Isik Kosaner
Encyclopedia
Sebahattin Işık Koşaner (born 5 December 1945) is a Turkish former military general who served as the 27th Chief of the General Staff from 2010 to 2011.
as a Platoon
and Company
Commander, as an instructor at the Mountain Commando School & Training Center Command in Eğirdir
, and as a Platoon Commander within the Turkish Commando Brigade during Operation Atilla
in 1974 . He was later appointed as the Commander of the Special Operations Forces at the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara
. Koşaner graduated from the Turkish Army Staff College in 1978 and served as a command officer at the Special Warfare Department Command of the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara. After graduating from the NATO Defence College, he served as a command officer at NATO's Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) Headquarters
in Naples
, Italy
. Koşaner later served at the Planning and Coordination Department of the Logistics Command within the Turkish 3rd Army. After graduating from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London
, United Kingdom
, Koşaner was appointed as the head of the Strategy Division within the Strategy and Forces Planning Department of the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara
. As a Colonel
he commanded the 131st Infantry Regiment at the 8th Infantry Division of the Turkish Army before being appointed as the Commander of the Special Operations Command at the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara. In 1992 Koşaner was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
and was appointed with the command of the Logistic Planning Department and later the 1st Commando Brigade of the Turkish Army. Koşaner was promoted to the rank of Major General
in 1996 and was appointed with the command of the Turkish Army Academy. In 2000 Koşaner was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
and served as the Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Defense and later as the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force
in Northern Cyprus
. Koşaner was promoted to the rank of General
in 2004 and served as the Commander of the Turkish Aegean Army and later as the Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
On August 4, 2006, General Koşaner was appointed as the Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie
. He was followed by General Avni Atila Işık as the Gendarmerie commander, when he took over the command of Turkish Army on 30 August 2008.
On August 8, 2010, General Koşaner was appointed as the Chief of the General Staff and took up the position on August 30, 2010.
Koşaner, along with the leaders of army, navy and air force simultaneously requested to relinquish their duties and asked for their "retirement" on July 29, 2011, just few days before the important meeting scheduled for August 1, 2011 to discuss appointments of senior military officers. Retirement and Resignation are different terms in Turkish Civil Administrative System. The New York Times stated that their action was to protest the "sweeping arrests of dozens of generals" as a part of a conspiracy investigation. During the investigation that lasted more than a year, more than 40 generals (one tenth of top military commanders) were taken into custody. There was some disagreements between the military and the government as the military wanted to promote some officers but could not since they were suspects of the conspiracy investigation.
General Işık Koşaner is married to Nurdan Koşaner and has two children.
Biography
Koşaner was born in İzmir, Turkey in 1945. He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1965 and the Infantry School in 1966. Until 1976 he served in several contingents of the Turkish ArmyTurkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
as a 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 Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
Commander, as an instructor at the Mountain Commando School & Training Center Command in Eğirdir
Egirdir
Eğirdir, Turkey is a town and district of Isparta Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.-Features:Eğirdir lies between Lake Eğirdir and the Mount Sivri, and contains a castle said to have been built by Croesus, king of Lydia—though additions were built by the Romans, Byzantines and...
, and as a Platoon Commander within the Turkish Commando Brigade during Operation Atilla
Operation Atilla
Attila Operations refers to the two operations performed by the Turkish Armed Forces during the invasion of Cyprus.Atilla I was the first stage of the operation. The invasion began in the early hours of 20 July 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired coup d'etat that sought to overthrow the...
in 1974 . He was later appointed as the Commander of the Special Operations Forces at the Turkish General Staff Headquarters 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....
. Koşaner graduated from the Turkish Army Staff College in 1978 and served as a command officer at the Special Warfare Department Command of the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara. After graduating from the NATO Defence College, he served as a command officer at NATO's Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) Headquarters
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...
in 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...
. Koşaner later served at the Planning and Coordination Department of the Logistics Command within the Turkish 3rd Army. After graduating from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Koşaner was appointed as the head of the Strategy Division within the Strategy and Forces Planning Department of the Turkish General Staff Headquarters 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....
. As a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
he commanded the 131st Infantry Regiment at the 8th Infantry Division of the Turkish Army before being appointed as the Commander of the Special Operations Command at the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara. In 1992 Koşaner 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...
and was appointed with the command of the Logistic Planning Department and later the 1st Commando Brigade of the Turkish Army. Koşaner was promoted 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 1996 and was appointed with the command of the Turkish Army Academy. In 2000 Koşaner was promoted 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....
and served as the Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Defense and later as the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force
Cyprus Turkish Peace Force
The Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Cyprus officially the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force is the Turkish military garrison on Cyprus...
in Northern Cyprus
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus , officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus...
. Koşaner was promoted to the rank of 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....
in 2004 and served as the Commander of the Turkish Aegean Army and later as the Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
On August 4, 2006, General Koşaner was appointed as the Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie
Turkish Gendarmerie
The Turkish Gendarmerie is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces and it is responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces , as well as assuring internal security and general border control along with carrying out other specific...
. He was followed by General Avni Atila Işık as the Gendarmerie commander, when he took over the command of Turkish Army on 30 August 2008.
On August 8, 2010, General Koşaner was appointed as the Chief of the General Staff and took up the position on August 30, 2010.
Koşaner, along with the leaders of army, navy and air force simultaneously requested to relinquish their duties and asked for their "retirement" on July 29, 2011, just few days before the important meeting scheduled for August 1, 2011 to discuss appointments of senior military officers. Retirement and Resignation are different terms in Turkish Civil Administrative System. The New York Times stated that their action was to protest the "sweeping arrests of dozens of generals" as a part of a conspiracy investigation. During the investigation that lasted more than a year, more than 40 generals (one tenth of top military commanders) were taken into custody. There was some disagreements between the military and the government as the military wanted to promote some officers but could not since they were suspects of the conspiracy investigation.
General Işık Koşaner is married to Nurdan Koşaner and has two children.
Decorations
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Bravery and Valour
- 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,...
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Bravery and Valour in Cyprus
- Republic of Korea National Security Medal of Honour
- Order of Distinction of Pakistan (Pakistani Nishan-i Imtiaz)