Security Forces Command

The Security Forces Command (Turkish: Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı)[1] is the military and security force of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Security Forces Command
Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
Security Forces Command emblem
Founded1976
Service branches
HeadquartersBoğaz, Girne
Websitewww.mucahit.gov.ct.tr
Leadership
CommanderMajor Gen. Zorlu Topaloğlu
Personnel
Military age18
Conscription8 to 15 months
Active personnel15,000
Reserve personnel7,000
Industry
Foreign suppliers Turkey
Related articles
HistoryTurkish Resistance Organisation (TMT)
Turkish Cypriot soldiers of the Security Forces Command perform during the 2007 Republic Day parade.

It is a 15,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.

This force is supplemented by the 17,500–30,000 strong Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus stationed on the island.[2][3]

History

The Republic of Cyprus' constitution provided for a bi-communal army (i.e. Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) on a 60/40 per cent basis. The Cyprus army composed by both main Cypriot ethnic groups was created in 1960 yet was dismantled in the scope of the interethnic conflict 1963-4.[4] Since then, both communities have maintained their independent armed forces. Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community (and similarly the Greek Cypriot community) maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or TMT), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army (ibid). In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit ("Mujahideen"), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force.[5] In 1974, Turkey led an invasion of Cyprus with the aim of protecting the Turkish minority population after a Greek-inspired coup brought a threat of union of the island with Greece. Since then there have been no major fighting in Cyprus and the island continues to be divided.

Organization

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force is under the command of an officer of the Turkish Army. The officer is appointed by the Turkish Armed Forces and holds the rank of major general, whereas the head of the Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus holds a higher rank as lieutenant general.[5][6]

It includes 4 Infantry Regiments and the Coast Guard Command, two of which are expedition and the other two are (ready). In addition, the TRNC Police Organization is included in the Security Forces. The organization is as follows:

According to observers a large part of its budget was covered by the Turkish army, upon which it depended for training and equipment. It is also believed that the majority of its officers came from the ranks of the Turkish Army officer corps on temporary leave from their regular duties and its operations were controlled by the Turkish army.[5]

Strength

As of 2009, the strength of this force was believed to be about 9,000. It was organized into fifteen battalions in two brigades, infantry battalions armed with light weapons plus some artillery units equipped with mortars.[5]

Turkish Cyprus's Coast Guard has 36 vessels.[9] Coast Guard operates: KKTC SG 01 (Class: Turk type 80; construction:1997-2000; active since:2000)[10]

In March, 2023, Turkish Cyprus's Coast Guard started to operate TRNC SG-110 (BOĞAZ), TRNC SG-111 (LEFKE) and TRNC SG-112 (SERDARLI) modern assault boats.[11]

Military ranks of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Due to its close ties to Turkey, Northern Cyprus shares a rank structure similar to that of Turkey.[12]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Northern Cypriot
Security Forces Command
Major general
Tümgeneral		 Brigadier general
Tuğgeneral		 Colonel
Albay		 Lieutenant Colonel
Yarbay		 Major
Binbaşı		 Captain
Yüzbaşı		 First Lieutenant
Üsteğmen		 Second Lieutenant
Teğmen		 Aspirant
Asteğmen

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Northern Cypriot
Security Forces Command
 No insignia
Astsubay kıdemli baş çavuş Astsubay baş çavuş Astsubay kıdemli üst çavuş Astsubay üst çavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Erler

Compulsory military service

According to the TRNC Constitution, every male citizen has a military service obligation. The recruitment age is 18 years.

Military service periods:

  • 15 months in private equilibrium
  • 12 months in reserve officer equivalent
  • Reserve officer, sergeant equivalent 12 months
  • 8 months in short term equilibrium
  • It is 1 month provided that it fulfills its special status (paid and / or short term service) obligation.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

Bibliography
  • Christopher Hitchens - Cyprus, Hostage to History: From the Ottomans to Kissinger
Notes
  1. "Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı". Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cy0158%29
  3. Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4191-9126-8
  4. Efthymiou S.A. (2019) Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity After the Construction of the Border. In: Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity in Post-Conflict Cyprus. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14702-0_2
  5. Eric Solsten; Library of Congress. Federal Research Division (1993). Cyprus, a country study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-8444-0752-4. Although legally separate from the Turkish Army on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Security Force was believed to remain under the de facto operational control of the Turkish forces. It also depended on Turkey for training and equipment. Most of its officers were regular Turkish Army officers on secondment. Observers believed that many of its expenses were absorbed by the Turkish Army.
  6. "KTBK Komutanlığı'na Korgeneral İsmail Serdar Savaş, GKK Komutanlığı'na Tüm General Baki Kavun atandı" (in Turkish). Kıbrıs Postası. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  7. "Özel Görev Kuvveti Komutanlığı - Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı". www.mucahit.net. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  8. "Türkiye'den KKTC'ye ilk Bayraktar TB2 İHA indi". BaykarSavunma (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  9. Ansamed, 04 June 2015 Northern Cyprus' Coast Guard
  10. NTVMSNBC 16.07.2000
  11. Kibrispostasi, 20 March 2023 The commissioning ceremony of the boats supplied to the Coast Guard Command was held.
  12. Dyer, Gwynne (1979). "Cyprus". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 162. ISBN 9780871964076. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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