Turkish military personnel number shrinks after structural change
ANKARA
REUTERS photo
The personnel figures in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have sharply fallen since the evening of the failed coup attempt on July 15, mainly due to the separation of the gendarmerie from the force, as well as large numbers of suspensions.A total of 355,212 military personnel are currently serving under the roof of the TSK, the military announced on its website on Oct. 5, revealing a dramatic decline from the 518,166 at the end of June.
The figure even jumps to 570,111 when the number of civilian personnel is added.
The June figures showed that the personnel number of the gendarmerie stood at 160,148.
On July 27, the Interior Ministry took full control over the gendarmerie and the Coast Guard as part of the precautions against a further coup attempt. The gendarmerie will now operate with the military in cases of emergency.
According to the new statement, 201 generals and admirals and 29,434 military officers are currently on duty following dismissals from the army as part of the ongoing investigation into the attempted takeover, which was blamed on the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, particularly members of the movement who were high up in the military in Istanbul and Ankara.
Before the coup attempt, there were 358 generals and admirals in total, with 32 of them being in the gendarmerie.
The army added that there were 67,257 non-commissioned officers on duty. It also stated that there were 49,279 specialized sergeants and 15,869 contracted privates after the dismissals.
There are also 6,072 reserve officers and 187,100 privates in the army, according to the military.
According to the statement by the General Staff on July 1, there were 39,287 military officers, along with 96,391 non-commissioned officers, 21,303 specialized gendarmerie, 76,641 specialized privates, 13,216 contracted privates, 6,477 reserve officers and 264,493 privates in the army.
According to initial figures announced in early September after the coup attempt, the number of total military personnel decreased to 351,176.
There were 206 generals and admirals, 29,946 military officers, 67,646 non-commissioned officers and 48,879 specialized sergeants, along with 15,888 contracted privates, 5,827 reserve officers and 182,784 privates, according to figures released on Sept. 9.
In addition, according to the latest decision taken at the meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) in August, a total of 586 colonels were retired from the army.
Some 470 of the retired colonels were from the Land Forces, 71 were from the Naval Forces while the other 45 were from the Air Force, the Defense Ministry announced.
However, the terms of office of 434 colonels was expanded for two years on Aug. 30, according to a decision approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Some 372 of the colonels whose terms were expanded were from the Land Forces, 27 were from the Naval Forces and 35 were from the Air Force.
The total projected term in service of officers was also decreased from 31 to 28 years in a move to gradually reduce the number of high-ranking officers.
The figure even jumps to 570,111 when the number of civilian personnel is added.
The June figures showed that the personnel number of the gendarmerie stood at 160,148.
On July 27, the Interior Ministry took full control over the gendarmerie and the Coast Guard as part of the precautions against a further coup attempt. The gendarmerie will now operate with the military in cases of emergency.
According to the new statement, 201 generals and admirals and 29,434 military officers are currently on duty following dismissals from the army as part of the ongoing investigation into the attempted takeover, which was blamed on the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, particularly members of the movement who were high up in the military in Istanbul and Ankara.
Before the coup attempt, there were 358 generals and admirals in total, with 32 of them being in the gendarmerie.
The army added that there were 67,257 non-commissioned officers on duty. It also stated that there were 49,279 specialized sergeants and 15,869 contracted privates after the dismissals.
There are also 6,072 reserve officers and 187,100 privates in the army, according to the military.
According to the statement by the General Staff on July 1, there were 39,287 military officers, along with 96,391 non-commissioned officers, 21,303 specialized gendarmerie, 76,641 specialized privates, 13,216 contracted privates, 6,477 reserve officers and 264,493 privates in the army.
According to initial figures announced in early September after the coup attempt, the number of total military personnel decreased to 351,176.
There were 206 generals and admirals, 29,946 military officers, 67,646 non-commissioned officers and 48,879 specialized sergeants, along with 15,888 contracted privates, 5,827 reserve officers and 182,784 privates, according to figures released on Sept. 9.
In addition, according to the latest decision taken at the meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) in August, a total of 586 colonels were retired from the army.
Some 470 of the retired colonels were from the Land Forces, 71 were from the Naval Forces while the other 45 were from the Air Force, the Defense Ministry announced.
However, the terms of office of 434 colonels was expanded for two years on Aug. 30, according to a decision approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Some 372 of the colonels whose terms were expanded were from the Land Forces, 27 were from the Naval Forces and 35 were from the Air Force.
The total projected term in service of officers was also decreased from 31 to 28 years in a move to gradually reduce the number of high-ranking officers.
