National Service in Northern Cyprus for my son?

galwaygirl37


Joined: 11/05/2011
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 22:40

Hi All,



I am new to this site and wondered if you could give me some information. My ex husband is from TRNC and he now lives there after living most of his life in London. I am Irish and living in Ireland. Our son is 16 this year and wants to go to Northetn Cyprus when he is 18 and do his national service. How does he go about doing this? How long will he have to do? Is there a website I can look up for information? (in english lol)

A friend told him he only needs to do it for 8 months because he is not born in Northern Cyprus nor was his father, is this true? Where is the base he will have to go to? And funally, can he come home at night time? He is thinking of staying with his dad while he is there. Apoligies for so many questions and many thanks in advance for any information.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 22:45

He could join the British army which would then exempt him from national service in the Turkish army. Apart from that have you considered phoning the Turkish Embassy in London?

MUSIN M


Joined: 26/06/2008
Posts: 1352

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 23:02

galwaygirl37



your son can pay his way out of his service or he can partially pay his way out if he wishes to reside in cyprus

i,e he can pay 2000 pounds and do 2 months or 4000 pounds and be exempt and he gets to come home at the weekends .

my boys are in the same boat they are half irish the two older boys will not do it ,but my youngest boy will be joining.



musin



long live the kktc

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 23:22

MSG 1



A payment of 3000 gbp will mean that your son will not have to do any national service.



If he does not want to pay then he will have to do 8 months service which is normally at the Gulseren camp in Famagusta. They are allowed out at weakends for the first month.



Your son must ensure that prior to this he does not spend more than 90 days in the TRNC in any one year as this will result in him loosing the above rights, thus making him liable for the full 15 month term.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 23:24

C an't the ex husband find out if he is living in N.Cyprus? that might be the easiest option.

galwaygirl37


Joined: 11/05/2011
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
11/05/2011 23:41

thanks for that, yes he wants to do it, so he doesnt want to pay to get out of doing it, he just wanted to know how long it is for etc. 8 months sounds great, at least if he doesnt like it he wont have to stay for a long time. is there any website that he could look at about this Gulseren camp? Thanks Musin for your info also

basil


Joined: 10/04/2009
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 00:42

I understand that national service in the Turkish army is for 18 months, not 8 - unless he is a graduate in which case it's 6 months. It's possible that the rules may be different for KKTC national guard, and you haven't said whether he is an Irish or British passport holder - again this may affect his length of service.

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 01:02

galwaygirl37,

He does not have to do any. All he has to say is that he is unable to do it either because he is college or his work place will not give him permission now. So he will exempt for 5 years.

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 07:45

I wish some of you would read the posts, she has said he wishes to do his national service.



His passport has nothing to do with it, if one parent is Cypriot he is classified as a Cypriot for life.



He will not joini the Turkish army, but the Turkish Cypriot guard.



http://www.mucahit.net/asal/askeralma_ENG.htm . website for info

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 07:57

Well found link Visitor. All the info needed is there, from the horses mouth so to speak



When I came to live in TRNC I opted for the 'option b' under category 6 from your link. 1 months service and a csot of 2000 sterling. I paid 1000 initaly , did 2 weeks in gulseren, with a start date determined by them and along with the full influx of all doing military service that year. I then had 2 years in which to pay the remaing money and complete my 2nd 2 week sting, with a start date of my choice. I chose this option rather than just doing 4 weeks stright, because it meant I was able to defer part of the payment. As it turned out when I went to do my 2nd 2 weeks I was request to pay only 500, not the 1000 I was expecting. I don't know why but it was a nice suprise.



Before I came to live here I visted many times post 74 and obtained the '90 day exception' listed in section 8 of the link do defer miltary service requirments.

galwaygirl37


Joined: 11/05/2011
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 08:29

he is an irish passport holder Basil. I have asked his dad to find out for me many times but he has not come back to me, so I am grateful for this forum i must look up and see if there is a website for kktc national guard, thanks

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 08:50

galwaygirl - I have given you the link for the national guard see my previous posting. Its in English too.



There is also some info here as there are rules abt age and residency. It doesn't always follow that you can pay your way out.



http://living-in-northern-cyprus.com/review/2010/09/north-cyprus-legal-advice-sep-october-2010/#National%20Service%20in%20North%20Cyprus

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 09:11

Galwaygirl look at the links visitor has supplied. It does not matter what passport he holds. He is considered a citizen in the TRNC because he was born to a cypriot parent. He gets no choice in the matter. The first link visitor gave is a KKTC army webiste.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 09:28

I have a Turkish Cypriot friend, he recently returned to TRNC age 72. He had been living and working in UK since he was 12.

He was asked to serve National Service here.

By paying about £2000 (apparently negotiable) he obtained an exemption.

Without either serving it, OR with an exemption, he was unable to obtain an ID card, a driving licence, or access to health care.

So, young or old, you all gotta do your bit for the motherland!

Geoff

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 09:50

It's simply nothing more than money for old rope!

tilley


Joined: 28/10/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:03

Hi Galwaygirl37

My son is currently doing his national service, i am english my husband is cypriot. If your son wants to do his national service and he has completed full time education he will go in as Er (private) and will do 15 months not 8, my son completed university and he went in as cavus (sergeant), he is doing 12 months. As an Er he will do 4 weeks training at Gulseren in Famagusta, and then will be posted to 1 of any number of camps around the country. He will only be allowed out once a month for a weekend. Cavus have every other weekend home and 1 night a week home, so it is much better to go in as Cavus but as I said you have to have graduated from universty. Also if his knowledge of Turkish is limited he will find it very hard, but if he has good knowledge of it then he will be ok, hope this helps, message me if you want any other info.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:16

Interesting link on Visitors msg 9.



Quote:

QUESTION 1. WHICH CITIZENS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE ACCORDING TO THE T.R.N.C. CONSTITUTION?



ANSWER 1. ACCORDING TO THE T.R.N.C. CONSTITUTION EVERY T.R.N.C. CITIZEN IS ELIGIBLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE.



Every citizen? No mention of gender? Seems fairly clear to me unless it suffered in the translation. Where I come from EVERY means EVERY.

Does this mean that women are eligible for military service, but are just not "called-up"? Seems like sex discrimination to me...



Elko to clarify, perhaps from original Turkish language web page, please.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:18

Tilley was your son born in TRNC ? Was he here after his 12 bitrthday till 18th ? I believe these factors decide if he gets the 'short' military sertvice with buy out option or not.



The 8 months option with buy out options is for certain category as shown in the lin visitor already provided.



http://www.mucahit.net/asal/askeralma_ENG.htm



see section 6 of above link that visitor provided.

tilley


Joined: 28/10/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:27

erolz

My son was born in the UK, he was 15 when we came 8 years ago, he didnt have the option " to buy" his way out. He only has 3 months left, it has gone so quick though.

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:29

TRNCVaughan, Lol.... I've just found the Turkish version and yes you're right, it mentions nothing about the sex of the individual so your conclusion is correct.... This whole thing has always been a long running joke. Where in your passport does it mention where your parents were born, Ive always gone through and told them that both my parents were born in the UK, until they can prove otherwise I think the whole law is nothing more than a farce.



Msg 16, on a previous post I too have heard that the 15 month rule applies and not 8. Its quite clear that there is a lot of confusion around the rules so it all depends who's at the border control on the day of arrival and which way the wind is blowing.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 10:59

TinLondon,



Thanks for your confirmation that the constitution is being ignored by the Army, who seem only to call-up men. It would be interesting to see someone take them to court for sex discrimination, but this being TRNC I doubt there is legislation about discrimination.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 11:37

Thanks for the exta info tilley. It is all very confusing. From the way I read the he should have been eligable for the 'short dutration / buy out' options simply due to having been born outside the TRNC.

Maybe he was not eligable because of the answer to question 9, which says you have to apply for your special status exemption 'just after returning to TRNC'. None of it is very clear to be honest. Just a guess.

I know when visiting in the past going to the ASAL ŞUBE was always a priotity, as it was when I returned to live. My mere 2 weeks and 2weeks went pretty fast as far as my partner was concerned. Did not seem to go that fast to me, but then I was pretty old comparatively speaking (40 ish).

tilley


Joined: 28/10/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 12:32

I think once you have been here for over 90 days you lose the right to buy out, but of course if you are not aware of it, what can you do. my son accepted he was going in and is making the best of it, but he would advise anyone if they can, to go in higher than Er, because they treatment they receive, well lets just say he could not have handled it. It depends on the individual of course, eveyrone is different, he's just glad its nearly over, but he has made some life long friends so its not all bad.



Galwaygal37 good luck whatever your son decides to do.

galwaygirl37


Joined: 11/05/2011
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 13:39

wow thanks so much guys for all this info!! To think we have family there and they couldnt find this out for me lol, thank you all so much

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 19:15

I think the second link I posted supplies some clarification abt buy outs. From my understanding if you return to live in Cyprus before military age then you cannot buy yourself out. If you return to live in Cyprus but then return to the UK before military age then you must not return for 7 years and your parents must also not be resident in Cyprus.



For older people post conscription age. If they return they must not stay beyond 90 days. If they do they either pay

and do some or all or none.

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 23:03

Geoff



Somebody is having you on mate, nobody does military service after the age of 50.

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 23:31

msg 26



Any Turkish Cypriot man that spends more than 90 days in the TRNC in any one year is liable to military service for as long as they are alive, there is no age limit.



Again you do have the right to buy yourself out of military service prior to the expiry of the 90day period.

basil


Joined: 10/04/2009
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 23:43

Visitor & erolz; just idle curiosity - how would the National Guard or anyone else know that a visitor to KKTC with an Irish passport had a TC parent, unless he (or she) chose to tell them at the time of entry?

;)

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 00:13

Basil - they would only really know from the surname. If they settled in Cyprus it might be more difficult to conceal. Cyprus is a small place, family ties etc



Stonehouse its not exactly right. You can apply still even after 90 days to pay. You can also be exempted on health issues.

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 22:53

How come university graduates go in as NCOs and not officers? Is that just the way of it?

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 23:46

University Graduates get put into an exam at the end of 3 month training. Those that pass become Tegmen and those that fail become Chavus. It also helps to have high profile family member. But I see that this young wishes to go and do the service. I suggest book an appointment with your psychiatrist. Why on earth would he wish to do it? What will he gain? If he has problems in London, they will not go away, they will get worse.

tilley


Joined: 28/10/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 10:24

Y fred

University students have the option of sitting the exam. they dont have to, if they pass a written exam and a sports exam they then go to Turkey for 3 months training, and return as Az Tegmen. The ones that dont pass or didn't take the exam are Cavus, like my son he passed the sports exam but not the written, he is cavus.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 12:30

So why aren't women conscripted?

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 13:33

Tilley, going to Turkey must be something recent. I have 3 relatives who did it some time ago and did not go to Turkey. You are right though first they become As. Tegmen and than Tegmen.

Of course they have the option not to take the exam, but I don't know anybody who did not take it and also know people who went Uni just so they could do it to avoid being er.



Just as a passing thought, if this young man does dot speak Turkish he will have a hell of a time. But I am puzzled why he would leave this third world country of ours and become an er in TRNC.

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 13:35

TRNCVictim, becasue they cannot line up in the drill, they would have to walk ten paces behind and that just does not look good.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 15:52

I spent my entire first 2 weeks of military service turning my head and saying 'what did he say' ? I did not speak Turkish when I did my service. I do think they go a bit easier on us oldies though (was 40+ when I did mine).

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 02:26

msg 29



TRY AND APPLY AFTER 90 DAYS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS...

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 07:43

Stonehouse - My father did so I know what happenned in his case. Perhaps you know better?



My understanding is at 90 days you either pay or you do your service, If someone is aged 60+ and they overstay



they will demand the money, they will not expect that person to do National service, well not a full term anyway.



But look most people know the rules. To be safe if you are planning to stay tell them.