Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
* Something related to Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities in the former Ottoman Empire
* The w ...
general who has been the
53rd 53 may refer to:
* 53 (number)
* one of the years 53 BC, AD 53, 1953, 2053
* FiftyThree, an American privately held technology company that specializes in tools for mobile creation and visual thinking
* 53rd Regiment Alabama Cavalry
* 53rd Regiment ...
and current commander of the
Turkish Land Forces
The Turkish Land Forces () is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant campaigns since the foun ...
since 16 August 2023.
Biography
Bayraktaroglu was born in
Artvin
Artvin (Laz language, Laz and ; ; ) is a List of cities in Turkey, city in northeastern Turkey about inland from the Black Sea. It is the seat of Artvin Province and Artvin District. He obtained his graduation from
Kuleli Military High School
Kuleli Military High School was the oldest military high school in Turkey, located in Çengelköy, Istanbul, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus strait. It was founded on 21 September 1845, by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I.
After the 2016 Turkish ...
in 1977.
Bayraktaroglu completed his studies at the
Turkish Military Academy
The Turkish Military Academy () or as it is known historically and popularly Harbiye is a four-year co-educational military academy and part of the National Defense University (Turkey), National Defence University. It is located in the cent ...
in 1981, graduating as a signal officer. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of second lieutenant after he went on to complete his specialized training in 1982. From 1982 to 1991, he served in different signal units, holding the positions of
platoon
A platoon is a Military organization, military unit typically composed of two to four squads, Section (military unit), sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the Military branch, branch, but a platoon can ...
and
company commander
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100–250 soldiers and usually commanded by a major or a captain. Most companies are made up of three to seven platoons, although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and struc ...
. In 1993, he completed his studies at the Army War College, followed by graduation from the Armed Forces College in 1997. From 1993 to 2009, he served in various staff officer roles at
military unit
Military organization ( AE) or military organisation ( BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. Formal military organization tends to use hiera ...
s and headquarters.
In 2009, Bayraktaroglu was promoted to brigadier general and took on the role of commander of the 9th Commando Brigade, serving from 2009 to 2011, and commander of the Logistics and Ammunition Command, a position he held from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, he was promoted to major general and assumed the office commander of Communications, Electronics, Information Systems, and Cyber Defense at the
Turkish General Staff
The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri Genelkurmay Başkanlığı'', ''abbreviation: TSK Gnkur. Bşk.lığı'') is the highest staff organization in the Turkish Armed Forces.
Chief ...
(2013–2014) and
chief of Staff
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
in 2016, he served as the Chief of the Personnel Division at the Turkish General Staff until 2020.
Bayraktaroglu is married to Hürriyet Bayraktaroglu with two children.
Awards and decorations
In 2024, Bayraktaroglu was awarded the
Nishan-e-Imtiaz
The Nishan-e-Imtiaz (; ) is one of the state organized Civil decorations of Pakistan, civil decorations of Pakistan.
It is awarded for achievements towards world recognition for Pakistan or outstanding service for the country. However, the awa ...
(Order of Excellence) by the
president of Pakistan
The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
in recognition of his contributions to defence relations between Pakistan and Turkey.
In December 2021, he was awarded the
Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service () was first created on July 27, 1967 and took its current form on July 29, 1983.
Technical specifications General
Five large and five small stars on dark blue background circling an insignia of ...
by the
government of Turkey
The Government of Turkey () is the Central government, national government of Turkey. It is governed as a unitary state under a presidential system, presidential representative democracy and a Constitution of Turkey, constitutional republic wit ...