Want to Subscribe?
Sign In or Sign Up now!

The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) (Turkish: Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri or TSK) consist of the Army, the Navy (including naval aviation and naval infantry), and the Air Force of the Republic of Turkey. The Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard operate as components of the internal security forces in peacetime, and are subordinate to the Turkish Ministry of Interior. In wartime, they are subordinate to the Army and Navy. Both have law enforcement and military functions.

The Chief of General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) since August 4, 2008 is General İlker Başbuğ.

After becoming a member of the NATO Alliance on 18 February 1952, Turkey initiated a comprehensive modernization program for its Armed Forces. Towards the end of the 1980s, a second restructuring process was initiated.

The TAF, with a combined troop strength of 1,054,750 soldiers,is the second largest standing force in NATO (after the United States).Currently, 36,700 troops are also stationed in the north of Cyprus.[citation needed]

European Union officials state that the addition of the Turkish Armed Forces into the EU Military Framework will enable it (the EU) to be a true global player and super power. The TAF already participates in European Union battlegroups under control of the European Council, as a part of the Italian-Romanian-Turkish Battlegroup, which will be on standby for duty during June--December 2010. It also contributes operational staff to the Eurocorps multinational army corps initiative of the EU and NATO.

NATO officials also state that the modern day Turkish Armed Forces are "very experienced and well-trained".

ARMY

The Turkish Army is one of the largest standing armies in the world and the second largest army of NATO.[4][5] The Turkish Army can deploy an Army Corps of 50,000 men to conduct joint operations at short notice.[8] The Army can conduct air assault operations with a lift capability of up to six battalions at a time, day and night

Air Force

The Turkish Air Force is one of the oldest air forces in the world and operates one of the largest combat aircraft fleets of NATO. In its long history, many famous air aces and aviation pioneers have served in the Turkish Air Force, including Sabiha Gökçen, the world's first female combat pilot. Supported by the TuAF's in-flight refueling capability, the fighter jets of the Turkish Air Force can participate in international operations and exercises on every major continent and return back to their home bases.

Navy

The Turkish Navy has historically been one of the largest sea powers of the Mediterranean. Supported by its replenishment ships, the Turkish Navy can participate in international operations and exercises on every major sea and ocean of the world. Submarines can individually navigate up to 15,000 nautical miles and return back to their home bases.

-------------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
-------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
---♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------♥♥♥-- -------♥
-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------------♥ -----♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥----------------------- ------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥----------------------- ---♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥----------------------- ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------------- -----♥♥♥♥♥♥
---♥♥♥♥♥♥♥-------------------- -♥----♥♥♥♥♥♥
-----♥♥♥♥♥♥♥--------------♥♥♥- ----♥♥♥---♥♥
---------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥------ ♥♥
-------------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Ey uğruna yüzyıllarca savaştığımız sancak
Türk ün yüce dileği seni yaşatmak ancak

Kanımızla boyadın biz sendeniz sen bizden
Armağansın bu ırka Atiilladan Cengizden

Senden gayrı kimseye gönül verir mi zafer
Tarihler tanır seni hep cenklerde bu zafer

Sayısız ülkelerin üzerinde yükseldin
Önünde durulmayan taşıp giden bir seldin

Bazı bir düşmanla değil, cihanlada savaştın
Bozkırlar ortasından okyanuslara taştın

Kosovada kahraman İnönüde kahraman
Var mıdır dünyada senden dilemeyen aman?

Kaç hükümdar önünde teslim etti tacını
Kaç yaralı milletin verdin sen ilacını

Ödevimiz yaşatmak seni şerefle şanla
Sancak yaşar uğruna dökülen temiz kanla

Sana kim yan bakarsa ona karşı geliriz
Sancak demek ne demek onu biz biliriz

Yaşamayacaksın evet tarihle sen beraber
Ta ezelden ebede götüreceksin haber

Her Türk sana borçludur canını seve seve
Şehit haberi bizde müjde gibidir eve

Senin için ölenler ermiştir muradına
Ah ne tatlıdır ölmek vatan sancak adına