This work, created to portray the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) not solely through its combat readiness but through a more human lens, is the result of a collaborative project between Anadolu Ajansı (AA) and the Turkish General Staff. It features a carefully curated selection of images drawn from over 35,000 photographs taken by 26 AA photojournalists at 30 different TAF sites.
Given the Turkish military’s traditionally disciplined structure, this collection reveals the deeply human and emotional world of the Mehmetçik: shaving, sleeping, weeping in his mother’s arms, cradling his child; mountain commandos, special forces, fighter jets, and the tearful sons of mothers whose hands are stained with henna. Each image serves as a treasured piece in this intimate visual anthology.
The book’s photographs reflect the warm and genuine world of the Turkish soldier—what we call “Our Hearth”. With a unique concept not previously explored in this way for the TAF, the most compelling images from the project are being presented to the public for the first time in this special album.
