Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor ( tr, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri Şeref Madalyası) is the highest medal that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and was first created on July 27, 1967.

Technical specifications

General

Five large and five small gold stars on dark blue background circling an insignia of a crescent moon and a star on red background, the symbol of the

Turkish flag The national flag of Turkey, officially the Turkish flag ( tr, Türk bayrağı), is a red flag featuring a white star and crescent. The flag is often called "the red flag" (), and is referred to as "the red banner" () in the Turkish national a ...

, pointing upwards.

Decoration (regular size)

Made of eight pieces * Metal:

Bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

* Minting: 0.2 micrometre polished gold-plating * Weight: 54 grams * Diameter: 6 cm

Decoration (miniature size)

Made of three pieces * Metal: Bronze * Minting: 0.2 micrometre polished gold-plating * Weight: 14 grams * Diameter: 1 cm

Ribbon

* Color: Red

Criteria

During wartime, it is bestowed on individuals who, through their actions, have contributed to success in battle but whose valor would not be adequately compensated by the State War Medal. During peacetime, it is bestowed upon the Commanders of the

Turkish Army The Turkish Land Forces ( tr, Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), or Turkish Army (Turkish: ), is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the ...

, the

Turkish Navy The Turkish Naval Forces ( tr, ), or Turkish Navy ( tr, ) is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The modern naval traditions and customs of the Turkish Navy can be traced back to 10 July 1920, when it was establi ...

, the

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force ( tr, ) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Air Force can trace its origins back to June 1911 when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire, however, the air force as it is known t ...

and the

Turkish Gendarmerie The Gendarmerie General Command ( tr, Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı) is the national Gendarmerie force of the Republic of Turkey. It is a service branch of the Turkish Ministry of Interior responsible for the maintenance of the public order in a ...

who have successfully completed at least a year in their posts. The medal can be given to civilians or soldiers, regardless of nationality. Its bestowment is proposed and approved by any of the four Commanders mentioned above.

Recipients

Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu (born Hüseyin Kıvrık, 1934) is a retired Turkish general who was the commander of the Turkish Armed Forces and on August 30, 1998, became Chief of the Turkish General Staff for a four-year term. Biography Born in Bozü ...

References

TAF website with a list of its medals

Turkish Army website with a list of its medals

External links

Military awards and decorations of Turkey 1967 establishments in Turkey Awards established in 1967 * {{Orders, decorations, and medals of Turkey