The Security Forces Command () is the military and security force of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a de facto state recognized only by Turkey.

It is a 15,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a 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 stationed on the island.

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. 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), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army (ibid). In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit ("Mujahideen"), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force. 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 and holds the rank of major general, whereas the head of the Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus holds a higher rank as lieutenant general. 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.

Structure

It includes 4 Infantry Regiments, one artillery battalion, Special Task Force Command and the Coast Guard Command, two regiments of which are expedition and the other two are mobile. In addition, the TRNC Police Organization is included in the Security Forces. The organization is as follows:

Directorate General for Police, includes the Fire and Rescue Service under security forces command.

Media and Public Relations

The Security Forces Command operates its own institutional public media networks to maintain communication, broadcast official defense announcements, and provide cultural programming to the Turkish Cypriot community. These media operations are structurally managed under the command's press and public relations branches:

• Radio Güven (Radyo Güven): Established on 1 August 2002, it serves as the official radio broadcasting station of the command. Operating via 5-kilowatt transmitters at Selvili Tepe, Kantara, and Atak Tepe, the station provides wide coverage across Cyprus and the southern coasts of Turkey. It broadcasts news, public interest programs, and military recruitment announcements.

• Güven TV: The television broadcasting division of the command, which focuses on producing documentaries regarding military history, regional security updates, and national ceremonies in Northern Cyprus.

Strength

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, ATGM's and MANPADS

Turkish Cyprus's Coast Guard has 36 vessels. The flagship fleet of the command consists of four main vessels of the Turkish Coast Guard Type 80 class (such as KKTC SG-01), which were constructed between 1997 and 2000 and have been in active service since 2000. In terms of armament, these vessels are equipped with one 40mm/70 caliber gun and two 12.7mm machine guns. The rest of the naval inventory is composed of fast attack crafts, rapid intervention boats, and dedicated search and rescue (SAR) vessels.

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.

Equipment

The Security Forces Command (GKK) and its structurally attached division, the Police General Directorate (PGM), primarily utilize military hardware, small arms, and tactical vehicles supplied by or produced in cooperation with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

Pistols

Small Arms

Heavy Weapons and Guided Missiles

Vehicles and Aviation

Military ranks of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Security Forces Command is structurally a division-sized formation comprising approximately 15,000 active personnel. Since the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus does not possess its own independent military academy (Harbiye), its officer corps is trained in Turkey at the Turkish Military Academy. Consequently, the commander of the force traditionally holding the rank of Major General along with other high-ranking commanders and generals, are appointed directly from the cadres of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

In terms of military heraldry and uniform regulations, the rank insignia and design structure utilized by the Security Forces Command are historically modeled after the rank system used by the Turkish Armed Forces during the 1938–1947 period.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Compulsory military service

Military service is compulsory for all male citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus under the framework of the TRNC Military Law (). Conscripts are generally called up for enlistment at the age of 18 or 19 after completing their secondary education.

The duration of compulsory service varies based on the conscript's educational qualifications:

• Standard conscripts (those without a higher education degree) typically fulfill a service period of 15 months.

• University graduates have the option to serve as reserve officers () for 12 months, or complete a shortened service of 8 months as standard conscripts.

Special legal provisions exist for Turkish Cypriot citizens residing abroad. Under the paid military service () scheme, individuals who have lived and worked abroad for a legally specified duration can shorten their active service to a brief basic training period (typically a few weeks) by paying a designated exemption fee to the government. Conscientious objection is currently not legally recognized under TRNC law, and failure to report for duty is subject to judicial penalties.

See also

• Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command

• Cypriot National Guard

• Hellenic Force in Cyprus

• Directorate General for Police

References

1. Bibliography

2. Christopher Hitchens - Cyprus, Hostage to History: From the Ottomans to Kissinger

3. Notes

External links

• Official website (Turkish)

• Military of Northern Cyprus on Reddet

• Library of Congress - Country Study

• Cypnet