Turkey’s top military brass remains same

ANKARA

Turkey has not changed the composition of the top military brass of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a presidential aide has announced, with expectations that Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler will continue his service for another two years.

The Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) was convened to discuss promotions and dismissals of the high-ranking military personnel under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with the participation of key civilian and military officials, including Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Gen. Güler in Ankara, on Aug. 1. The decisions of the YAŞ which have been ratified by Erdoğan will take effect Sept. 1.

The results of the shortest ever YAŞ meeting were announced by President Erdoğan’s spokesman and chief advisor İbrahim Kalın who suggested the continuation of Gen. Güler in his position as well as Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar, Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Küçükakyüz and Navy Commander Adm. Adnan Özbal.

Kalın informed that 14 generals and admirals have been promoted to a higher rank while the status of 40 colonels have been upgraded to the level of general with the YAŞ decisions that stipulated the retirement of 47 generals due to lack of sufficient cadres. That resulted in a decrease in the number of generals and admirals from 241 to 233.

Among those who have been retired are Commander of the Aegean Army Gen. Abdullah Recep and 2nd Army Commander Gen. İsmail Serdar Savaş with no announcement by whom they will be substituted.

The terms of duty of Lt. Gen. Metin Gurak, the deputy chief of General Staff, and Lt. Gen. Seref Ongay, commander of the Land Forces Training and Doctrine Command (EDOK), have been extended for another year.

The terms of office of 12 generals and admirals were extended for one year, while the terms of 313 colonels were extended for two years. Maj. Gen. Irfan Ozsert was promoted to Lieutenant General within the Turkish Land Forces Command, Kalin said.

Kalin said five land forces brigadier generals and seven air forces brigadier generals have been promoted to major general, and one naval forces rear admiral has been promoted to rear admiral upper half.

“We thank the generals, admirals and colonels who will retire after completing their duty with great devotion and honor,” Kalın said.