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Military ranks of Turkey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The military ranks of Turkey are the military insignia used by the Turkish Armed Forces.

Special insignia

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The Chief of the Turkish General Staff is allowed to wear special insignia.

Branch Army[1] Air force Navy[2]
Insignia
Name Genelkurmay başkanı

Turkish Land Forces

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Officer ranks

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NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Turkish Land Forces[1]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
Literal translation Marshal Army general Corps general Divisional general Brigade general Chief of a regiment Helper leader Leader of a thousand Leader of a hundred Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Junior lieutenant
U.S. equivalent[3] General of the Army General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet / Officer candidate

Other ranks

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NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Turkish Land Forces[1]
 No insignia
Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay kıdemli üstçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Astsubay astçavuş Uzman çavuş Çavuş Uzman onbaşı Onbaşı Er
Literal translation Noncommissioned senior sergeant major Noncommissioned sergeant major Noncommissioned senior superior sergeant Noncommissioned superior sergeant Noncommissioned senior sergeant Noncommissioned sergeant Junior noncommissioned sergeant Specialist sergeant Sergeant Specialist head of ten Head of ten Private
U.S. equivalent[4] Command sergeant major Master sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private Private

Turkish Air Forces

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Officer ranks

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NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Turkish Air Force[5]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
U.S. equivalent[3] General of the Air Force General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet / Officer trainee

Other ranks

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NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Turkish Air Force[5]
 No insignia
Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay kıdemli üstçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Astsubay astçavuş Uzman çavuş Çavuş Uzman onbaşı Onbaşı Er
U.S. equivalent[4] Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman/
Sergeant 		Airman first class Airman basic

Turkish Naval Forces

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Officer ranks

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NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Turkish Naval Forces[2]
Büyük amiral Oramiral Koramiral Tümamiral Tuğamiral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
U.S. equivalent[3] Fleet admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(lower half) 		Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade) 		Ensign Midshipman / officer candidate

Note : Commodores in the Turkish navy are not given special ranks or insignia. In the Turkish navy a commodore is not a rank but a position (usually group commander). Commodores almost always have the rank of Captain (Albay), but can fly their special pennants and wear special ribbons.[6]

  • Tuğamiral (Rear Admiral/Lower Half) is the lowest admiral's rank. Their shoulderboards are covered in gold lace, and have a silver garland with swords crossed in the middle (General's mark) and a silver five pointed star above that. All admirals also wear two rows of leaves on their caps.
  • Tümamiral (Rear Admiral/Upper Half) wears the same shoulderboards as Tuğamiral s, but with two silver stars.
  • Koramiral (Vice Admiral): There are usually six Koramiral s in the whole navy. Koramiral s wear three silver stars on the usual shoulder boards.
  • Oramiral (Admiral): There are two oramirals, one of them is the Commander of the Naval Forces (Deniz Kuvvetleri Komutanı ), while the other is Commander of the Turkish Fleet (Donanma Komutanı). Oramiral s wear shoulder boards with four silver stars, and three normal stripes (the top one with the curl) above the broad stripe.
  • Genelkurmay Başkanı (Chief of the Turkish General Staff) assumes command of the Turkish Armed Forces, and although he is commonly appointed from the Turkish Army, he is entitled to wear all uniforms in the Turkish Armed Forces, including the Navy's. When he wears the Navy's uniform, he wears the oramiral's shoulder boards with specially embroidered lace as the base, and he wears the oramiral's sleeve stripes with the broad stripe also embroidered and decorated with leaves.
  • Büyük Amiral (Admiral of the Fleet): This is a wartime-only rank and has never been awarded to any member of the Turkish Navy. Its army equivalent, Mareşal (Field Marshal), has had only two bearers in the republic's history: Marshal Fevzi Çakmak and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself. A Büyük Amiral would wear shoulder boards with special gold handwork on red velvet, decorated with golden leaves, and with a general's garland on top of that.

Rank pennants and flags (ensigns)

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Pennants are only flown for officers who assume command of an independent unit. Staff officers who work in headquarters do not fly pennants.

  • Flandra (Masthead Pennant) : The Flandra is flown when the ship's commanding officer boards the ship. It is quite like a very long red stripe with a crescent moon and star close to the mast.
  • Group Commander : For group commanders, a red triangular pennant with one bomb (twenty pointed white star) is flown.
  • Regiment Commanders : For regiment commanders, a square red flag with an anchor in the middle is flown.
  • Commodores : A swallow-tailed red pennant with two bombs (one on the upper left corner, the other one below that) is flown.
  • Rear Admiral (Lower half)
    Rear Admiral (Lower half)
  • Rear Admiral (Upper half)
    Rear Admiral (Upper half)
  • Vice Admiral
    Vice Admiral
  • Admiral
    Admiral
  • Commander of the Naval Forces
    Commander of the Naval Forces
  • Admiral of the Fleet
    Admiral of the Fleet

Other ranks

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NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Turkish Naval Forces[2]
 No insignia
Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay kıdemli üstçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Astsubay astçavuş Uzman çavuş Çavuş Uzman onbaşı Onbaşı Er
U.S. equivalent[4] Master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Petty officer third class Seaman recruit

Rates (insignia of category)

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There are several major categories in the Navy for different professions. Insignia of category are worn right above the circle in the topmost stripe, both on the sleeve and the shoulder board. It is a small round patch with gold-coloured needlework. Line officers and admirals do not wear these patches. (Admirals with special circumstances (doctors and engineers) may wear them on their sleeves, but not shoulders)

  • Naval Infantry (Marines) : In the Turkish armed forces, marines are subordinates to the navy and wear the Navy's uniforms. Their patch consists of an anchor and two rifles crossing it.
  • Combat Engineer (Civil Engineer) : A combat engineer wears a patch with the portrayal of what seems to be a fortress, beyond the sea.
  • Supply : Supply officers wear a branch with three gold-coloured leaves.
  • Hydrography/Oceanography : These officers wear a patch which portrays a lighthouse, with two beams of light heading away from each other.
  • Medical Corps (Medical Doctors) : Doctors bear the Staff of Asclepius, a staff with a single snake entangled around it.
  • Pharmacists : Pharmacists wear the image of a cup, with a snake around it and a branch surrounding both.
  • Dentists : Dentists wear a staff with a branch around it.
  • Engineers : An engineer wears the image of a protractor and a pair of compasses beneath that.
  • Prosecutors/Judges : Officers of this category wear a patch that includes a book laying open and a pair of scales behind that.
  • Legal : Officers Officers of this category wear a patch that includes a book laying open and a pair of ''H'' above it.
  • Instructors : Instructors wear a patch with a book laying open with a torch behind.
  • Band Musician : A band musician wears a patch with a musical harp.
  • Nurse : Officers from the Nurses' Corps wear a single golden crescent with the corners pointed upwards.
  • Intelligence : The Intelligence patch consists of a golden circle with a cross in between; embroidered with arrows at each point the cross cuts the circle. Portrayed as if this Wheel was turning around its own axis.
  • Staff Officers : Staff officers, are the officers who assume command or important positions in other headquarters, with a specialty in military personnel and supplies management. They wear a single golden five-point star as their patch of category.

Gendarmerie General Command

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Officer ranks
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Turkish Gendarmerie
Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
Other ranks
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Turkish Gendarmerie[7][8]
Uzman Jandarma VIII Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma VII Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma VI Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma V Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma IV Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma III Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma II Kademeli Çavuş Uzman Jandarma I Kademeli Çavuş
Uzman Çavuş IV Uzman Çavuş III Uzman Çavuş II Uzman Çavuş I
Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay kıdemli üstçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Uzman onbaşı

Historic ranks

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Officers

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1920–1924)[9]
Müşir Ferîk-i evvel Ferik Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım Zabit vekili Zabit namzedi[a]
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1924–1933)[10]
Müşir[b] Ferîk-i evvel Ferik Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım Zabit vekili
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1933–1935)[11]
Müşir Birinci ferik Ferik Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Birinci mülazım Mülazım Zabit vekili
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1935–1938)[12]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Teğmen Asteğmen Yarsubay
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1938–1947)[13]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1947–1956)[14]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1956–1964)[15]
Mareşal Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen

Other ranks

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

Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1920–1924)[16][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ ㅤ Başçavuş Başçavuş muavini Çavuş Onbaşı Nefer
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1924-1933)[17][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Başgedikli Gedikli başçavuş Gedikli başçavuş muavini Gedikli çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1933-1947)[18][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Başgedikli Gedikli başçavuş Gedikli üstçavuş Gedikli çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1947-1953)[19][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Başgedikli Gedikli başçavuş Gedikli üstçavuş Gedikli çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1953-1956)[20][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1956-1963)[21] 		No insignia
ㅤ Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er

Officers

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1920–1926)[22]
Müşir amiral Amiral Vice amiral Liva amiral Komodor Kalyon kaptanı Fırkateyn kaptanı Korvet kaptanı Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım-ı sânî Mühendis[d]
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1926–1933)[23]
Müşir Ferîk-i evvel Ferik Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Kidemli yüzbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım Mühendis
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1933–1935)[24]
Müşir Birinci ferik Ferik Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Birinci mülazım Mülazım Zabit vekili
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1935–1938)[25]
Büyük amiral Oramiral Koramiral Tümamiral Tuğamiral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Teğmen Asteğmen Yarsubay
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1938–1960)[26]
Büyük amiral Oramiral Koramiral Tümamiral Tuğamiral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen

Other ranks

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

Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1920–1926)[27][c] 		No insignia
Birinci sınıf gedikli İkinci sınıf gedikli Üçüncü sınıf gedikli Gedikli namzedi Başçavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Nefer
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1926–1933)[27][c] 		No insignia
Birinci sınıf gedikli İkinci sınıf gedikli Üçüncü sınıf gedikli Gedikli namzedi Başçavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1933-1953)[27][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Başgedikli Gedikli başçavuş Gedikli üstçavuş Gedikli çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Land & Air Forces
(1953-1956)[20][c] 		No insignia
ㅤ Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces
(1956-1970)[27] 		No insignia
ㅤ Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay çavuş Çavuş Onbaşı Er

Notes

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  1. ^ "Given to students of the military academy who have been deployed to the frontline before graduation."
  2. ^ Insignia kept as the collar tab of the Müşir and Mareşal ranks until 1947.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Only worn on the left sleeve.
  4. ^ Worn on the collar.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı Rütbe ve İşaretleri". Official army (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "RÜTBE VE SINIF İŞARETLERİ". Official navy (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Tartter 1996, p. 346.
  4. ^ a b c Tartter 1996, p. 347.
  5. ^ a b "Rütbeleri". Official air force (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Deniz Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı • Anasayfa".
  7. ^ "Uzman Jandarma Kanunu" (PDF) (in Turkish). mevzuat.gov.tr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Uzman Erbaş Kanunu" (PDF) (in Turkish). mevzuat.gov.tr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  9. ^ Geçer 2012, p. 77.
  10. ^ Geçer 2012, p. 79.
  11. ^ "Ordu Kıyafet Kararnamesi" (PDF) (in Turkish). resmigazete.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  12. ^ "Ordu Dahili Hizmet Kanunu" (PDF) (in Turkish). tbmm.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  13. ^ "Ordu Dahilî, Hizmet Kanununun 2'nci maddesini değiştiren kanun" (PDF) (in Turkish). resmigazete.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  14. ^ Geçer 2012, p. 82.
  15. ^ Geçer 2012, p. 83.
  16. ^ Geçer 2022, p. 302.
  17. ^ Dikduran 2019, p. 204.
  18. ^ "Ordu Dahili Hizmet Kanunu" (PDF) (in Turkish). tbmm.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  19. ^ Dikduran 2019, p. 206.
  20. ^ a b Dikduran 2019, p. 207.
  21. ^ Dikduran 2019, p. 208.
  22. ^ Geçer 2022, p. 278.
  23. ^ "GEÇMİŞTEN GÜNÜMÜZE, BAHRİYE ÜNİFORMA VE RÜTBELERİ - TÜRKER GEÇER" (in Turkish). Retrieved 22 Dec 2023.
  24. ^ "Ordu Kıyafet Kararnamesi" (PDF) (in Turkish). resmigazete.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  25. ^ "Ordu Dahili Hizmet Kanunu" (PDF) (in Turkish). tbmm.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  26. ^ "Ordu Dahilî, Hizmet Kanununun 2'nci maddesini değiştiren kanun" (PDF) (in Turkish). resmigazete.gov.tr. Retrieved 20 Dec 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d "GEÇMİŞTEN GÜNÜMÜZE, BAHRİYE ÜNİFORMA VE RÜTBELERİ - TÜRKER GEÇER". YouTube (in Turkish). Retrieved 22 Dec 2023.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Geçer, Kadir (January 2012). "Tarihten Günümüze Türk Ordusunda Kullanılan Rütbe Sembolleri" [Rank Symbols Used in the Turkish Army from History to Today] (PDF). Silahlý Kuvvetler Dergisi (in Turkish). 411. Turkish Military Academy: 69–85. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  • Tartter, Jean R. (1996). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Turkey: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. LCCN 95049612. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  • Geçer, Kadir (2022). Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Askerî Kıyafetleri 1826-1922 [Ottoman Empire Military Clothing 1826-1922] (in Turkish). Hisart Culture Publications. ISBN 9786050699814.
  • Dikduran, Salim (2019). Türk Hava Kuvvetleri Tarihinde Astsubaylar [Non-Commissioned Officers in the History of the Turkish Air Force] (in Turkish). Türkiye İş Bankası Cultural Publications. ISBN 9786052958971.
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