasus, Middle East and the
Balkans which are the most unstable regions in the World. Therefore the defense
policy is designed to preserve and protect the national independence,
sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital interests of the country. The
Turkish Armed Forces missions and responsibilities are clearly stated in the
Constitution and determined by laws as to react against new security problems
and crises in the new century, to be ready to face the uncertainties, and to ensure
the security of Turkey against internal and external risks.
Military service in Turkey is compulsory for all male citizens between 20 - 41
years of age (with some exceptions such as handicapped, or mentally ill, or not
healthy people). Women are allowed only to become officers
choosing it as a career enrolling in military schools and not as conscripts. Those men who are 20 years of age but still continue
their higher education at Universities or vocational training programs are
allowed to postpone their draft until they have completed these programs. The
duration of the basic military service varies: 15 months for privates (elementary or
high school graduates), 12 months
for reserve officers (University graduates), and 6 months for short-term privates (those who have
earned a university degree and have not been enlisted as reserve officers).
For Turkish citizens who have lived or worked abroad for at least 3 years, a
basic military training of 3 weeks is offered instead of the full-term military
service if they pay a certain fee in foreign currency (was 10.000 old German Marks, equal to 5.112 Euros of today). Also in times when the
General Staff assesses that the military reserve exceeds the required amount,
paid military service of 1 month basic training is established for local
citizens. After the 1999 earthquake, an exception was made and paid military service was accepted that year to help the
economy using the collected money in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the cities suffered during that horrible earthquake of
August 17th.
All Land, Naval and Air forces are connected to the Turkish General Staff,
Gendarmerie forces are connected to the Land forces, and Coast Guard is
connected to the Naval forces. The Chief of General Staff (General Hulusi Akar as of August 2015, succeeding retired General Necdet Ozel) is appointed by the President as Commander of the Armed Forces and
is responsible to the Prime Minister. His office is coordinated with the
Ministry of Defense who is also responsible to the Premiere. The Council of
Ministers is responsible to Turkish Grand National Assembly for national
security and the preparation of the Armed Forces to defend the country. However,
authority to declare a state of war and send Turkish Armed Forces to foreign
countries or allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in Turkey rests with
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Land Forces are organized into; 4 Corps Command (1st Army in
Marmara area, 2nd
Army in the Southeast, 3rd Army in the Northeast, Aegean Army in the
Aegean
region), Land Forces Training & Doctrine Command, and Land Forces Logistic
Command. The country is divided into four military sectors on the basis of
strategic conditions of terrain, logistics, communications, and the potential
external threat. These sectors are assigned to four field armies, the first
three of which would come under NATO command in the event of a NATO reinforced
alert.
The First Army has its headquarters in Istanbul and is widely deployed in the
European part of Turkey. Their responsibility is to defend
Istanbul, Bosphorus
and Dardanelles straits, and
Kocaeli Peninsula.
The Second Army has its headquartered in Malatya and is deployed in
southeastern
Anatolia with a defensive mission facing Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
The Third Army has its headquarters in Erzincan and is deployed in
eastern
Anatolia, covering the borders with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from the
east and northeast. For the Armed Forces readiness against any possible crisis in
the area (such as during Persian Gulf War and Iraqi War), most of the armored,
mechanized, and commando brigades are located in the central region in order to
act rapidly into any scenario around our borders.
The Aegean Army (or 4th Army) has its headquarter in Izmir and was established
in mid-1970s against growing tensions with Greece in the Aegean Sea. Their
responsibility is to defend the Aegean coast from the
Dardanelles to the north
down to Cyprus, and keeping sea routes and communication lines open in the
Aegean. The Turkish peace corps on Cyprus are connected to the Aegean Army
command structure.
Turkish Land Forces are composed by; 4 field armies, 10 army corps, 2 mechanized
infantry division, 2 mechanized infantry division headquarters (tactical), 1
infantry division and 1 training division, 14 mechanized infantry brigades, 14
armored brigades, 12 infantry/regional security brigades, 5 commando brigades,
and 5 training brigades.
Turkish Naval Forces are composed by; 13 submarines, 20 frigates, 21 fast patrol
boats, 21 mine sweepers or hunters or layers, 52 various landing ships, 23
various maritime patrol aircraft or helicopters, and amphibious brigade. Navy's
subordinate commands are; Fleet Command, Northern Sea Area Command, and Naval
Training and Education Command.
Turkish Air Forces are composed by; 19 combat squadrons, 2 reconnaissance
squadrons, 5 training squadrons, 6 transportation squadrons, 1 tanker squadron,
and 8 surface to air missile (SAM) squadrons. These units are organized into; 2
tactical air forces (1st TAF HQ in Eskisehir and 2nd TAF HQ in
Diyarbakir), 2
main air transport bases, tanker base, air training, and air logistics commands.
After US Air Forces, Turkish Air Forces have the most number of F-16 aircraft
in the world. Turkish Air Forces can participate in exercises conducted overseas
flying non-stop thanks to their in-air refueling capability with tanker planes.
History
Turks had been always good soldiers since the times of the
Turkic States and
during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Especially during the
Ottomans, the
famous Janissaries were feared by all Europeans. But towards the end of the
Ottoman Empire a new army had to be found because the defeat of its allies
determined the end of the Empire, with the country being invaded and its army
disarmed.
The last major battle of the Turkish Army was in early 1920's under the command
of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the Turkish
independence war after World War I.
Between 1920-1923 the Army had to fight against Russian and Armenian militaries
on the Eastern front, against Italian, French, and British militaries on the
Southern front, and against Greek military on the western front.
Gallipoli War
was one of the most dramatic and heroic one amongst all. During World War II
Turkey managed to stay neutral and thus the Army did not participate in any
conflict until the Korean War (19501953). Turkey participated to this war with
an infantry brigade to fight solely for humanitarian purposes and for the ideal
of UN, gaining the appreciation of the world. 731 Turkish soldiers were killed
in action (KIA) in Korea.
Turkey joined NATO on 18th of February 1952, and Allied Land Forces Southeastern
Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) was established same year in Izmir (JCSE - Joint Command
Southeast today). To date, Turkey has made a contribution of US$ 340 million to
the NATO Infrastructure Fund since she has joined the NATO Infrastructure
Program in 1953. In return, Turkey has received a share of nearly US$ 5.2
billion from the NATO infra funds. Today the number of NATO members reached from
the original 12 to 26 (Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States).
On July 20th, 1974, Turkey had to intervene to Cyprus as one of the peace
Guarantor Powers (Turkey, Greece, Britain) on the Island
according to International Treaties of 1958 in Zurich and 1959 in London, to end a coup sponsored by
Greek paramilitary group EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, National Organization of Freedom Fighters) and still continues to maintain military
presence there with the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces connected to the Aegean Army.
The Turkish army has been engaged in a conflict with the separatist and
terrorist groups since the early 1980s, mainly concentrated in
southeastern Turkey. Especially the 1st Commando Brigade based in
Kayseri, the
2nd Commando Brigade based in Bolu, and the Amphibious Marine Brigade (3rd
Commando Brigade) based in Foca/Izmir were deployed there for the fights and
they were awarded with the "Distinguished Courage Medal of the Turkish Armed
Forces".
After Korean War, Turkey has taken part in many Peace Support Operations joint
with NATO for the regional and global peace, both military and un-military
operations:
- Between 1993-1994, Turkish Army took part in the Operation United Shield
responding to famine conditions in Somalia (UNOSOM). A Turkish Lieutenant General
(Cevik Bir) was assigned for one period to command UN Peace Keeping Force.
-
Operation Sharp Guard and Operation Deny Flight for Air Force patrol and escort
missions over Bosnia between 1994-1995 and 1996-Present (UNPROFOR and
IFOR/SFOR). In 2004 European Force (EUFOR) took over the responsibility of this
force from NATO, but Turkey continues to participate in this Operation with a
mechanized Battalion Task Force formed by 844 military personnel in Zenica,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, since then.
-
Albania (ALBA) in 1997.
-
Air Force patrol, escort and strike operations over Kosovo contributing with a
Battalion Task Force between 1999-Present (KFOR and AFOR).
-
Operation Essential Harvest, conducted to disarm the Albanian militants in
Macedonia, with a Company in 2001 around Petrovac region. Turkish military
personnel was present also during Operation Amber Fox which began in 2001.
-
Operation Continual Freedom in Afghanistan between 2002-2003 and 2005-Present
(ISAF). Turkey assumed the command of ISAF a couple of times in 2002, 2005, and lately in 2009.
Turkish Army is still carrying out its mission with a company in the
international assistance force in Kabul.
-
Several un-military observation and military consultation missions to support
the UN in Bosnia-Herzegovina (UNMIBH and IPTF), East Timor, Georgia (UNOMIG),
Al-Khalil in the West Bank (TIPH), Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM).
- Participating in international joined help operations by NATO into areas where natural disasters occur or civil wars break out, such as sending air support and cargo carriers to the USA after Katrina disaster in 2005, or to Pakistan after the big
earthquake in 2005, or to Darfur - Sudan in order to stop the violence in 2005 (UNMIS).
- By the end of 2006, Turkish Army have also sent its peace keeping forces into southern Lebanon.
Most of the equipment and weapons systems used by the Turkish Armed Forces is of
US origin. Today, other main weapons suppliers of Turkey are Germany, Israel,
England, France and Russia.
Turkish Armed Forces are greater than those of France and Britain combined, with
514,000 men under arms and 380,000 in reserve, plus a robust air force with
American fighters. Actually, it's the 2nd largest standing force in NATO after
the United States, and 8th biggest number of active troops in the world.
In peace time, Turkish Armed Forces are ready to perform Disaster Relief
Operations as was in recent earthquakes in
Marmara Region. After
August 17, 1999 Earthquake, Turkish Armed Forces improved its capabilities on
specialized Search And Rescue (SAR) missions in order to better cope with large
scale natural disasters.
Source: Turkish Armed Forces, NATO, and military reviews