Pentagon civil management model planned for Turkish Defense Ministry: Sources

Inspired by the civil management at the Pentagon, the new management team at the ministry will be composed of 60 percent civil and 40 percent military personnel, according to sources.

“The goal in restructuring the ministry is 60 percent civil and 40 percent soldiers in management. That percentage can be half and half in the beginning but the ultimate goal is 60 to 40 percent. That rate is 70 percent civil and 30 percent soldiers at the Pentagon,” sources said.

The sources added that civil undersecretaries would be assigned to the ministry for the first time.

“It has been estimated that three of five assistants of the undersecretary will be civil and the other two will be soldiers but it can be vice versa in the beginning. Evaluations on the issue are ongoing. Likewise, similar arrangements will also be made at the eight general directorates of the ministry. Managers who are suitable with the estimated civil-soldier balance will be assigned to those general directorates and their deputy offices,” sources said.

In addition, the headquarters of the ministry, which is currently located at the General Staff complex, will move to its new residence on the Eskişehir motorway within 18 months.

Defense Minister Fikri Işık announced on Aug. 12 that a total of 3,185 military personnel had been discharged from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), while 162, including nine generals, were still at large.

According to the July 31 state of emergency decree law, the Land Forces, Naval Forces and Air Force commands were brought under the control of the Defense Ministry.