Lieutenants dismissed: Discipline reigns supreme for Turkish Armed Forces
At the Army War College graduation ceremony of the National Defense University, a group of newly commissioned lieutenants, including the top graduate, drew their swords and chanted, "We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers." (IHA Photo)
On January 31, 2025, five freshly graduated lieutenants from the Turkish Military Academy were dismissed over breaking protocol during their graduation ceremony on August 30, 2024. Three commanders were also removed from the Turkish Armed Forces.
The situation led to initial heigtened media attention, including Turkish social media channels quickly making the matter a hot topic.
Lieutenants dismissed include Erbu Eroglu, Izzet Serhat Gundar, Deniz Demirtas, and Batuhan Gazi Kilic, alongside commanders Alper Toksakal, Halit Turkoglu, and Murat Erturk. The lieutenants were top of their class with Eroglu receiving valedictorian.
What happened?
Ebru Eroglu, who was the top student at the Turkish Military Academy and who received her graduation certificate from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the ceremony took another oath with saber rattling with some of the officers pledging allegiance to Türkiye’s secularism, its territorial integrity, and declaring that “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers.”
The officers were warned on at least three separate occasions before the graduation ceremony, all after multiple requests to hold their own oath which was rejected.
Eroglu’s defense
The charges against the lieutenants included Article 20 and Article 40 of the Turkish Armed Forces Disciplinary Code within the Turkish Armed Forces High Disciplinary Rules Regulation.
Article 20 of the law deals with the heading “Indiscipline requiring the penalty of separation from the Armed Forces”, under which the lieutenants are going to be evaluated for “engaging in behaviors that hinder service.”
On Jan. 16, the five lieutenants gave their oral defense at discplinary board of the Land Forces Command. Eroglu’s defense highlighted:
- The saber oath took place after the official ceremony, not during
- Media was not invited by the lieutenants
- Protocol left the ceremony area
- Highlited her dedication, accolades at the army academy
The legal team representing the dismissed lieutenants is challenging the decision on similar lines.
Strong response from main opposition CHP
The main opposition People’s Republican Party (CHP) lambasted the dismissal of the lieutenants.
…We told you not to make this historic mistake against our army, but you did not listen. We promise. When we come to power, we will bring our lieutenants together with their glorious uniforms without any losses. We will ask anyone who is a party to this mistake to account for this decision.
Ozgur Ozel, CHP Chairman, Jan. 31
Meanwhile Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu commented:
Our Turkish Armed Forces expelled Türkiye’s most successful lieutenants for saying ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.’ Our army is the army of veteran Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of this country and our eternal Commander-in-Chief. This decision disrespects the memory of our soldiers who have fought for the unity and integrity of our country since the War of Independence, it has hurt our veterans, and it has pained the bones of our martyrs.
Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor, Jan. 31
Ankara mayor shared a simple “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers” on his X account.
Prolonged verdict delivery – discipline it is
The initial verdict from the events that unfolded on August 30 was meant to occur in late November, yet it was delayed for over 11 weeks.
Official Ministry of Defense sources speaking in December had stated, “The issue is not the text read, but the non-compliance with the order. They brought the Turkish Armed Forces into discussion and damaged its reputation.”
Erdogan had commented that consultations over the issue occurred with the rector of the National Defense University Erhan Afyoncu, Commander of the Land Forces Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and the Minister of Defense Guler. Afyoncu a Turkish historian by training, has a book dedicated on indiscpline in Turkish military hitory, titled “Military Rebellions and Coups in the Ottoman Empire.”
On Jan. 31, the Turkish Ministry of Defense delivered the announcement:
Following the images that surfaced in the public after the Flag Handing Ceremony and Graduation Ceremony of the Army Academy, administrative and disciplinary investigations were initiated. In this context, the Ministry of National Defense High Disciplinary Board imposed the ‘Dismissal from the Armed Forces’ penalty on three senior disciplinary officers, while the Turkish Land Forces High Disciplinary Board imposed the same penalty on five second lieutenants, in accordance with the provisions of the Turkish Armed Forces Disciplinary Law and the Regulations of the High Disciplinary Boards of the Turkish Armed Forces.
In our Turkish Armed Forces, where the preservation and continuation of established discipline is a priority, no tolerance will be shown for any action, incident, or situation that is contrary to discipline, and there should be no doubt about this.
On Feb. 8, the Ministry of Defense, as the matter continued to be a hot topic, made another statement highlighting that the reason for dismissal was due to “premeditated, collective and organized indiscipline” displayed by the lieutenants.
