Ilker Basbug
Encyclopedia
Mehmet İlker Başbuğ was till August 2010 the 26th Chief of the General Staff of Turkey. In this post he is succeeded by Işık Koşaner
.
province in western Turkey
to an Albanian family who settled from a village near Presheva. He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1961 as an infantry
officer
. After graduating from the Infantry School in 1963, he served in different units of the Turkish Army as Platoon
and Commando Company Commander until 1970.
Following his graduation from the Army Staff College in 1973, he has served as the deputy chief of General Staff Operations Planning Command, as an instructor at Army Staff College, as Intelligence Division Intelligence Plans Chief at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE) in Mons
, Belgium
, as the Chief of Staff of the Defense Intelligence of the Army Plans and Principles Command, and as the Commander of the 247th Infantry Regiment of the 51st Infantry Brigade.
İlker Başbuğ, who has also graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England and the NATO Defense College, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
in 1989. He has later served in the SHAPE
in Mons, Belgium again, this time as the Chief of Logistics and Intelligence Departments as well as serving as the 1st Armored Brigade Commander until his promotion to the rank of Major General
in 1993.
As Major General, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie Public Order Command and later as the Chief of National Military Representation (NMR) at Mons, Belgium between 1993-1995. Following his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General
, he served as the 2nd Army Corps Commander and as the Deputy President of the Secretariat of the National Security Council
of the Republic of Turkey, respectively.
In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of General and served as the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Army until 2003, and then as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff
until 2005. Between 2005 and 2006, he served as the Commander of the First Army
until he assumed the post of the Commander of the Turkish Army on August 30, 2006.
The start of his tenure as the chief of staff has been marked by an initiative to improve the military's image and a reduction of militarist rhetoric.
Isik Kosaner
Sebahattin Işık Koşaner is a Turkish former military general who served as the 27th Chief of the General Staff from 2010 to 2011.-Biography:...
.
Biography
General İlker Başbuğ was born in the AfyonkarahisarAfyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is a city in western Turkey, the capital of Afyon Province. Afyon is in mountainous countryside inland from the Aegean coast, south-west of Ankara along the Akarçay River. Elevation...
province in western 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...
to an Albanian family who settled from a village near Presheva. He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1961 as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
. After graduating from the Infantry School in 1963, he served in different units of the Turkish Army as Platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
and Commando Company Commander until 1970.
Following his graduation from the Army Staff College in 1973, he has served as the deputy chief of General Staff Operations Planning Command, as an instructor at Army Staff College, as Intelligence Division Intelligence Plans Chief at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
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...
(SHAPE) 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...
, as the Chief of Staff of the Defense Intelligence of the Army Plans and Principles Command, and as the Commander of the 247th Infantry Regiment of the 51st Infantry Brigade.
İlker Başbuğ, who has also graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England and the NATO Defense College, was promoted to the rank of 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 1989. He has later served in the 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, Belgium again, this time as the Chief of Logistics and Intelligence Departments as well as serving as the 1st Armored Brigade Commander until his promotion to the rank of 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...
in 1993.
As Major General, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie Public Order Command and later as the Chief of National Military Representation (NMR) at Mons, Belgium between 1993-1995. Following his promotion to the rank of 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....
, he served as the 2nd Army Corps Commander and as the Deputy President of the Secretariat of the National Security Council
National Security Council (Turkey)
The National Security Council comprises the Chief of Staff, select members of the Council of Ministers, and the President of the Republic...
of the Republic of Turkey, respectively.
In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of General and served as the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Army until 2003, and then as the Deputy Chief of the 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...
until 2005. Between 2005 and 2006, he served as the Commander of the First Army
Turkish First Army
The First Army of the Republic of Turkey is one of the four field armies of the Turkish Army. Its headquarters is located at Selimiye Barracks in Istanbul. It guards the sensitive borders of Turkey with Greece and Bulgaria, including the straits Bosporus and Dardanelles...
until he assumed the post of the Commander of the Turkish Army on August 30, 2006.
The start of his tenure as the chief of staff has been marked by an initiative to improve the military's image and a reduction of militarist rhetoric.
Decorations
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-SacrificeTurkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-SacrificeTurkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice is one of the highest medals that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Turkish Armed Forces and was first created on July 3, 1975.-General:...
- 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 :...
- Order of Distinction of Pakistan (Pakistani Nishan-ı Imtiaz)
- Golden Medal of the Eagle of the Republic of Albania, awarded by President Bamir TopiBamir TopiBamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
on June 19, 2009.
Personal life
Başbuğ is married to Sevil Başbuğ and has two children. His personal interests include sociology, international diplomacy, cinema, and theatre.External links
- Photographs and biography in Turkish.