Precautions taken against drawing swords at the Military Academy too!..

Ministry of Defense sources have denied our report regarding the measures taken to ensure that no "incidents" occur—including before and after—at the Military Academy graduation ceremony to be held tomorrow.

What did we write?

We recalled that following the official portion of last year's graduation ceremony, after lieutenants gathered on the parade ground, drew their swords, recited the Officer's Oath—which had been removed from the regulations—and declared, "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal," an administrative investigation was launched into Ebru Eroğlu, the top graduate of the class, as well as Talip İzzet Akarsu, Batuhan Gazi Kılıç, Deniz Demirtaş, and Serhat Günder, who would later be dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). We reminded readers that the Investigation Report recommended the following to "prevent encountering similar events":

"Preventing lieutenants from returning to the field after the ceremony is completed and they have exited the stadium to engage in similar behavior... Reviewing the use of smartphones and social media by lieutenants..."

Anything else?

We noted that due to Erdoğan's trip to China, the graduation ceremonies for the Army, Air Force, and Naval Academies will be held together in Ankara this year...

Regarding this year's graduation ceremony, we stated that the number of family members attending the ceremony has been limited and that they will enter using a provided code...

We explained that after the official ceremony concludes, lieutenants are prohibited from entering the field to meet with their families or taking photos, and that they have been asked to change out of their uniforms in a location other than their battalion before leaving the school...

Finally, we reported that the decision was made for lieutenants not to remain at the school for the last two days, with ceremony rehearsals ending early to prevent the traditional August 29th night celebration...

THE ISSUE OF THE TSK'S REPUTATION

So, what did the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) sources say and what did they deny at yesterday's weekly press briefing?

It was confirmed that due to Erdoğan's travel, the graduation ceremonies for the three schools will be held jointly, that a quota of four family members per graduate has been provided, and that a barcode system will be used for entry.

While we mentioned that "lieutenants are prohibited from entering the field to meet with their families or taking photos after the ceremony ends," MSB sources reflected this as "students will not be allowed to meet with their families after the ceremony" and stated the following:

"Meeting places for the graduating lieutenants to gather with their families at the end of the ceremony have been planned, and these areas have been decorated with posters. Families will be able to take photos with the lieutenants and spend time together. Additionally, refreshments will be provided to the families there."

Likewise, although our article contained no statement that the mobile phones of families attending the ceremony would be confiscated, MSB sources said, "The allegations that families' mobile phones will be collected are not true."

The only thing MSB sources clearly and explicitly denied was the issue of "rehearsals ending early and lieutenants being removed from the school."

Before providing the answer to that as well, let's look at how the MSB sources concluded the matter "in summary."

They said; "Allegations containing incorrect and incomplete information regarding the arrangements made due to the joint ceremony, which facilitate the conduct of the ceremony, do not reflect the truth, and these issues, which are shared intentionally, aim to mislead the public and damage the reputation of the TSK."

Let us also ask "in summary":

What is incorrect and incomplete, who is misleading the public, and who is damaging the reputation of the TSK?!

One more question:

While Sabah Newspaper Ankara Representative Okan Müderrisoğlu was announcing that the graduation ceremonies for the three schools would be held jointly due to Erdoğan's China trip, he recalled, "Last year's Army Academy Graduation Ceremony was the scene of an 'alternative oath and sword-drawing' demonstration, and the event resulted in the dismissal of 5 lieutenants from the TSK," and added the following:

"After the ceremony, the young lieutenants will participate in the parade and then leave the area accompanied by their commanders. Thus, a de facto situation such as holding an alternative ceremony will not be permitted."

I wonder if these statements by Müderrisoğlu were also considered by MSB sources as "incorrect, incomplete, intentional, and aimed at misleading the public and damaging the reputation of the TSK"?!

DRONE AND CAMERA SURVEILLANCE

Before conveying the latest situation regarding the pre-ceremony period at the Military Academy, let us share a detail we recently obtained.

After last year's graduation ceremony, the Army Academy administration monitored the school, especially the students' dormitory section, with a drone brought as close as possible to the windows. Additionally, cameras that also record audio were installed in the dormitory corridors.

As for the measures taken for the ceremony;

MSB sources only denied "the early conclusion of rehearsals and the removal of lieutenants from the school"; however, we learned that this was actually true, but was abandoned after the matter was reflected in the media.

There are other allegations as well.

For example; there is a place in the school called the "Regiment Garden," and soldiers are on armed guard duty there. It is said that the leave of these soldiers was canceled so that the cadets would not gather there...

Lieutenants were made to write out orders in their own handwriting stating, "I will absolutely not sing any marches"...

The place mentioned by MSB sources, which was "prepared for the graduating lieutenants to meet with their families at the end of the ceremony and decorated with posters," is the school's artificial turf field. They are supposed to meet there and take photos after all the protocol has left...

WHILE SAYING "IF THE SWORD IS DRAWN FROM THE SCABBARD" AT MALAZGIRT

There is one more allegation regarding a measure. Before that, let us recall the following:

Erdoğan spoke as follows at the Imam Hatip Schools Assembly one week after last year's graduation ceremony:

"Recently, as you know, some opportunists appeared at the graduation ceremony and drew swords. Against whom are you drawing these swords? Now, all necessary investigations regarding these individuals are currently being conducted, and those few ignorant people there will be purged, God willing. We did not arrive here by chance. This might be 30 people, it might be 50 people. Whoever they are, it is impossible for them to be in our army. We will purge them."

Before Erdoğan, a member of the team of the late retired general Adnan Tanrıverdi, the founder of SADAT, had said in an article titled "Against whom were the swords drawn?"; "Mr. President, against whom were these swords drawn? For what reason, what message was being attempted to be sent? If you are not curious, we as a nation are... Justice requires courage!"

The allegation is that lieutenants have been forbidden from drawing their swords from their scabbards even while taking photos!..

If true, what kind of situation is this?!

Just three days ago, on the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert, hadn't Erdoğan asked the separatist terrorists in Syria to turn their direction toward Ankara and Damascus, and warned, "If the sword is drawn from the scabbard, there is no room for the pen and the word"?

Note: I wholeheartedly celebrate the Victory Day of our lieutenants who will graduate tomorrow, especially our 5 lieutenants who were dismissed from the TSK for saying "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" and their three commanders, as well as the Turkish Nation, and I commemorate our sole Leader Atatürk, who made these lands our homeland and founded the Republic of Turkey, and his comrades-in-arms with mercy, gratitude, and respect.

Müyesser YILDIZ

August 29, 2025