Decree Law No. 681 – Turkish Armed Forces

• Decree Law No. 681 brought some amendments to the Internal Service Act of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Gendarmerie General Command and the Coast Guard Command were removed from the definition of the Turkish Armed Forces. It was made imperative to abolish the obligation to issue orders in uniform and to fulfill orders given by civilian superiors to subordinates. Armored ambulances were also added to vehicles not subject to the Vehicle Law.

• With the amendment of the Personnel Law of the Turkish Armed Forces, the classes of commissioned officers, which were previously determined by the chief of the General Staff, as well as which of these classes are combatant and auxiliary class, are now determined by the National Defense Ministry based on the opinion of the chief of General Staff. The addition of new commissioned officer classes or removal of existing ones are to be carried out by the National Defense Ministry by taking into account the opinion of the chief of General Staff on the proposal of the force commanders.