INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Team Incirlik lives and operates in a culture of mutual support dependent on coalition allies. The multilateral relationships here shared with mission partners, neighbors and friends has been developing for more than a half century.

Much like the U.S. Air Force members stationed at Incirlik, Turkish Air Force personnel provide the building blocks responsible for supporting Numbered Air Force operations.
"The 10th Tanker Base Command, 39th Air Base Wing, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, 728th Air Mobility Squadron, Rotational Squadron Deployments and several other units residing at Incirlik work together to produce synergistic effects," said Col. "Tip" Stinnette, 39th ABW commander.

With the reactivation of 3rd Air Force Dec. 1, 2006, the Air Base Wing's mission has remained the same. The wing's operational command and control traces through 3rd AF to USAFE, EUCOM and in some missions ultimately NATO. NATO provides strong ties with the Turkish military and at times Turkey hosts additional NATO allies to support contingency operations such as the Pakistan Earthquake and Lebanon Noncombatant Evacuation Order relief efforts. EUCOM is the combatant command structure over the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and 3rd Air Force.

"Our business is strategic mobility and Incirlik's Airmen are responsible for enabling the resources of Transportation Command to serve the interests of European Command, Central Command and NATO," said Colonel Stinnette.

Like their mission partners, the TuAF is also aligned under NATO. The TuAF, founded in 1909, is one of the oldest Air Forces in the world and operates one of NATO's largest combat aircraft fleets. Headquartered in Ankara, the TuAF is composed of two Numbered Air Forces, 1st and 2nd Tactical Air Command in Eskisehir and Diyarbakir respectively, the Air Training Command in Izmir, and the Air Logistics Command in Ankara.

Incirlik's 10th Tanker Base supports the 2nd TAC and reports directly to Diyarbakir. Their KC-135 Stratotanker refueling mission enables the TuAF fighter jets to participate in international operations and exercises on every major continent and return back to their home bases.

At the base level command structure you see the merging of NATO, EUCOM and TRANSCOM military and civilian personnel.

"In fact, you hardly can tell we aren't all part of the same command," said Maj. Bryan Gillespie, 39th Security Forces Squadron commander. "The TuAF works hand-in-hand with us everyday, providing perimeter security and helping us coordinate with the Turkish General Staff."

One of the greatest successes this command trio has accomplished recently was the Lebanon NEO in July 2006. Incirlik opened their arms to 53 busloads of more than 1,700 American citizens leaving Lebanon and seeking travel back to the United States. The "small community with a big heart" processed all evacuees through the gates with the help of TuAF Airmen and made Patriot Village a home for more than a week.

"The men and women of Team of Incirlik epitomize today's integrated force working with multiple commands and have the results to prove its success," said Colonel Stinnette.