Breaking news from the Ministry of National Defense: Enlistment and discharge dates extended. As coronavirus developments continue to prompt urgent announcements, the latest statement came from Minister Hulusi Akar of the Ministry of National Defense. In his announcement, Minister Akar said that, as a coronavirus precaution, enlistment and discharge dates have been postponed by one month. The ministry continues to hold meetings and make new decisions within the scope of coronavirus measures. Officials from the Coronavirus Fight Center (KOMMER) serving within the ministry have delivered presentations and assessments on measures and practices.
During the meeting, Minister Akar also noted that the coronavirus outbreak has prompted various measures in more than 180 countries, including border closures, and that governments around the world have gone on alert and declared emergencies.
Continuous Risk Assessments Are Being Conducted
Risk assessments are carried out continuously. Serious measures continue to be taken nationwide. In coordination with other ministries and under the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, all precautions have been implemented from the first day. In this context, Minister Akar stated that a Coronavirus Fight Center was established within the ministry to fight the epidemic more systematically. He noted that, especially according to the Ministry of Health, the spread of the coronavirus in our country and worldwide could reach more critical levels in coming days, and added that additional measures could be taken as needed. He emphasized that risk assessment work continues around the clock.
Enlistment and Discharge Procedures May Be Extended by One Month
The decision will be submitted for the President’s approval, and detailed work on the matter is ongoing, Minister Akar said. He added that conscripts due for discharge are kept under observation for 14 days before release and that this process is coordinated with provincial and district health directorates afterward. Despite all precautions taken, they concluded that carrying out all enlistments and discharges in the usual way poses a risk to soldiers, the public and the Armed Forces.
Allowing healthy personnel to travel from barracks to their homes and then back again without risk of transmission is difficult and risky. This situation threatens both the Armed Forces and families and the wider community. Such movement could seriously undermine gains made to date—such as quarantine measures, city isolations and stay-at-home orders—that aim to minimize social mobility across the country and within the Armed Forces.
Accordingly, the TSK command and relevant personnel have been conducting extensive work on various solutions. Minister Akar continued: “As a result of today’s meeting, and to protect our soldiers and the new recruits we care for, it is proposed to postpone the induction of 53,000 eligible young men scheduled for April 2020. Because no new recruits will arrive at units, the service terms of soldiers enlisted during the November 2019 call-up would be extended by one month. The issue will be reassessed after one month.” Minister Akar added that the measures and proposals will be submitted to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for approval as soon as possible.