Did you say 'indiscipline'?!

There are interesting statements in the investigation file regarding the 5 lieutenants who are facing dismissal from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) for crossing their swords after the official part of the Military Academy graduation ceremony was completed, reciting the Officer's Oath—which was removed from the regulations last year—and declaring, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

First of all, let us state this: According to the “Incident report” kept by the Military Academy Command, approximately 500 lieutenants participated in this celebration that angered the authorities. However, the school authorities deemed it appropriate to “open a disciplinary investigation against a total of 19 lieutenants, including the 5 whose dismissal is requested, due to their recitation of an oath not in the program and acting outside the program by not following orders.”

It was stated that these 19 lieutenants were the ones whose identities were determined in the first circle of the crowd.

IF ERDOĞAN'S BODYGUARDS HAD NOT CLOSED THE EXIT

While the pro-government media claims that the lieutenants acted in a planned manner, and the Ministry of National Defense argues that “this action, carried out despite the instructions given, is an act of indiscipline,” let us look at this section of the Military Academy Command's “Incident report”:

“Following the completion of the Diploma and Flag Handover Ceremony parade at 18:30, the graduating lieutenants were taken behind the screen opposite the honorary grandstand. Since the exits were closed as part of the security measures taken by the Presidential protection team, the graduating lieutenants could not be sent to the battalion area. While the lieutenants were waiting behind the screen, the President and state officials left the stadium, and other guests were kept waiting for a while due to security measures. A short while later, approximately 60 lieutenants who emerged from behind the screen entered the field and began to gather in a crescent formation. They drew their ceremonial swords and repeated the words 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' 5-6 times. They recited the oath in the form of '...........'. Meanwhile, with the rise of voices from those who were assessed as not being fully aware of the oath-taking plan, the number increased to approximately 250 with the participation of lieutenants who turned toward the crowd. It is estimated that the number reached around 500 with subsequent participation.”

The reason we underlined the section in question is this: if the exits had not been closed as part of the measures taken by the Presidential protection team, the lieutenants would have gone or been sent to the battalion area, and that celebration would likely not have taken place.

In this case, can one speak of a “plan, program, or persistence in disobedience to orders”?

Sir, they applied to their commanders and the dean's office multiple times to recite the Officer's Oath, but they recited it even though it was not accepted.

Let us emphasize once again: the lieutenants wanted to recite the Officer's Oath within the scope of the official ceremony program, and when they were told “No,” they did not recite it.

Let us explain it this way; for example, if the lieutenants wanted to perform a folk dance (halay) within the official ceremony program, would an investigation have been opened if they performed the folk dance after the ceremony when they were not given permission?!

THE COMMANDER KICKED THE LIEUTENANT

Let us move on to a statement showing that the lieutenants wanted to recite the Officer's Oath at the official ceremony until the very last moment, and that reciting it after the ceremony was not planned/programmed at all.

In his statement, Serhat Gündar, one of the 5 lieutenants whose dismissal is requested, was asked, “When did the demands regarding the recitation of the oath removed from the regulations come to the agenda?” Gündar replied:

“The oath in question had been removed just before the ceremony the previous year. It had been a topic on the agenda since that day. Since the class military oath is already taken at the entrance of the Military Academy, it was considered that reciting the Officer's Oath would be more appropriate.”

When asked to “explain what he knew about the meeting held by Ebru Eroğlu with Batuhan Gazi Kılıç, Deniz Demirtaş, and Talip İzzet Akarsu regarding the recitation of the oath removed from the regulations during the continuation of the ceremony activities after the class party on August 29,” Serhat Gündar said the following:

“On August 29, around 23:00, while I was in the dormitory, Talip İzzet Akarsu came to me. He talked about an incident that took place between him and the newly appointed Acting Regiment Commander, Infantry Colonel Alper Topsakal. İzzet said that he had conveyed the proposal to recite the oath at the ceremony to him again during the day, and in response, the Acting Regiment Commander got angry at him, saying, 'Are you here again?', and kicked him. Subsequently, İzzet stated that he was not aware that Mevlüt (the second in the class) had recited the oath at the party, that Ebru had come to him and asked, 'Why didn't I recite it even though I was first?', and that he had replied to Ebru, 'You can recite it the next day.' I also said that it was natural for Ebru to make such a complaint because she was the top of the class. İzzet then said, 'Then let me send a message to the group so everyone is aware.' After İzzet sent this message, he received responses from the group saying, 'Okay then, let's do it.'”

WHY DID THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMANDERS WEAKEN?

We reported the information that on November 14, while the investigation into the lieutenants was still ongoing, the following assessment was made:

“What is this? There are such acts of indiscipline in the schools... No one bothers to deal with them so as not to get into trouble. When it is pursued, the defense of the team-platoon commanders is taken.”

Look at what is being told in the statements in the investigation file.

Upon the question, “Is there any other matter you would like to add?”, a platoon commander said the following:

“As a platoon commander, we were having difficulty maintaining discipline in the platoon. The main reason for this was the ordering of practices that would weaken our authority over the students. For example; not shouting at students, not giving collective punishment, not providing feedback on weekends. Our Battalion Commander, in accordance with the order he received from our Regiment Commander, wanted us to behave in this way as well. Also, I take roll call at 08:00 in the morning. The cadets enter class at 08:30. Their academic classes end at 16:30 in the afternoon. It is generally suggested that we do not interfere with the cadets' free time after classes. There is no sufficient time frame in which I can influence the cadets or pass on my experiences.”

Here is what the Deputy Regiment Commander explained:

“During the ceremony rehearsals, we experienced weaknesses regarding the cadets' participation in the rehearsals. The unit commanders made decisions and took measures not to allow cadets who did not participate in the rehearsals to go on town leave. I did not take over a unit with perfect discipline. I tried to establish discipline as much as I could in the time leading up to the ceremony. Since my arrival, I could not fully read the regulations regarding my duty during the intense ceremony preparations. When a superior sees the indiscipline of their subordinate, they must establish discipline through all kinds of ways, including necessary warnings, admonitions, advice, and reprimands. However, when I saw the indiscipline of the units, I witnessed that the unit commanders could not intervene because they were afraid of scolding the cadets. The previous School Commander, General Gültekin [Gültekin Yaralı, who was promoted to Lieutenant General with this year's Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) decisions and appointed as the 7th Corps Commander], had called the unit commander who shouted at the cadets to his office and scolded him. Such practices had neutralized the subordinate unit commanders.”

Let us repeat our call from November 14:

Do not destroy the lieutenants, address the real problems, gentlemen!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

December 31, 2024