2 billion liras earned from paid military service

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Hürriyet Photo

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said 70,143 people had signed up for paid military service so far, paying a total of 2 billion Turkish Liras.

A total of 70,143 men applied to have paid military service in Turkey as of Feb. 15 and applications from 67,630 people have been approved, Bozdağ said, responding to a deputies’ question in Parliament on April 16.

More than 2.2 million liras income will be received from the paid military service overall, Bozdağ said, adding that this income would be used for the financing of social services and for aid provided to the relatives of fallen soldiers, injured soldiers, disabled people, and service-disabled people from the security forces.

Military service is compulsory for male citizens of Turkey who are 18 years of age or older. Paid military exemptions are introduced every now and then to decrease the number of “absent without leaves,” deserters, and others who somehow evade military service.