Turkish military academy to resume student admissions in February 2017

Sevil Erkuş - ANKARA

Turkey’s military academy will resume student admissions in February 2017, following a halt after the failed July 15 coup attempt.

The academic year will kick off in February 2017 primarily for the air force academy, according to an official from the Defense Ministry who wanted to remain anonymous. 

A state of emergency decree law published on Oct. 29 allowed students to be admitted to the military academy, but military high schools will remain closed, said the official. 

 More than 4,000 people have applied for the air force academy and interviews are continuing, the official added.

Turkey’s military high schools, as well as high schools that train non-commissioned officers, were closed by a decree law published on Aug. 1 after the coup attempt, which highlighted the extent of the outlawed Fethullahist Terrorist Organization’s (FETÖ) infiltration into the top ranks of the military.

The new regulations also stipulated the establishment of a National Defense University, which is slated to be an umbrella body encompassing all educational institutions of the Turkish military. With the formation of the university, all current military academies will be administered through the newly-formed institution.

The university is tied to a rector and features institutions that will educate staff officers and provide graduate-level education and operate Land Forces, Navy Forces and Air Force schools, non-commissioned officer colleges and non-commissioned officer vocational schools for higher education.