Turkish Military Academy The Turkish Military Academy , ( ) , is a four - year co - educational military academy located in the center of Ankara . Its mission is to develop cadets mentally and physically for service as commissioned officers in the Turkish Army . Other Military Colleges . It must not be confused with Ottoman Military College , Army War College ( " Kara Harp Akademisi " ) , Armed Forces College ( " Silahlı Kuvvetler Akademisi " ) and National Security College ( " Milli Güvenlik Akademisi " ) . History . Originally located in the Harbiye neighborhood of Istanbul , the Academy was formed in 1834 by Marshal Ahmed Fevzi Pasha together with Mehmed Namık Pasha , as the " Mekteb - i Harbiye " ( Ottoman Turkish : lit . " War School " ) , and the first officers graduated in 1841 . Its formation was a part of military reforms within the Ottoman Empire as it recognized the need for more educated officers to modernize its army . The need for a new military order was part of Sultan Mahmud II ' s reforms , continued by his son Abdülmecit I . The Janissaries , the traditional leaders of the Ottoman military , were removed from their position and traditional role in the Ottoman military after the Auspicious Incident in 1826 . During World War I and the subsequent Turkish War of Independence period , in which modern Turkey was formed , the academy was moved temporarily to Ankara . The first officers graduated here in November , 1920 to serve the newly formed Republic of Turkey . After the Treaty of Lausanne , the academy was moved back to Istanbul . On September 25 , 1936 , the Military Academy was transferred again permanently to a new building in Ankara . The Academy ' s two - year education period was arranged to be three - year education period in 1948 , two years in 1963 , three years in 1971 , and finally four years in 1974 . Alumni . Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , military hero and political reformist , is one of the most famous graduates . The day that Atatürk entered the academy , March 13 , 1899 , is recognized at the academy . ' 13 March ' is also the name of a building on the campus that houses the library as well as some cadet stores and a cafe . Entry process . There are roughly 4 , 000 cadets attending Kara Harp Okulu . In order to enter the academy , prospective cadets first apply to military high school after primary schooling . Only students displaying the potential to become officers are accepted . There are three military high schools in Turkey . Maltepe Military High School in İzmir , Kuleli Military High School in Istanbul and Işıklar Military High School in Bursa . Each military high school has a four - year program , and after completion , cadets from all three schools enter Kara Harp Okulu . A small number of cadets also enter the school from civilian high schools . Military high schools are all male schools , so all female cadets at Kara Harp Okulu come from civilian high schools . Kara Harp Okulu is the only source of commissioned officers for the Turkish Army . After graduation cadets are required to serve for 15 years . Organization . The academy is made up of one regiment and four battalion s , or ( Turkish Tabur for singular , Taburlar for plural , and Taburu in singular - possessive constructions ( like in Battalion of Izmir , which would be Izmir Taburu ) ) , named after famous campaigns during the Turkish War of Independence ( except Malazgirt ) . 1st Battalion is the Anafartalar Battalion , 2nd is the Dumlupinar Battalion , 3rd is the Sakarya Battalion and 4th is the Malazgirt Battalion . Each battalion has a separate building , which contains a number of facilities including barracks , dining halls , classrooms , day rooms and study rooms . The cadet regiment has a cadet chain of command which rotates during the school year . The cadet regiment also has a chain of command of regular army officers in mentoring and leadership roles . The academy ' s regimental commander is a very prestigious position and usually precludes a higher position within the Turkish Army . The cadets are distinguishable and organized by their graduating class as well as their cadet unit . In their classroom uniform , each cadet wears a thin gold bar on their epilate for each year they have been at the academy . Senior cadets , with four bars , also wear the color of the branch of the Turkish Army that they will be entering upon graduation on their collar . For example , green for infantry and gray for armor . The under three classes wear blue on their collar which signifies that they have not yet chosen a branch . The cadet also wears an identification number , a four digit number issued upon entrance to the academy . Atatürk ' s cadet number , 1283 , has been reserved and will not be issued to another cadet . The cadet dress uniform is the same as the Turkish Army officer ' s uniform , except for the addition of two gold cords looped from the right shoulder across the front right suspending two metal pins . One pin is long , and symbolizes peace while the other is short and symbolizes war .