Security Forces Command

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

Security Forces Command
Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
Security Forces Command emblem
Founded1976
HeadquartersBoğaz, Girne
Leadership
CommanderBrigadier General Altan Er
Manpower
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 9,000 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[2] - 30,000 strong Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus stationed on the island.[3]

History

Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or TMT), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army. In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit ("Mujahideen"), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force.[4] In 1974, Turkey led a land invasion of Northern 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 on Cyprus and the nation continues to be an independent country, though strongly linked with Turkey militarily and politically.

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.[4][5]

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:

  • 1st Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Infantry Regiment
  • 3rd Infantry Regiment
  • 4th Infantry Regiment
  • Coast Guard Command
  • Aviation Union Command

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.[4]

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.[4]

Northern Cyprus' Coast Guard has 18 vessels.[6] Coast Guard operates: KKTC SG 01 (Class: Turk type 80; construction:1997-2000; active since:2000)[7]

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See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

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. 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.
  5. "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.
  6. Ansamed, 04 June 2015 Northern Cyprus' Coast Guard
  7. NTVMSNBC 16.07.2000
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