i just want to know the life in the military service in turkey, harsh or not? how's it? i am really interested...

Can someone please reply to this one....my boyfriend is going to the army on monday and i am worried about him. I dont know what it is like but heard it was hard. If someone could inform me what to expect, maybe I could sleep easier. Thank you!!!

Hello, Tatli
You can find all necessary informations about serving Army in Turkey on this Topics:
http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_11_417
http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_11_998
Don't worry about your boyfriend, he will be quite well after a few days of accomodation. You just be sure to write him long letters, it will make him feel not so lonely.

For many years the Turkish army is the organisation Turks trust the most. We don't trust almost any organisation as much as we trust the army. The army is a honest, warm, nice place. Our military officers are getting an equal education to the universities and the quality is very high.
The Turkish army is not harsh at all. It is well known to make real men out of young boys. In some small towns old people will tell you that boys can marry only after they have finished military duty.

Lululy and Tatli,

Here are the there fundamental rules for those who will serve in the Turkish army. Write them down, for your beloved ones to memorize.

1. Never leave your post without permission,
2. Mind your own bussiness.
3. Never look too dilligent.

No Turkish male is a real man, unless he has served in the army!

well.. from what i have seen on turkish tv.. in all the little series.. military looks great... it looks quite fun...
hehe.. im thinking of joining up myself u kno ... maybe not actually... hihi

Miss Ceyda,
Pls join....Fun is guaranteed; at least for the Army, if not for you

hehe... really... what would they do to me i wonder... seeing a young girl such as myself struggling to keep up with the big strong guyz isnt that amusing is it??

You will definitely be better off than any queen bee. )))))

thank you for all information about the army service!!
and i still want to know more...
how long it will take? for every turkish male or just those who wants to join? any holidays during the service?

The standart duty is 15 months. I think there is permission for 30 days off which doesnt count to 15 months. First month you cant have any holiday.

Men with a 4 years university degree can make 12 months (yedek subay) as a medium ranked military officer (lieutenant) with a good monthly sallary. They dont have to stay inside premises all day. They start the job in the morning and finish in the evening. This is quite comfortable. Or they can make a shorter duty of 6 months (kısa dönem) as a normal soldier (sergeant) without a sallary and cant quit premises any time except on weekends with permission.

what is the case if the person is not a university graduate? 15 months? without salary as a sergeant? can anyone "escape" from the army duty?

erdinc, thank you so much for yr full description~ i know it all now~

Yes army service is a very serious issue all Turkish men must do. Losing citizenship takes a long time. I dont how many years they wait but they wait many years. During this long wait if the person comes back he will get arrested and will directly send to military service.
These kind men will be not very welcome in the army. They will have a harder time.

The health issue is too detailed. If you have some surgeries which prevent you to do sports properly you still will join the army but wont do the exercises.

You must have a serious illness. I think homosexuals are not accepted either.

In my country there has been no compulsory military service anymore for years. But I remember that, when it used to be compulsory, people who didn't want to join the army for certain convictions, could apply for "exemption from military service on grounds of conscience". Those people had to do voluntary (mainly social)work instead for a fixed period of time (longer than if they would have done military service, if I remember correctly).
I haven't read anything similar here, I suppose it doesn't exist in Turkey?

Escaping from the military duty?? Oh, it's a very shameful thing according to me. If you're healthy, you should proudly do your duty to your country.

(yes, it's not as safe as your mother's lap but, it teaches you what the life is. As I hear, there's man before the army and after the army )

So, imagine someone who doesn't want to join the army because he is a hardcore pacifist. Instead he goes working and helping on a project to educate the poor people in his country who don't get the same chances in life as other people. Won't that teach him something about life as well? And is he a sissy because he is not in the army but helping his country in a different way?

I would appreciate your opinions.

ummmmmmmmmmm i cant imagine a man who doesnt want to join army...because turkish army is one of the best working official corporaration of goverment......
but everybody afraid at the beginning and makes many life long friends there...if anybody wants to know about it....just try to wath''o şimdi asker'' (he is soldier right now)

nice subject

i agree with ramayan.