Hüseyin Kivrikoglu
Encyclopedia
Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu is a Turkish
general who was the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces
and on August 30, 1998, became Chief of the Turkish General Staff
for a four-year term.
, Bilecik Province, Turkey
, in December 1934, he completed his secondary schooling at the Işıklar Military High School in Bursa. He graduated from the Army Academy in 1955 as an artillery officer.
Upon commissioning, Kıvrıkoğlu underwent his officer's basic training at the Artillery Branch School in 1957. He spent the next eight years in a variety of artillery units as platoon and battery commander positions.
Following his staff officer education at the Army War College in 1965-1967, Kıvrıkoğlu was posted to the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış
, Kars
, as a staff officer, where he served until 1970.
After graduating from the Armed Forces College in 1970, he served as planning officer at Operations Division of the Allied Forces Southern Europe
(AFSOUTH) at Naples
, Italy
. Between 1972 and 1973, he served as instructor at the Army War College and as section chief at the Turkish General Staff and branch chief at the Turkish Land Forces Command. Kıvrıkoğlu commanded the Cadet
Regiment of the Army Academy in Ankara
from 1978 to 1980.
After graduating from the NATO Defence College in Rome
, Italy, he was promoted to Brigadier General
in 1980 and assigned to SHAPE
in Mons
, Belgium
, where he served as the Chief of Operations Center from 1980 to 1983. Upon returning to Turkey, he assumed the Command of the 3rd and 11th Brigades between 1983 and 1984 respectively.
In 1984, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to Major General
and assigned to NATO Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) in İzmir
, where he served as Chief of Staff. Later, he commanded the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış from 1986 to 1988.
In 1988, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
and became assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel, at the Turkish General Staff. From 1990-1993, he commanded the 5th Corps and then served as Undersecretary of Ministry of National Defence
.
In 1993, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to full General
. He then assumed the Command of NATO LANDSOUTHEAST, where he served until 1996, and later he commanded the Turkish First Army in Istanbul
until 1997.
Prior to becoming Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, he served as Commander of the Land Forces in 1997-1998.
There are rumours that Kıvrıkoğlu survived an assassination attempt in 1997's "Toros-2/97" exercise in Northern Cyprus. The bullet intended for him killed Colonel Vural Albay instead.
Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu served between August 30, 1998, and August 28, 2002, as the 23rd Chief of the Turkish General Staff
.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
general who was the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
and on August 30, 1998, became Chief of the Turkish General Staff
Chief of the Turkish General Staff
The General Staff of the Republic of Turkey presides over the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force...
for a four-year term.
Biography
Born in BozüyükBozüyük
Bozüyük is a town and district of Bilecik Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The mayor is Ahmet Berberoğlu .-Features:Bozüyük is the biggest town in Bilecik Province...
, Bilecik Province, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, in December 1934, he completed his secondary schooling at the Işıklar Military High School in Bursa. He graduated from the Army Academy in 1955 as an artillery officer.
Upon commissioning, Kıvrıkoğlu underwent his officer's basic training at the Artillery Branch School in 1957. He spent the next eight years in a variety of artillery units as platoon and battery commander positions.
Following his staff officer education at the Army War College in 1965-1967, Kıvrıkoğlu was posted to the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış
Sarıkamış
Sarıkamış is a town and a district of Kars Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The population is 17,860 as of 2010.The town sits in a valley and is surrounded by mountains, many of which are covered with pine forests. It has very long winters, with average of 7–8 ft of...
, Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
, as a staff officer, where he served until 1970.
After graduating from the Armed Forces College in 1970, he served as planning officer at Operations Division of the Allied Forces Southern Europe
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Allied Joint Force Command Naples is a NATO military command. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after what was effectively a redesignation of its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe , originally formed in 1951...
(AFSOUTH) at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Between 1972 and 1973, he served as instructor at the Army War College and as section chief at the Turkish General Staff and branch chief at the Turkish Land Forces Command. Kıvrıkoğlu commanded the Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
Regiment of the Army Academy in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
from 1978 to 1980.
After graduating from the NATO Defence College in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy, he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1980 and assigned to SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
in Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where he served as the Chief of Operations Center from 1980 to 1983. Upon returning to Turkey, he assumed the Command of the 3rd and 11th Brigades between 1983 and 1984 respectively.
In 1984, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and assigned to NATO Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, where he served as Chief of Staff. Later, he commanded the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış from 1986 to 1988.
In 1988, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General 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 normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and became assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel, at the Turkish General Staff. From 1990-1993, he commanded the 5th Corps and then served as Undersecretary of Ministry of National Defence
Ministry of National Defence (Turkey)
The Ministry of National Defense is a government ministry office of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for defense affairs in Turkey.- Central :Following departments and plants are subordinated to the Ministry of National Defense:...
.
In 1993, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to full General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. He then assumed the Command of NATO LANDSOUTHEAST, where he served until 1996, and later he commanded the Turkish First Army in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
until 1997.
Prior to becoming Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, he served as Commander of the Land Forces in 1997-1998.
There are rumours that Kıvrıkoğlu survived an assassination attempt in 1997's "Toros-2/97" exercise in Northern Cyprus. The bullet intended for him killed Colonel Vural Albay instead.
Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu served between August 30, 1998, and August 28, 2002, as the 23rd Chief of the Turkish General Staff
Chief of the Turkish General Staff
The General Staff of the Republic of Turkey presides over the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force...
.
Decorations
- (Turkish) State Medal of Honor
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished ServiceTurkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished ServiceTurkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service was first created on July 27, 1967 and took its current form on July 29, 1983.-General:Five large and five small stars on dark blue background circling an insignia of a crescent moon and a star on red background, the symbol of the Turkish flag,...
- Order of Distinction Medal (Hilal-i-Jur'at, Pakistan)
- Order of the Star of RomaniaOrder of the Star of RomaniaThe Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
- The Rank of Grand Cross - Class One Commander's Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
- Order of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal of KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
- Friendship Medal of KazakhstanKazakhstanKazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
Republic - AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's Flag Medal - Azerbaijan's Shohrat OrderShohrat OrderShohrat Order , translated as Order of Glory, is an award presented by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.-History and status:The order was created by the Decree No. 757 of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev and ratified by National Assembly of Azerbaijan on December 6, 1993...
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of HonorTurkish Armed Forces Medal of HonorTurkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor is the highest medal that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Turkish Armed Forces and was first created on July 27, 1967.- General :...
.
Badges
- Army Academy Graduation Badge
- Post Graduate Badge
- Training and Educational Success Badge
- Operational Success Badge
- Administration and Logistics Service Badge
- NATO Service Badge
- Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces Identification Badge.