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If you hear horns from a convoy of cars, and the cars are decked with Turkish flags, you can be sure it is a “farewell ceremony†for a youngster who is headed of to complete his military service. Sometimes these ceremonies accompanied by drums and horns.
For those not enrolled in any post-secondary education, military service is mandatory at the age of 20. Females are exempt from military service. Military service is a very important period in a Turkish man’s life. Military service is considered the final stage in a young mans education and he is deemed not to really have experienced “life†until he completes his military service. Most companies look for personnel who have completed their military service. Marriages are postponed until after this important right of passage. Turkish males without higher education must serve 15 months as private soldiers. Graduates of higher education are subject to complete their military service either in 6 months as private soldiers or in 12 months as reserve officers. Legal action is taken against those who do not register at the recruiting office, and they may be forbidden to travel abroad. Please note: males with dual nationality should be very careful and know their rights and obligations.
In a country with 65% of its population under 25 years of age, the number of youngsters serving in the military at any given time is very high. From time to time in order to decrease the accumulation of men, “short term military service†options are provided.
Turks who have been living and working abroad for more than 3 years are granted to be exempted from the military service by having 21 days long symbolic military training. Paid military service is decided by law therefore it is not possible to form conjectures on the time or whether there will be such an option. For more information please visit the website of Ministry of Defense given below at External Link section.
The Army is held in high regard by the majority of Turks. Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and a graduate of a military school, added considerably to the positive feeling felt throughout the country towards soldiers. Important government changes in the Turkish Republic (founded in 1923), were made by the army’s interference in the existing governments of 1960 and 1980. The Great Assembly was abolished, a new Constitution was prepared by a committee of experts, and elections took place.
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