It is a 15,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40.

The Cyprus army composed by both main Cypriot ethnic groups was created in 1960 yet was dismantled in the scope of the interethnic conflict 1963-4.

[5] In 1974, Turkey led an invasion of Cyprus with the aim of protecting the Turkish minority population after a Greek-inspired coup brought a threat of union of the island with Greece.

The organization is as follows: According to observers a large part of its budget was covered by the Turkish army, upon which it depended for training and equipment.

Military service periods: This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.