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General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu was appointed as Türkiye's new Chief of General Staff on Tuesday, replacing General Metin Gurak, who was retired due to a lack of positions in decisions announced by the Supreme Military Council (YAS) chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Bayraktaroglu, who had served as Land Forces Commander since Aug. 16, 2023, was promoted to the military's top position effective Aug. 30, 2025.
First Army Commander General Metin Tokel was appointed as the new Land Forces Commander.
Starting Aug. 30, 32 generals and admirals will be promoted to higher ranks, 61 colonels will be promoted to general and admiral, 29 generals' terms will be extended by one year, and 478 colonels' terms will be extended by two.
As of Sept. 1, two generals will retire due to mandatory retirement, and as of Aug. 30, 43 generals and admirals will also retire due to staff reductions.
Born March 9, 1961, in Kilickaya town of Yusufeli district in Artvin province, Bayraktaroglu has built a distinguished military career spanning over four decades.
He graduated from Kuleli Military High School in 1977 and the Military Academy in 1981, followed by completion of the Communications School and Training Center in 1982.
Bayraktaroglu became a staff officer after graduating from the Land Forces Academy in 1993 and completed the Armed Forces Academy in 1997.
Bayraktaroglu was promoted to the communications staff colonel rank in 2000. Until 2009, he served as head of the Basic Analysis Branch Department at the General Staff's 2nd Intelligence Analysis and Evaluation Department.
He was promoted to brigadier general in 2009 and commanded the 9th Motorized Infantry Brigade from 2009 to 2011. From 2011 to 2013, he served at the Land Forces Logistics Command's Ammunition Command.
After promotion to major general in 2013, Bayraktaroglu led the General Staff Communications Electronics Information Systems School and Training Center and Cyber Defense Command from 2013 to 2014. He then served as the 3rd Army Chief of Staff from 2014 to 2016.
Promoted to lieutenant general in 2016, he was appointed to the General Staff Personnel Department. On Jan. 10, 2020, Bayraktaroglu began serving as acting Deputy Chief of General Staff when Metin Gurak was assigned to Libya.
Bayraktaroglu was promoted to full general rank in 2021 and permanently appointed as Deputy Chief of General Staff on Aug. 24, 2021.
On Dec. 24, 2021, he was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal by then-Defense Minister Hulusi Akar for his achievements.
He had served as Land Forces Commander since Aug. 16, 2023, before his appointment to the military's highest position.
The Supreme Military Council also extended the terms of Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu and Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadioglu by one year.
The council promoted 32 generals and admirals to higher ranks while elevating 61 colonels to general and admiral positions.
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