Turkmen Ground Forces
The Turkmen Ground Forces 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 Turkestan Military District of the Soviet Armed Forces. Of these units, the 36th Army Corps was stationed in the Turkmen SSR. More than 50,000 former Soviet Army personnel were either withdrawn or fired following the creation of the national defence ministry. This was more than half the Soviet troops who operated in the Turkmen SSR at the end of 1991. The interim army commanders in the first half of the 1990s included Major General Viktor Zavarzin and Lieutenant General Nikolai Kormiltsev. By 1993, the ground forces operated 200 military units, 70 of which were under joint Turkmen-Russian jurisdictions. The ground forces had been reduced to about 11,000 by 1996, which was organized into a singular army corps. The army has celebrated 27 January as Defender of the Fatherland Day since 2009.Structure
Units of the Ground Forces are located in each of the five military districts: 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 International Institute for Strategic Studies listed the Ground Forces with a special forces regiment; a tank brigade, reportedly the 14th; the 3rd Motor Rifle Division, of a tank regiment, three motor rifle regiments, and an artillery regiment; the 22nd Motor Rifle Division "Atamyrat Niyazov" with one tank regiment, one motor rifle regiment, and an artillery regiment; four motor rifle brigades; a naval infantry brigade, and the 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan". The IISS also listed smaller formations: a Scud brigade with SS-1 Scud; an artillery brigade; a mixed artillery/anti-tank regiment; a multiple rocket launcher brigade; an anti-tank regiment; an engineer regiment; and two surface-to-air missile brigades.
An undated list of Ground Forces units included the following:
- 2nd Training Motor Rifle Division "Alp Arslan"
- *1 Tank Regiment
- *1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- *1 Artillery Regiment
- 3rd Motorized Rifle Division named Bairam Khan
- *1 Tank Regiment
- *3 Motorized Rifle Regiments
- *1 Artillery Regiment
- 11th Motor Rifle Division "Sultan Sanjar"
- *1 Tank Regiment
- *1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- *1 Artillery Regiment
- 22nd Motorized Rifle Division named after Hero of Turkmenistan Atamyrat Niyazov
- *1 Tank Regiment
- *1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- *1 Artillery Regiment
- 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Tughril
- 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Chaghri Beg
- 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Gorogly Beg
- 152nd Independent Air Assault Battalion
- Artillery Brigade
- Independent Anti-Tank Regiment
- Independent Mixed Artillery Anti-Tank Regiment
- Rocket-propelled Artillery Team
- Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade named after Saparmurat Niyazov
- Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade
- Independent Engineer Regiment
- Independent Honor Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defence
Facilities
- Kelyata Training Center
- Northern Kelete Training Ground
- Mountain Training Center "South Kelyata"
Equipment
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. It occurs on holidays such as State Flag and Constitution Day.Cavalry
In October 2012, special cavalry units were ordered to be established in the ground forces. That same year, the Equestrian Complex of the Ministry of Defense was opened.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" carries more respect that just “soldier”. As a result, he reverted the ranks to traditional names and structure:- Esger - warrior
- Onbashi - leader of 10
- Yuzbashi - leader of 100
- Munbashi - leader of 1000
- Goshunbashi - Army commander