Adana native finds dream job at community center

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt
  • 39th Air Basw Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  After travelling across the globe in search of the perfect career, one Community Activity Center worker here stumbled across her dream job just minutes away from home.

Anyone who has visited the CAC more than once has probably met Seckin Atmis, the facility programs specialist, who has been working at the center for more than eight years.

"I love the work. I love the fact that you meet new people, communicate with the people, answer their questions and make them happy. I just love it every day here; seriously," said Atmis.

The journey to her career on base led her around the world and back to Adana where she began working at the consolidated club as a waitress and cashier in 2002. Atmis learned English while studying computer programming in Australia. After five years there, she returned to Turkey and had a few jobs before taking a chance and applying for a job on base.

"I was in Australia for almost five years. I came back to Turkey and I was working in a couple companies I wasn't happy with. After working in a moving company there was a job position opening at the club. It's always good to have a job on base," said Atmis. "There was this job opening as a waitress, and I thought about it. 'I've never been waitress before, but I have to start from somewhere.'"

In the beginning, she admits it was a different experience working with the American military, but now feels like she fits in.

"It was different because when I first started here I didn't know much about Americans. I just came from Australia. My language was a little different because I had this strong Aussie accent," Atmis said. "Once I started working here my accent changed. I guess now I speak like Americans."

After waiting tables for two years, Atmis' manager encouraged her to apply for a position at the community center because it would better suit her skills.

Now, eight years later, the Adana native is the go-to person in the CAC. If the CAC is involved, chances are she had a hand in it.

"I do everything here: take care of customers, the register, the inventory, purchase for the center, add stuff to the inventory, answer the phones, try to translate for people, make reservations for trips and do the balloons and baskets," Atmis said. "Everything."

Atmis says she couldn't think of working anywhere else on base and she wants to retire from the community center. Her coworkers would agree that Atmis is an integral part of the center.

"She's the continuity of the community center. There are many managers that come in and out on a two year rotation, so she's really the continuity of this place and can keep it running," said Michelle Martinez, community center assistant director. "She's a good asset to the community."

Some of her more memorable moments at the CAC include riding a bike for the first time and meeting famous people. She described meeting the Harlem Globetrotters as "awesome," but added they ruined her hair when they splashed her with a bucket of water.

"I wasn't really happy with that, but I was happy to be there," said Atmis.

Atmis said she will always remember the best manager she's worked with, retired Chief Master Sgt. Pat Curran, who passed away earlier this year.

"He was just wonderful, and he did teach us a lot, about work, about life. He was like family to me," said Atmis. "I never saw him as a boss. I always saw him as somebody from family."

Assignments at Incirlik are usually 15 or 24 months long. Having locals like Seckin Atmis who love their jobs and have an understanding of the Turkish culture helps the 39th Air Base Wing stay "Fit, Focused, and Ready."

"We teach each other every day," said Martinez. "Through the good, the not so good, and all the fun in between."