and air force were released). Partially as a result, the Washington Post reported in April 2010 that the military's power had decreased. On the eve of the Supreme Military Council of August 2011, the Chief of the General Staff, along with the Army, Navy, and Air Force commanders, requested their retirement, in protest of the mass arrests which they perceived as a deliberate and planned attack against the Kemalist and secular-minded officers of the Turkish Armed Forces by the Islamists in Turkey, who began to control key positions in the Turkish government, judiciary and police. The swift replacement of the force commanders in the Supreme Military Council meeting affirmed the government's control over the appointment of top-level commanders. However, promotions continue to be determined by the General Staff with limited civilian control. The European Commission, in its 2011 regular yearly report on Turkey's progress towards EU accession, stated that "further reforms on the composition and powers of the Supreme Military Council, particularly on the legal basis of promotions, still need to materialise." The service branch commanders continue to report to the Prime Minister instead of the Defence Minister. In July 2016, parts of the Turkish Armed Forces attempted to take over the government, but Erdogan supporters and other loyal military units stopped the coup attempt. Many people died and hundreds were injured. The parliament house and some other buildings in Ankara and Istanbul were damaged. Thousands of military personnel have been arrested and the structure of the armed forces has been overhauled. Medals and awards Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Bravery and Valour Turkish Armed Forces State Medal of Honor See also Conscription in Turkey List of Chiefs of the Turkish General Staff Military equipment of Turkey 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt Gendarmerie General Command (Turkey) Coast Guard Command (Turkey) Village guard system Defense industry of Turkey List of countries by military expenditures List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel Notes References Bibliography Gareth Jenkins, 'Power and unaccountability in the Turkish security forces,' Conflict, Security, and Development, Volume 1, Issue 1. External links Turkish Armed Forces (English) Bosphorus Naval News (turkishnavy.net)