Abstract:

Prevailing its importance and priorities, security continues to be one of the key areas for countries and societies. Defense, on the other hand, is one of the main components of the security. Building an appropriate conscription system is required to defend a country effectively from external threats. By analyzing the three main enlisting methods namely professional, semi-professional and compulsory military services, the purpose of this study is to identify which conscription system is the most suitable for Turkey. This study shows that establishing a semi-professional system which brings together the advantages of the compulsory and fully professional military systems and also puts away the inconviniences of the both of them is the most suitable for Turkey. In this said system, in accordance with land, naval and air forces’ special needs and relative differences among them, armed forces with partially professional and partly civilian structure with continued compulsory system from the point of human resource is considered. Such system provides maximum efficiency, deterrence and flexibility, while paving way for more cost effective military. Besides, this method allows room for cooperation between servicemen and the public, in addition to bringing about the armed forces controlled by the civilians with having no difficulties in terms of human resources both today and in the future. 

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