Restructuring Turkey’s military

Following the July 15 coup attempt, at the 2016 Supreme Military Council’s (YAŞ) meeting the purgation of FETÖ was at the top of the agenda. During the 2017 meeting, the civilian administration reshaped various military assignments.

The meeting is a bi-annual gathering that discusses appointments and retirements of high-ranking staff officers and generals, as well as the removal of military personnel.

The day prior to the YAŞ meeting, the civil administration took the first step to redesign the military with the YAŞ and Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). The decisions that came out of the YAŞ meeting regarding the restructuring of the TAF that started with the legal amendments made following July 15 were the most pivotal steps taken in ensuring a redesign of the military.

The number of general and admiral promotions saw a record-low in TAF history. There was one promotion in the land forces, two promotions in the sea forces and three promotions in the air force. The term of only eight generals and admirals were extended. In comparison, 29 generals and admirals were made to retire.

The number of senior ranked officers have decreased even more since July 15. The ranks lieutenant general especially were not filled.

The steps taken are seen as the most pivotal steps in the implementation of the restructuring efforts initiated in the TAF after the July 15 coup attempt.

In last year’s YAŞ meeting, only one lieutenant general received a promotion whereas four full generals were either discharged, resigned or retired. Also the rank of three officers was reduced to lieutenant.

This year, two names were added to that list. While three generals and admirals retired from the land, sea and air forces, one air force lieutenant general was promoted to a full general.

The former positions of Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Yaşar Güler and Adm. Bülent Bostanoğlu have not yet been filled. Thus, in two years, the ranks of a total of five generals and admirals were downgraded.

Another critical change in the YAŞ and TAF restructuring is that generals and admirals who do not receive a promotion or extension within three years will be made to retire. The amendment was brought about in Feb. 2014.

Officers were previously given four years to be promoted before they were made to retire. This year, the ruling was applied to those who are retired and will hence forth be a common practice within the YAŞ.

The biggest surprise at the 2017 YAŞ meeting was the appointment of Vice Adm. Adnan Özbal as the Naval Forces Commander.

Özbal climbed to the top of the command echelon, a process that normally takes 14 years, in only nine. He superseded Adm. Bülent Bostanoğlu, who will retire.

The position was expected to be filled by Fleet Commander Adm. Veysek Kösele, as he held a higher rank.

Hasan Şükrü Korlu, who is the only person who has received an extension as vice-admiral, will be assigned elsewhere and Kösele will be given the duty of consultancy to fulfill the necessary waiting period.