Gendarmerie General Command

The Gendarmerie General Command (Template:Langx) is the national gendarmerie force of the Republic of Turkey. It is a service branch of the Turkish Ministry of Interior responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces (generally in rural areas), as well as assuring internal security along with carrying out other specific duties assigned to it by certain laws and regulations. In wartime, some of its elements can be subordinated to Turkish Land Forces by the President of Turkey.

The Commander of the Gendarmerie reports to the Minister of the Interior.

The Gendarmerie has its roots in the Ottoman Empire military law enforcement organization "Subaşı" (later known as the "Zaptiye"). A similar, earlier force called "Şurta" existed during the medieval Seljuq Empire.

History

File:GendarmeríaOtomanaEnMacedonia--balkancockpitpol00pric 0025.png

Ottoman Gendarmerie Cavalry in Macedonia.

Ottoman era

After the abolition of the Janissary corps of the Ottoman Empire in 1826, military organizations called Asâkir-i Muntazâma-i Mansûre, Asâkir-i Muntazâma-i Hâssa, and, in 1834, Asâkir-i Redîfe were established for security and public order in Anatolia and in some provinces of Rumelia.

File:British Officers in the Ottoman Gendarmerie Graphic June 25 1904.JPG

British officers in the Ottoman Gendarmerie, 1904

As the first use of the term Gendarmerie was in the Assignment Decrees published in the years following the 1839 Edict of Gülhane, it is assumed that the Gendarmerie organization was founded after that year, but the exact date of foundation has not yet been determined. Therefore, the date on which the name Asâkir-i Zaptiye Nizâmnâmesi was adopted, June 14, 1839, is usually considered the foundation date of the Turkish Gendarmerie.

After the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War, Ottoman prime minister Mehmed Said Pasha decided to bring police officers from Britain and France to establish a modern law enforcement organization. The Gendarmerie was used to great effect after the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, particularly in Rumelia. In 1909, the Gendarmerie was affiliated with the Ministry of War, and its name was changed to the Gendarmerie General Command (Template:Langx).

Gendarmerie units continued their internal security duties as well as taking part in the conflict at various fronts as a part of the Armed Forces during World War I and the Turkish War of Independence.

Republic of Turkey

20th century

File:Topkapı sarayında nöbetçi Jandarma Eri.jpg

A Turkish conscript gendarme on guard at Topkapı Palace in Istanbul

The Gendarmerie organization achieved its current legal status on June 10, 1930. In 1939, the Gendarmerie organization was restructured, having three groups: Fixed Gendarmerie Units, Mobile Gendarmerie Units, and Gendarmerie Training Units and Schools.

In 1956, the Gendarmerie General Command was assigned the duties of protecting borders, coasts and territorial waters, and fighting smuggling, which had been previously carried out by the Gümrük Umum Kumandanlığı, under the Ministry of Customs and Monopoly. In 1957, Gendarmerie Border Units were transformed into brigades, and Gendarmerie Training Brigades were established.

In 1961, Gendarmerie Regional Commands were established. In 1968, the first Gendarmerie Aviation Unit was established in Diyarbakır under the name of Light Helicopter Company Command.

In 1974, Gendarmerie Commando Units and Gendarmerie Aviation Units took part in the Turkish military operations in Cyprus.

In 1988, the duty of protecting the land borders and ensuring their security was assigned to the Land Forces Command, but Gendarmerie General Command still holds the responsibility for some parts of the Iranian and Syrian borders and the whole Iraqi border.

The Gendarmerie Criminal Department was founded in Ankara in 1993 and from 1994, Gendarmerie Regional Criminal Laboratory Superiorities? were founded. Crime Scene Examination Teams, Explosive Material Disposal Units, Fingerprints and Palm Prints Branches and Crime Scene Examination Units were also established.

21st century

In 2016, the Gendarmerie General Command was affiliated to the Ministry of Interior.

In 2018, Gendarmerie Special Operations participated in Operation Olive Branch, part of the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War. According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Turkish Gendarmerie killed 500 Syrian civilians at the Turkish-Syrian border.

The Gendarmerie General Command currently has a total of 3,600 units, including 3,056 Internal Security Units, 218 Commando Units, 162 Prison Units, 160 Protection Units and four Aviation Units.

Duties

The duties of the gendarmerie according to the Law No. 2803 on the Organization, Duties and Powers of the Gendarmerie; It is categorized under four main titles as judicial, military, civil and other duties.

Judicial duties

• Finding crimes and criminals,
• Capturing suspects,
• Transferring evidence judicial authorities,
• Conduct preparatory investigations when instructed to by the public prosecutor,
• Transporting prisoners between jails and courthouses.

Civil duties

• To ensure that the services for general safety and security are carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation,
• To carry out the services of informing the public about how to protect the society from public order crime, directing children and young people to crime and taking precautionary measures,
• To evaluate the information and statistics about public order crimes, to conduct or have an analysis of the crime and to determine the methods of combating crime to prevent public order crimes by evaluating them,
• Carrying out activities to prevent crime,
• Preventing, pursuing and investigating smuggling,
• External protection of penal institutions and detention centers.

Military duties

• To perform military services provided by law

Other duties

• These are duties other than judicial, military and civil duties, such as facility and personal protection and transport security, which must be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations, orders and decisions.

Structure

File:Gendarme - Çankaya.jpg

Gendarmerie General Command Headquarters

Commands

Gendarmerie General Command Headquarters (Ankara)

• Gendarmerie Security Corps Command (Van)
  • 23. Gendarmerie Border Division (Şırnak)
  • 21. Gendarmerie Border Brigade (Yüksekova)
  • 1. Gendarmerie Commando Brigade (Çakırsöğüt, Şırnak)
  • 2. Gendarmerie Commando Brigade (Bornova, İzmir)
• Gendarmerie Training Command (Ankara, İncek, Gölbaşı)
  • 1. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Aydın)
  • 2. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Bilecik)
  • 3. Gendarmerie Training Battalion Command (Ezine, Çanakkale)
  • 5. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Gölköy, Kastamonu)
  • 6. Gendarmerie Commando Training Regiment Command (Kırkağaç, Manisa)
  • 7. Gendarmerie Commando Training Regiment Command (Yenifoça, İzmir)
  • Gendarmerie Combat Training Battalion Command (Seferihisar, İzmir)
  • Gendarmerie Transport Battalion Command (Söğüt, Bilecik)
  • 10. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Bornova, İzmir)
  • 116. Gendarmerie Private Training Regiment Command (Çanakkale)
  • 121. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Serinyol, Antakya)
  • 125. Gendarmerie Training Regiment Command (Safranbolu, Karabük)
  • Işıklar Gendarmerie NCO High School (Bursa) ( was established in 1845 as "Mekteb-i Fünun-u İdadi"')
  • Gendarmerie Horse and Dog Training Center Command (Nevşehir) (JAKEM)
• Gendarmerie Logistics Command (Güvercinlik, Ankara)
• Gendarmerie Aviation Command (Güvercinlik, Ankara)
  • Gendarmerie UAV Command (Elazığ)
• Gendarmerie Special Public Security Command (JÖAK)
  • Gendarmerie Special Operations (JÖH)
  • Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command (JAK)
  • Gendarmerie Underwater Search and Rescue Teams (SAK)
  • Gendarmerie Public Security Boat Commands (Security and public order services at inland waters are carried out by the Gendarmerie Public Order Boat Commands.)
• Village guards
• Prison Gendarmerie Division Commands (There are garrison stations appointed in every prison)
• The Gendarmerie Band Command

Criminal units

• Provincial Gendarmerie Commands in 81 provinces & in 388 districts.
  • The Crime Scene Investigation Teams (CSIT) (Working under the Provincial and District Gendarmerie Commands systematically examine the crime scene by means of technical and scientific methods; properly gather physical evidences; pack and send them to forensic laboratories.)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams ( which have been established in tourism regions, regions with a concentration of terror incidents and big cities, dispose of explosive ordnances.)
  • Crime scene investigation units
  • Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (ASOCD)
• Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization

Other units

• Gendarmerie Traffic Teams
  • The Gendarmerie Motorcycled Public Order Teams (Round-the-clock at the highways established by the protocols in the responsibility areas of the Gendarmerie General Command.)
• Gendarmerie Dog Teams
• Gendarmerie Environmental Protection Teams (Environmental Protection Teams have been established in order to protect environment, ecological balance and natural life, to protect living species and areas protected by national legislation and international conventions and to prevent environmental pollution.)
• The Gendarmerie Mounted Units (Used in performing patrolling services at resort areas, forestlands, recreation spots and museums (Topkapı Palace), and in performing preventive law enforcement services.)

Jurisdiction

The Gendarmerie General Command has jurisdiction over 93 percent of Turkey's territory, focusing on rural and border areas, and serves approximately 20 percent of the population. The remaining areas fall under the jurisdiction of the police department.

Led by a four-star general and organized into multiple commands, the Gendarmerie comprises nearly 195,218 to 200,000 personnel. It plays a central role in maintaining security in rural regions that are often targeted by criminal groups for smuggling, human and drug trafficking.

The Gendarmerie is a member of the NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence (NATO SP COE) and the International Association of Gendarmeries and Police Forces with Military Status (FIEP).

Ranks

Officers

Template:Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies/OF/Turkey (Gendarmerie)

Other Ranks

Template:Ranks and insignia of NATO armies/OR/Turkey (Gendarmerie)

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

The Gendarmerie Museum

File:Jandarma Müzesi.jpg

Museum

The Gendarmerie Museum is established in order to reflect the developments in periodical order beginning with the foundation of the Gendarmerie organization; to exhibit its activities, heroic deeds, services in the history; to protect all kinds of military cultural assets related to the Gendarmerie by collecting them and to transfer them to the future generations.

The Gendarmerie Museum in the Beytepe Lieutenant General İsmail SELEN Quarters in Ankara and is open to public.

Equipment

Model	Origin	Type	References
Canik TP9	Turkey	Semi-automatic pistol
Sarsilmaz SAR 9
Glock 19	Austria
Sarsılmaz Cobra & Baba	Turkey	Shotgun
Armsan RS-A2
SPAS-12	Italy
Heckler & Koch MP5	West Germany	Submachine gun
IMI Micro Uzi	Israel
SAR 109T	Turkey
FN P90	Belgium
AKM	Soviet Union	Rifle
Galil MAR	Israel
Heckler & Koch G3	West Germany	Rifle
HK G41
HK33A4
MKE MPT	Turkey
KCR-556
M16A1	United States
M4A1
Accuracy International AW	United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch G28	Germany
IMI Galatz	Israel
LMT MWS 308	United States
McMillan M87R
McMillan Tac-50
MKEK JNG-90	Turkey
Robar RC-50	United States
SR-25
SVD	Soviet Union
Canik M2 QCB	United States	Machine gun
FN MAG	Belgium
HK23E	West Germany
KMG556	Turkey
SAR 762 MT
M249 SAW	United States
MG3	West Germany
PKM	Soviet Union
RPK
AK-40GL	Turkey	Grenade laucher
Kale KGL40
MKEK 40mm
MKEK T40
HK 69	Germany
HK 79
M203	United States
Mk 19
Milkor M32A1	South Africa
RPG-7	Soviet Union
M19	United States	Mortar
M29
Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1	France
Aselsan Alkar	Turkey
JARMOL		Directed energy weapon
ASELSAN IHTAR KARTAL-2		Anti-drone system
COŞKUN		EOD robot
ASLAN		Medium class UGV with integrated AVAZ long-range sonic weapon

Vehicles and Aerial vehicles

Model	Image	Origin/Assembly	Type	Variant	Quantity	Details
Patrol vehicles
TOGG	File:2022 Togg C-SUVside.jpg		Electric Patrol vehicle	SUV	N/A
BMC Tulga	File:BMC Tulga of Turkish Gendarmerie at Teknofest 2023 İzmir.jpg		Armoured patrol vehicle	SUV		Expected to enter the inventory of Gendarmerie 2025.It will be produced 300 in total.
Isuzu D-Max	File:Isuzu D-MAX (front quarter).JPG	Template:JAP	Patrol vehicle	Pick-up	N/A
Dacia Duster	File:Dacia Duster - Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2014 - 001.jpg			SUV
Fiat Egea	File:Fiat Tipo Sedan Facelift Leonberg 2022 1X7A0412.jpg			Sedan	50
Fiat Doblo	File:Fiat Doblo (22707961995).jpg			Bus	50
Reanult Megane	File:Renault Megane Jandarma squad car.JPG		Traffic patrol vehicle	Sedan	N/A
Renault Fluence	File:GendarmerieRenaultFluence.jpg
Toyota Corolla	File:2018 Toyota Corolla (MZEA12R) Ascent Sport hatchback (2018-11-02) 01.jpg	Template:JAP
Mitsubishi Triton	File:Mitsubishi L200 Crew Cab Gapsa.jpg			Pick-up
Nisan Navara	File:2018 Nissan Navara Tekna DCi Automatic 2.3.jpg
Ford Ranger	File:Ford Ranger 3.jpg		Patrol vehicle
Ford Transit Custom	File:Jandarma Alaçatı.jpeg			Van
Ford Transit	File:2016 Ford Transit 350 2.2.jpg
Honda Africa Twin	File:HONDA - CRF1000L Africa Twin - (22861674485).jpg	Template:JAP	Patrol Motorbike	CRF1000L
BMW R1200	File:BMW R 1200 GS Adventure racing blue.jpg			R1200 GS
Armoured vehicles
Sisu Nasu	File:Tracked transport vehicle Sisu NA 110.JPG		Tracked All-Terrain Vehicle	NA-140 BT	47
BMC Kirpi	File:2012 Eurosatory BMC trucks.JPGFile:KirpiII.jpg		MRAP	Kirpi Kirpi II	200 200	Integrated JARMOL Directed energy weapon on Kirpi 1. It can be combined with IHTAR KARTAL-2 anti-drone system.
BMC Vuran	File:Turkish Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in Romania 210519-N-D0455-006.jpg		MRAP	Vuran 4x4 Vuran Alkar	240	BMC Vuran armored vehicle with Mobile Adjustable Ramp System. The Gendarmerie took delivery of the VURAN vehicles mounted on the ALKAR 120mm Mortar Weapon System. Mobile mortar capability will be gained with ALKAR-mounted VURAN vehicles.
Nurol Ejder	File:Ejder Yalçın.jpg		MRAP	Ejder Yalçın 4x4	200
Katmerciler Hızır	File:Hızır4x4 zırhlı araç.jpg		MRAP		57	Border patrol vehicle.
Otokar Cobra	File:Kosovo Army Otokar Cobra.jpgFile:OtokarCobraII.jpg		Infantry Mobility Vehicle	Cobra I Cobra II	200 100
Otokar Ural	-		Armoured patrol vehicle		N/A
Otokar Akrep	File:Armored police vehicle in Istanbul, Turkey (2024) 1.jpg		Armoured Patrol vehicle	Akrep I	100
FNSS PARS	File:ParsScout6x6 (1).jpg		Armoured fighting vehicle	PARS SCOUT	0/5	Expected delivery of 5 AFV.
TOMA	File:TOMA57.jpg		Armoured vehicle		N/A	Community Incident Intervention Vehicle.
Dragoon	File:Tanqueta militar.JPG		Amphibious Armoured fighting vehicle	Dragoon 300	150
Engineering vehicle
MEMATT	-		Demining vehicle		2
Aircraft
Beechcraft Super King Air	File:Beechcraft Super King Air B350 (31378959748).jpg		Light transport/ Reconnaissance aircraft	B350ISR	3	3 B350ISR are leased. Used by Gendarmerie Aviation Command
Cessna C-680	File:D-CARO Cessna 680 CitationSovereigen +C680 c n 680-0514 (44913198971).jpg		Light transport aircraft	C-680	1
AQUILA A212	File:AquilaA211 Teknofest2019.jpg		Light aircraft/Trainer aircraft	A212	1	New variant in use.
TAI Hürkuş	File:TAI HURKUS-C (34839092714).jpg		Light attack	Hürkuş-C		Planned acquisition.
Helicopters
TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK	File:BG12-1001 (14662033896).jpg		Attack helicopter	T-129B	13	24 in total planned.
Sikorsky-S70 Black Hawk	File:Teknofest 2023 Turkish Gendarmerie TUSAŞ T-70.png File:Sikorsky S-70i BlackHawk TurkishGendarmerie Teknofest2021 (3).jpg		Medium Transport/Utility helicopter	S-70A-D28	12	Avionics upgraded by ASELSAN.
				S-70i	2
				T-70	5/33	33 T-70 ordered.
TAI T625 Gökbey	File:TAI T625 Gökbey TC-HLV.png		Light Transport/Utility Helicopter	T625	3	It will replace UH-1 Huey helicopters.
UH-1 Huey	File:AB 205 Training.jpg		Utility helicopter/Transport	AB-205A	10	Avionics upgraded by ASELSAN.
Mil Mi-17	File:Sivrihisar 2021 - Gendarmerie General Command Mil Mi-17 J-1703.png		Transport/Utility helicopter	Mi-17 IVA	18	Avionics upgraded by ASELSAN. Upgraded with night vision system.
Gyrocopter
Autogyro Cavalon	File:Teknofest 2023 Turkish Gendarmerie gyrocopter 2.png		Reconnaissance/Surveillance		3	6 more planned.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
TAI Anka	File:TAI Anka Teknofest2019 (1).jpg		UCAV	Anka S	8	Elazig Gendarmerie UAV command
Bayraktar TB2	File:Bayraktar TB2 Ground.jpg			TB2	18
STM KARGU	File:Turkish STM Kargu kamikaze drone.jpg		Loitering munition	Kargu-2	N/A
Baykar Bayraktar Mini	File:Mini4.jpg		Miniature UAV	C
UÇBEY	-		VTOL UAV
Black Hornet Nano	File:ARMY WARFIGHTING EXPERIMENT 2017 - TESTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY MOD 45162646.jpg		Micro-UAV	PD-100 Black Hornet

Additional info : Gendarmerie also acquired 130 basic and 5 professional Micro UAV systems.

Planned acquisition : Planned acquisition of new liaison and utility aircraft. Planned acquisition of 10 + 5 optional training aircraft.

Surface Combatant

Boat
Name	Origin	Quantity	Type	Details
ASBOT KN-35		10	Security Boat	ASBOT KN-35 boats were designed and developed by ASFAT A.Ş. for the units belonging to the Gendarmerie General Command.

Retired/Reserve

Vehicles :

• Akrep - 250+
• Condor - 25
• BTR-60 - 180
• BTR-80 - 295

Aircraft :

• Cessna O-1E Bird Dog
• Dornier Do-28D

Helicopters :

• Bell 212
• Bell 206

Gallery

• Gendarmerie's Ford Transit and a trooper
  Gendarmerie's Ford Transit and a trooper
• Traffic gendarmerie's Renault Megane
  Traffic gendarmerie's Renault Megane
• Gendarmerie interceptor
  Gendarmerie interceptor
• Jandarma Barracks in Sivas built in 1908
  Jandarma Barracks in Sivas built in 1908
• Gendarmerie museum
  Gendarmerie museum
• BTR-80 in the gendarmerie inventory
  BTR-80 in the gendarmerie inventory
• Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command teams during Soma mine disaster
  Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command teams during Soma mine disaster
• Işıklar Gendarmerie NCO Vocational School
  Işıklar Gendarmerie NCO Vocational School
• Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy
  Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy
• Gendarmerie Martyrs' Memorial
  Gendarmerie Martyrs' Memorial
• The Kızılırmak Delta is guarded by the mounted gendarme team
  The Kızılırmak Delta is guarded by the mounted gendarme team
• Sikorsky S-70i helicopter of the Turkish Gendarmerie
  Sikorsky S-70i helicopter of the Turkish Gendarmerie

See also

• Constabulary
• Gendarmerie
• List of firefighting equipment of Turkey