Paid Military Service Proposal Under Consideration

Parliament’s National Defense Commission has initiated a study for paid military service, and a sub-commission formed to research the issue will present a draft of the plan to the Ministry of Defense. If the proposal is favorably viewed by the ministry, a bill will be submitted to parliament. The opinion of the military, which has not displayed a positive attitude towards paid military service in the past, will be taken into consideration.

Put on the agenda at the suggestion of Republican’s People’s Party (CHP) Ardahan deputy Ensar Ogut, the paid military proposal was discussed yesterday at a commission meeting that was closed to the media. Indicating that a significant number of requests for paid military service had been received from constituents, Ogut requested that the commission conduct a study.

While Ogut’s suggestion was accepted, some commission members voiced anxiety on the matter before them. Drawing attention to financial affairs, these members claimed that only the children of wealthy people would be able to benefit from paid military service, resulting in an injustice to those who are financially disadvantaged.

The six-member paid military service commission will conduct a study on the issue and within 15 days will prepare a bill for presentation to the Defense Ministry. If the ministry agrees to it, the draft will be turned into a bill and will be submitted to parliament. The opinion of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), which is known to have adopted a negative position on a paid military in the past, will be weighed in determining the fate of the proposal.

Zekai Ozcinar / Ankara / TURKEY