# Security Forces Command > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Security_Forces_Command > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Security_Forces_Command.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Forces_Command > Source revision: 1351483820 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Military and security force of Northern Cyprus Security Forces Command Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı Founded 1976 Service branches Aviation Unit Command Coastal Guard Command Directorate General for Police Headquarters Boğaz, Girne Website www.mucahit.gov.ct.tr Leadership Commander Major Gen. İlker Görgülü Personnel Military age 18 Conscription 8 to 15 months Active personnel 15,000 Reserve personnel 7,000 Industry Foreign suppliers Turkey Related articles History Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) Turkish Cypriot soldiers of the Security Forces Command perform during the 2007 Republic Day parade. The **Security Forces Command** ([Turkish](/source/Turkish_language): *Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı, GKK*)[1] is the [military](/source/Military) and [security force](/source/Security_forces) of the unrecognized [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus](/source/Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus). It is a 15,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted [Turkish Cypriot](/source/Turkish_Cypriot) males between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a [combined arms](/source/Combined_arms) force, with land, air and naval arms, plus police and fire elements. This force is supplemented by the 17,500–30,000 strong [Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus](/source/Turkish_military_forces_in_Northern_Cyprus) stationed on the island.[2][3] ## History The Republic of Cyprus' constitution provided for a bi-communal army (i.e. Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) on a 60/40 per cent basis. The Cyprus army composed by both main Cypriot ethnic groups was created in 1960 yet was dismantled in the scope of the interethnic conflict 1963-4.[4] Since then, both communities have maintained their independent armed forces. Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community (and similarly the Greek Cypriot community) maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or [TMT](/source/Turkish_Resistance_Organization)), trained and equipped by the [Turkish Army](/source/Turkish_Army) (ibid). In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit ("[Mujahideen](/source/Mujahideen)"), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force.[5] In 1974, Turkey led an invasion of Cyprus with the aim of protecting the Turkish minority population after a Greek-inspired coup brought a threat of union of the island with Greece. Since then there have been no major fighting in Cyprus and the island continues to be divided. ## Organization The Turkish Cypriot Security Force is under the command of an officer of the Turkish Army. The officer is appointed by the [Turkish Armed Forces](/source/Turkish_Armed_Forces) and holds the rank of [major general](/source/Major_general), whereas the head of the [Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus](/source/Turkish_military_forces_in_Northern_Cyprus) holds a higher rank as [lieutenant general](/source/Lieutenant_general).[5][6] It includes 4 Infantry Regiments and the Coast Guard Command, two of which are expedition and the other two are (ready). In addition, the TRNC Police Organization is included in the Security Forces. The organization is as follows: - 1st Infantry Regiment - Hazir (ready) - 2nd Infantry Regiment - Seferi (mobile) - 3rd Infantry Regiment - Seferi (mobile) - 4th Infantry Regiment - Hazir (ready) - [Aviation Unit Command](/source/Aviation_Unit_Command) - [TRNC Coast Guard Command](/source/TRNC_Coast_Guard_Command) - [Directorate General for Police](/source/Directorate_General_for_Police), includes the Fire and Rescue Service [7] - [Special Task Force Command](/source/TRNC_Special_Task_Force_Command)[8] - Logistics Support Command - UAV command in [Geçitkale Air Base](/source/Ge%C3%A7itkale_Air_Base)[9] According to observers a large part of its budget was covered by the Turkish army, upon which it depended for training and equipment. It is also believed that the majority of its officers came from the ranks of the Turkish Army officer corps on temporary leave from their regular duties and its operations were controlled by the Turkish army.[5] ## Strength G.K.K Commandos Passage Ceremony. Turkish Cypriot Soldiers. As of 2009, the strength of this force was believed to be about 9,000. It was organized into fifteen battalions in two brigades, infantry battalions armed with light weapons plus some artillery units equipped with mortars.[5] Turkish Cyprus's Coast Guard has 36 vessels.[10] Coast Guard operates: KKTC SG 01 (Class: Turk type 80; construction:1997-2000; active since:2000)[11] In March, 2023, Turkish Cyprus's Coast Guard started to operate TRNC SG-110 (BOĞAZ), TRNC SG-111 (LEFKE) and TRNC SG-112 (SERDARLI) modern assault boats.[12] ## Military ranks of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Due to its close ties to [Turkey](/source/Turkey), Northern Cyprus shares a rank structure similar to that of Turkey.[13] ### Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of [commissioned officers](/source/Commissioned_officer). Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Northern Cypriot Security Forces Command v t e Tümgeneral (Major general) Tuğgeneral (Brigadier general) Albay (Colonel) Yarbay (Lieutenant colonel) Binbaşı (Major) Yüzbaşı (Captain) Üsteğmen (First lieutenant) Teğmen (Second lieutenant) Asteğmen (Sub-lieutenant) ### Other ranks The rank insignia of [non-commissioned officers](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) and [enlisted personnel](/source/Enlisted_rank). Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted Northern Cypriot Security Forces Command v t e No insignia Astsubay kıdemli baş çavuş (Command sergeant major) Astsubay baş çavuş (Sergeant major) Astsubay kıdemli üst çavuş (Master sergeant) Astsubay üst çavuş (Sergeant first class) Astsubay kıdemli çavuş (Staff sergeant) Astsubay çavuş (Sergeant) Çavuş (Corporal) Onbaşı (Lance corporal) Er (Private) ## Compulsory military service According to the TRNC Constitution, every male citizen has a military service obligation. The recruitment age is 18 years. Military service periods: - 15 months in private equilibrium - 12 months in reserve officer equivalent - Reserve officer, sergeant equivalent 12 months - 8 months in short term equilibrium - It is 1 month provided that it fulfills its special status (paid and / or short term service) obligation. ## See also - [Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command](/source/Turkish_Armed_Forces_in_Northern_Cyprus) - [Cypriot National Guard](/source/Cypriot_National_Guard) - [Hellenic Force in Cyprus](/source/Hellenic_Force_in_Cyprus) - [Directorate General for Police](/source/Directorate_General_for_Police) ## References This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain). [*Country Studies*](https://www.loc.gov/collections/country-studies/about-this-collection/). [Federal Research Division](/source/Federal_Research_Division). **Bibliography** - Christopher Hitchens - Cyprus, Hostage to History: From the Ottomans to Kissinger **Notes** 1. **[^](#cite_ref-securityforce_1-0)** ["Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı"](http://www.guvkk.net). Retrieved 13 May 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Library of Congress"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210811151131/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cy0158)). Archived from [the original](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cy0158%29) on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** *Turkey: A Country Study*, p.350. [Kessinger Publishing](/source/Kessinger_Publishing), 2004. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-4191-9126-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-4191-9126-8) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Efthymiou S.A. (2019) Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity After the Construction of the Border. In: Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity in Post-Conflict Cyprus. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14702-0_2](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14702-0_2) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SolstenDivision1993_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SolstenDivision1993_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SolstenDivision1993_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-SolstenDivision1993_5-3) Eric Solsten; Library of Congress. Federal Research Division (1993). [*Cyprus, a country study*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5UuFAAAAIAAJ). Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 232. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8444-0752-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8444-0752-4). Although legally separate from the Turkish Army on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Security Force was believed to remain under the [de facto](/source/De_facto) operational control of the Turkish forces. It also depended on Turkey for training and equipment. Most of its officers were regular Turkish Army officers on secondment. Observers believed that many of its expenses were absorbed by the Turkish Army. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["KTBK Komutanlığı'na Korgeneral İsmail Serdar Savaş, GKK Komutanlığı'na Tüm General Baki Kavun atandı"](http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/36/news/85899) (in Turkish). Kıbrıs Postası. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["KKTC Polis Genel Müdürlüðü - TRNC Police Headquarters - Araçlar"](https://www.polis.gov.ct.tr/araclar.aspx.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140328091403/http://polis.gov.ct.tr/araclar.aspx.html) from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Özel Görev Kuvveti Komutanlığı - Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190502105938/http://www.mucahit.net/Hakkinda/OGK.aspx). *www.mucahit.net*. Archived from [the original](http://www.mucahit.net/Hakkinda/OGK.aspx) on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Türkiye'den KKTC'ye ilk Bayraktar TB2 İHA indi"](https://www.baykarsavunma.com/haber-Turkiyeden-KKTCye-ilk-Bayraktar-TB2-IHA-indi.html). *BaykarSavunma* (in Turkish). Retrieved 20 April 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Ansamed, 04 June 2015](http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/transport/2015/06/04/cyprus-plans-for-privatisation-of-turkish-cypriot-ports_94d689ad-5ddb-4a79-bf08-d3381e981202.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210904041402/https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/transport/2015/06/04/cyprus-plans-for-privatisation-of-turkish-cypriot-ports_94d689ad-5ddb-4a79-bf08-d3381e981202.html) 4 September 2021 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Northern Cyprus' Coast Guard 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [NTVMSNBC](http://arsiv.ntvmsnbc.com/news/17911.asp) 16.07.2000 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Kibrispostasi, 20 March 2023](https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRIS_HABERLERI/n464430-sahil-guvenlik-komutanligina-tedarik-edilen-botlarin-hizmete-giris-toreni-yapildi) The commissioning ceremony of the boats supplied to the Coast Guard Command was held. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Dyer, Gwynne (1979). ["Cyprus"](https://archive.org/details/worldarmies00keeg/page/68/mode/2up). In Keegan, John (ed.). *World armies*. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 162. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780871964076](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780871964076). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [79-9217](https://lccn.loc.gov/79-9217). Retrieved 27 January 2022. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.mucahit.net) (Turkish) - [Military of Northern Cyprus on Reddet](https://web.archive.org/web/20080708195542/http://militarizmi.reddet.org/5.htm) - [Library of Congress - Country Study](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html) - [Cypnet](http://www.cypnet.com/.ncyprus/root.html) v t e Northern Cyprus articles History Cyprus problem Intercommunal violence Green Line Turkish invasion Refugees Annan Plan 2004 Annan Plan referendums Turkish Federated State of Cyprus Declaration of independence Geography Cities, towns and villages Extreme points Mammals Foreign relations Diplomatic missions Representative Office to the United States Politics Assembly Constitution Districts Elections Law enforcement Political parties President Prime Minister Council of Ministers Embargoes Military Security Forces Command Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus Economy Banks Central Bank Turkish lira (currency) Telecommunications Kuzey Kıbrıs Turkcell KKTC Telsim Tourism Society Citizenship Crime Education universities and colleges Human rights LGBT Mass media Women abortion Culture Cuisine Dances Newspapers Television Museums Sport football Holidays Republic Day Demographics Ethnicities Turkish Cypriots diaspora Turkish settlers Enclaved Greek Cypriots Maronites Languages Turkish Cypriot Turkish Symbols Anthem Coat of arms Flag Outline Category v t e Military of Europe Sovereign states Albania Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria Related Military history of Europe List of countries in Europe by military expenditures v t e Militaries of Asia Sovereign states Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia People's Republic of China Cyprus Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar (Burma) Nepal Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Timor Leste Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen States with limited recognition Abkhazia South Ossetia Northern Cyprus Taiwan Dependencies and other territories British Indian Ocean Territory Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Hong Kong Macau --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Security Forces Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Forces_Command) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Forces_Command?action=history)). 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