The Strategic Utility of Turkish Special Operations Forces from the Seljuks to the Republic of Turkey

ABSTRACT This research examines the employment, organization, equipment, and missions of Turkish special operation forces (SOF) under four main periods in Turkish history: first, the Seljuk period and border security forces called “margraves;” second, the Akıncılar, an extension of the margraves, who appeared during the Ottoman period; third, local irregular Arab and Bedouin troops serving in the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912); and fourth, the Kuva-yi Milliye who participated in the Turkish War of Independence, engaging in guerilla warfare against the Allied and Italian Forces. I conclude by describing the similarities among these groups and the relevance of their history to today’s SOF.