The story of a Lieutenant dismissed from the TSK!...

On October 22, the day MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli proposed that the terrorist leader in İmralı come to Parliament and call on the PKK to lay down arms—a day some have described as “historic”—another lieutenant was notified that he had been dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

The decision regarding this lieutenant's dismissal was, in summary, as follows:

“In accordance with the Turkish Armed Forces Disciplinary Law and the Regulation on High Disciplinary Boards of the Turkish Armed Forces, the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board, in its decision dated September 29, 2024, has decided to impose the penalty of ‘DISMISSAL FROM THE ARMED FORCES’ on the personnel whose identity is written above, whose situation was reviewed due to indiscipline, and this decision has been approved by the Land Forces Commander. Pursuant to the aforementioned High Disciplinary Board decision, I submit for your approval that the education, training, and development expenses of the individual be collected as compensation, along with legal interest proportional to the remaining part of their service obligation, if any.”

The Land Forces Commander, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, was the one who “submitted the decision for approval,” and the Minister of National Defense, Yaşar Güler, was the one who said “Approved.”

A SILENT PROTEST AGAINST ABANDONMENT

So, what was the story behind this lieutenant's dismissal from the TSK?!

You may recall the incident that took place at the Tuzla Infantry School about a year ago. During the November 10 Atatürk Commemoration Ceremony, when a lieutenant allegedly linked to a religious sect did not pin an Atatürk photograph to his lapel, other lieutenants reacted, and the incident was debated for months.

According to the pro-government media, those who reacted to the failure to wear the Atatürk photograph were a “Lieutenant junta”!..

Administrative and judicial investigations were launched. Ultimately, with the decision of the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board and the approval of the Ministry of National Defense, both the lieutenant who did not wear the Atatürk photograph and his two friends, as well as the four lieutenants who reacted to them, were initially dismissed from the TSK. The dismissals continued in the following days, and three more lieutenants who had reacted were also discharged.

Lieutenant M.G.Ö., the subject of our article, was also at the Tuzla Infantry School. But he was not involved in any part of this November 10 incident.

Let us first answer the question, “Then why was he dismissed from the TSK?”

This lieutenant knowingly and willingly got himself dismissed from the TSK!..

Before explaining “how and why,” let us briefly introduce Lieutenant M.G.Ö.

After being affected by the terror incidents that followed the “solution process,” he decided to enter the Military Academy, which he saw as the destination for his ideals and dreams, despite having a very good position as a ship electronics technician. However, after encountering various scenes at the school and in the field, he began to experience disillusionment.

The breaking point was the November 10 ceremonies and the subsequent events. Upon seeing that the commanders, whom he expected to stand by the pro-Atatürk lieutenants and defend their rights, remained unresponsive or changed their statements due to various suggestions, he made a decision for himself:

“If my friends are dismissed from the TSK, I will get myself dismissed so as not to leave them alone.”

Following the dismissal of the lieutenants, he put this decision into practice and began committing the “crime of indiscipline” by not showing up for duty 5-6 days a week.

Eventually, his file came before the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board. He went to his defense alone, without a lawyer.

He only said that he had “lost his ideals, his trust, and his motivation.”

The Lieutenant General, who was the Chairman of the High Disciplinary Board, said, “Go ahead, let us solve your problem.”

He replied, “There is nothing to solve.”

When asked, “Do you want to leave?”

His answer was “Yes,” and he left the Board.

That is how Lieutenant M.G.Ö. was dismissed from the TSK!..

Now he is looking for a job.

The hundreds of thousands of liras in compensation he has to pay because he was dismissed are an added burden.

Despite these costs, he believes that the decision he made was right and that he will overcome this difficult process.

May our greatest holiday, the 101st anniversary of our Republic Day, be celebrated, and greetings to our young people who walk on the path of our Atatürk with perseverance and determination despite all kinds of difficulties.

How happy is the one who says I am a Turk!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 29, 2024