ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to examine the professionalization tryouts in Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) which have recently been a significant agenda item. Within this context, professionalization tryouts, which were started by TAF after the Second World War, accelerated especially in the post Cold War period. For technical and critical tasks which require continuity specialist sergeants and corporals have started to be employed, while contract officers and non-commissioned officers have been taken into office for the need of rating in TAF. Likewise the employment of contract privates and contract sergeants/corporals has been implemented to increase the effectiveness in domestic safety operations. At the end of the study, it is pointed out that the conscription is likely to continue in Turkey in the short and medium term. On the other hand, depending on the positive developments in security perception, it is stated that discussions on the transition to professional army will gradually increase in the public agenda.