People consider the military service as an integral part of life. They do not consider somebody is a proper and successful person if he has not performed his military service and instituted a family upon marriage.

Young man who reaches his age of military service has been let free two months before the date on which he will enter military service. In the course of this two month period he is permitted to stroll and enjoy himself.

Young man visits all his relatives, neighbours and friends in the last week, says "good-bye, I am going to perform my military service, forgive me if I may have done anything wrong " to them. Elders whose hands are kissed give presents to him and bid him to go and come back happily. His friends however try to entertain him by organising entertainments day and night with drum and pipe.

On the day of departure of military service all candidates are seen off by his relatives, neighbours and friends under the Turkish flags, with drum and pipe, throwing him high by hands of his friends. Sometimes "Mevlud" is chanted, collective prayers are read, and they wish them have a good journey. Candidates of soldier are advised to perform their military service well, to obey their commanders' orders.

Letters received from son in the course of military service cannot be destroyed, burned, hung at non-visible places. Any action made to the contrary believed to bring bad-luck to the son.

After completion of military service the family cooks "un helvasý" (sweet prepared with flour, butter and sugar) and offers same to all relatives, neighbours and friends. Thus it has been announced to everybody that their son has completed his military service. Then however all relatives, neighbours, friends pay a visit of congratulation to the family. Thus the young man has started a new life, has overthrown an important obstacle in his way towards being a good man.

ramayan,

thank you for letting us know about the article on this page:

http://www.kultur.gov.tr/portal/kultur_en.asp?belgeno=1573

As I said in another article that you copied yesterday, you could include a link in your message. There is nothing wrong to copy an article as long as you mention the source.

Another reason to put a link could be that people could visit that web site and might find there some other interesting information. This is especially correct for this example since the webpage is full with interesting information aimed to the tourists as it is the web site of The Turkish Ministry of Tourism.
Thank you for your contribution.

u know im new and thx u too
sorry

I would like to know if women do military service in Turkey.I never heard of it but wondered about it.

Actually there are to many women already in every departments of turkish army as officiers.

I see so is it that the military service is compulsory for males but optional for females.

women cannot join to turkish army as G.I. ( thats not an option but the rule) but they be able to be enrolled to the war academy after high school ( if they have skills same as males that the academy demanded from every nominee) and after studying term is over they are graduated with lieutenant degree if they succeeded. in that case, they are equal with male studens.

My sister is in the Turkish army as a lieutenant. During their education they learn how to use fire guns etc.

Actually the Turkish army doesnt need any woman but they have some (I guess between 500 to 1000 ) to show an example that the Turkish women are equal to the men. There are a few female pilots in our army as well. The modern army is following Atatürk's lead.

Sabiha Gökçen, Turkia's first female combat pilot was Atatürk adopted child. Now her name is given to an airport in Istanbul.

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/gokcen.html