Chief of the General Staff (Turkey)
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The Chief of the General Staff is a military officer of the rank of General and presides over the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces: Army, Navy and Air Force of Turkey. The post is currently held by Yaşar Büyükanıt.
According to the Turkish Constitution, during peacetime he reports to the Prime Minister and serves as the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces. In times of war, he assumes the authority of "Commander in Chief" on behalf of the President. The General Command of the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard Command are parts of the Ministry of Interior Affairs during peacetime as interior security forces, while in wartime responsibility is transferred to the Army Command and the Naval Command, respectively.
It is customary for the Chief of the Turkish General Staff to have held the posts of Commander of the Army and Commander of the 1st Army prior to his appointment.
