Diploma claim from retired colonel: A commander without a diploma was promoted to lieutenant general!

A striking claim regarding promotion processes in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has come to the fore. Retired Staff Colonel Ümit Yalım, former Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defense and Deputy Chairman of the Kutlu Party responsible for Security Policies and Foreign Relations, stated that the diploma requirements for lieutenant general and vice admiral promotions were changed with a legal amendment on July 10, 2025, opening the door to unlawful practices.

THERE WERE TWO DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE OLD RULES

Yalım evaluated the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) decisions for Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk. According to the old regulation, to be promoted to the ranks of lieutenant general and vice admiral, it was necessary to have graduated from the Force War Academy/Force War Institute and the Armed Forces Academy/Joint War Institute, meaning one had to hold two diplomas. Additionally, there was a requirement to be a combat-class general in the Land Forces, a deck or naval-class admiral in the Naval Forces, and a pilot-class general in the Air Force.

REQUIREMENTS RELAXED WITH NEW REGULATION

These rules were revised with the amendment made to paragraph (f) of Article 47 of the Military Personnel Law on July 10, 2025. Now, for promotion to lieutenant general and vice admiral, the only requirement is to be a combat-class general or admiral who has completed command and staff training at the Force War Institute. Thus, the requirement for a diploma from the Armed Forces Academy/Joint War Institute was abolished; the condition of being a deck or naval class in the Naval Forces and a pilot class in the Air Force was also canceled. Yalım stated that with this change, the number of required diplomas was reduced from two to one, but the staff officer requirement was maintained.

ALLEGATION OF "TOTAL ILLEGALITY AND ABSOLUTE NULLITY"

Yalım alleged that a commander promoted to lieutenant general in the Land Forces Command was promoted despite not holding a Land War Academy/Land War Institute diploma. Arguing that this situation constitutes a "state of total illegality and absolute nullity," Yalım said, "The orders given and signatures signed by this person with the rank of lieutenant general are legally invalid."

HIGHLIGHTS FROM YAŞ DECISIONS

The Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, lasted two and a half hours. Some important decisions taken at the meeting are as follows:

Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak was retired and replaced by Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

1st Army Commander General Metin Tokel was appointed as the Land Forces Commander.

The terms of office of Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu and Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu were extended by one year.

Two generals and admirals were promoted to the next rank, and 61 colonels were promoted to general and admiral.

The terms of office of 29 generals were extended by one year, and the terms of 478 colonels were extended by two years.

Two generals were retired due to the age limit effective September 1, 2025, and 43 generals and admirals were retired due to lack of positions effective August 30, 2025.

The number of generals and admirals increased from 316 to 332 as of August 30, 2025.