Turkey to shorten compulsory military service from next month

Legislation that will shorten Turkey's compulsory military service from 15 to 12 months is expected to start next month, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc announced on Tuesday. "Preliminary studies on the issue have been conducted for a while," said Arinc, adding that privates who served for at least 12 months will be immediately released and new conscripts will serve for 12 months accordingly. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Oct. 4 that researchers were studying how to shorten military service during an interview on private broadcaster ATV channel. Days after Erdogan's statement, the General Staff of the Turkish armed forces announced the government agreed to shorten the compulsory military service of male citizens from 15 to 12 months. The statement added that the duration of the short-term military service, for which university students can apply, will remain six months. Currently, conscription in Turkey is compulsory for every man with a Turkish nationality over 18. Men serve between six and 15 months in the army, according to the level of their studies and the military post they apply to.