Turkmen Ground Forces

Turkmen Ground Forces
Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri / Түркменстаның гуры ер гүйчлери
Turkmen infantry
Founded	1992
Country	Turkmenistan
Type	Army
Role	Ground warfare
Size	42,758 troops
Part of	Armed Forces of Turkmenistan
Headquarters	Ashgabat
Colors	Green
Anniversaries	27 January
Commanders
Supreme Commander-in-chief	Serdar Berdimuhamedow
Commander of the Turkmen Ground Forces	Colonel Rovshen Ayazov
Commander of the Turkmen Air Force	Colonel Ali Muhammetow
Insignia
Flag

The Turkmen Ground Forces (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň gury ýer güýçleri) is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The ground forces include the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 22nd Motor Rifle Divisions as well as smaller units consisting of various types of troops.

History

The basis of the present-day Turkmen Ground Forces are several rifle divisions from the

Units of the Ground Forces are located in each of the five military districts:^[4][5] Ahal Military District, Balkan Military District, Dashoguz Military District, Lebap Military District, Mary Military District. Direct operational control of the ground forces is carried out by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan.

In late 2017, the

An undated list of Ground Forces units included the following:[7]^[8][5]

• 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan" (Headquarters Tejen in the Ahal Region)^[5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Motorized Rifle Division named Bairam Khan (Headquarters Ashgabat)^[9][5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 3 Motorized Rifle Regiments
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 11th Motor Rifle Division "Sultan Sanjar" (Headquarters Serhetabat, Mary Region)^[5]
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 (23rd) Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• Serdar, Balkan Region)^{[10][11][12][5]}
  • 1 Tank Regiment
  • 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
  • 1 Artillery Regiment
• 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after
  Tughril (deployed in the city of Kerki, Lebap Region)^[5]
• 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Chaghri Beg^[5]
• 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Gorogly Beg^[5]
• 152nd Independent Air Assault Battalion^[5]
• Artillery Brigade (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Independent Anti-Tank Regiment^[5]
• Independent Mixed Artillery Anti-Tank Regiment^[5]
• Rocket-propelled Artillery Team (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade named after Saparmurat Niyazov^[5]
• Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade^[5]
• Independent Engineer Regiment (deployed near Ashgabat)^[5]
• Independent Honor Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defence (deployed in Ashgabat)^[5]

Facilities

• Kelyata Training Center (Bäherden District of the Ahal Region)
• Northern Kelete Training Ground (near the village of Kelete)^[13]
• Mountain Training Center "South Kelyata" (near Ashgabat)^[14]

Equipment

Commanders

• Geldymukhammed Ashirmukhammedov (1997-2002)^[15]
• Colonel Mashat Orazgeldyev (2002-24 June 2004)^[16]
• Colonel Bayramgeldy Akummedov (23 June 2007 – 5 November 2009)^[17]
• Lieutenant Colonel Batyr Mollayev (5 November 2009-?)^[18][19]
• Colonel Rovshen Ayazov^[20][21] (c. 2017)

Traditions

Battle Banners

To receive a battle banner, commanders of military units approach the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, receiving the battle banner from his hands and handing it over to the standard bearer. Then, having unfurled the green battle banners, groups of standard-bearers led by their commanders, chasing a step, pass in front of the line of participants in the current ceremony and take their places.^[22] It occurs on holidays such as State Flag and Constitution Day.^[23]

Cavalry

In October 2012, special cavalry units were ordered to be established in the ground forces.^[24] That same year, the Equestrian Complex of the Ministry of Defense was opened.^[25]

Ranks

In 2003, President Niyazov called for the strengthening of the Ground Forces in accordance with national traditions. Speaking at the Defence Ministry, he said that the Turkmen "esger" (warrior) carries more respect that just “soldier”.^[26] As a result, he reverted the ranks to traditional names and structure:

• Esger - warrior
• Onbashi - leader of 10 (section leader)
• Yuzbashi - leader of 100 (junior officer)
• Munbashi - leader of 1000 (senior officer)
• Goshunbashi - Army commander

The rank of a marshal was also reintroduced.

Personnel

Conscripts

Service in the army is required for all males under 27 years of age.

• Armed Forces of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen Naval Forces
• Turkmen Air Force
• Begench Beknazarov

References