Nowadays, Turkey usually makes headlines with reports of authoritarian trends, but from time to time, civil society shows its prowess. One interesting example is the two-year power struggle between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) — known as Turkey's most rigid, disciplined and hierarchical body — and the noncommissioned officers serving in its branches. Who is winning?
Today, 96,228 noncommissioned officers (NCOs) serve in the TSK's land, navy, air and gendarmerie forces, in addition to 100,000 retired NCOs. When you think of the serving and retired NCOs and their families you are talking of a mass of about 800,000 people. NCOs are intermediary leaders who serve as a bridge between the conscripts and officers. Technical and maintenance personnel and logistics experts are all NCOs. NCOs like to describe themselves as follows: “Take the NCOs out, and the battalion will starve, planes won’t fly, ships won’t sail and tanks will break down.”