| The primary, most important defender
of Turkey’s independence is the Turkish
Armed Forces. The role of the Turkish Armed
Forces is to defend and protect the land and the
Republic against internal and external threats
and to fulfill the NATO duties agreed by
international treaties. Because of the geopolitical
importance of its location as a member of NATO,
Turkey has the largest army of any of the NATO
countries after the USA, with about 800,000
soldiers (1996). With this size it is the 7th
largest in the World. Approximately 10-13% of the
national budget is allocated to the Ministry of
Defense.
MILITARY SERVICE
Since the Ottoman
period different systems of military service have
been used at different periods. Today, under the
Military Service Law, all male citizens who are
physically eligible must perform military service
between the ages of 20 and 46. The compulsory
service period is 18 months including one month
of holiday. Up until the age of 46 men might be
recruited at different times for short periods as
reserves in this so-called Reserve period.
The Turkish Armed
Forces consist of The Army, The Air Force, The
Navy and The Gendarme. The uniforms of the Air
Force staff are blue; the Navy, white in summer
and black in winter; and the others are various
shades of khaki.
The Social Function
of Military Service
Military service
is a very important social event in men’s
lives. It has the distinct effect of dividing it
into two phases: Life before and life after
military service.
Generally men
serve in places other than their home regions
without returning except for their vacations.
Before leaving, the family provides a big meal in
their son’s honor and invite relatives,
friends and neighbors. A large group of friends
escort the boy to the central bus or train
station with musical instruments, usually drums
and clarinets, the louder the better. They may
even carry him on their shoulders.
Military service
is a kind of school in which the young men of
Turkey reach maturity through the experiences
that they live. This is a place where they become
acquainted with manners. For some, it is the
first time they live away from home. Being away
from family is also an opportunity to learn to
stand responsibly on their own feet.
In some rural
parts of Turkey, young men cannot get married
before completing their military service, since
this period is accepted as a major step in the
transition to manhood. In these areas especially,
if a young man is not recruited because of
physical or mental reasons, he gets disappointed
and tries his best to convince the authorities
that he wants and can perform his duty. Young men
who are not accepted into the military service
often suffer insults or loss of status among
their peers.
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