39th FSS commander balances meetings, mail, millions Published May 22, 2012 By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, TURKEY -- In a lone corner of the 39th Force Support Squadron building, a commander is usually on his way in or on his way out to one of his favorite activities. "Meetings. I go to a lot of meetings," said Maj. Thomas Ausherman, 39th FSS commander. "Beside's e-mails, it's the time other commanders and superintendents come together to discuss issues and see what the other squadrons are up to." As the commander of the squadron that makes it possible for Incirlik Airmen and families to have concerts, comedy tours and access to guided trips all over Turkey, most of his days include answering emails, approving and disapproving programs, researching, and making sure he is in the know of all major events happening in the squadron. Ausherman is tasked to improve and sustain quality-of-life programs at Incirlik and also to meet the needs of Airmen and family members here. Even at a small base like Incirlik, the list of needs can run long. He definitely does not accomplish it all alone, though. More than 350 Airmen, Department of Defense civilians and local nationals carry out the mission. The 39th FSS consist of five flights including manpower, Airmen and family services, community services, sustainment, and force development. Ausherman works daily with his squadron superintendent and flight chiefs to stay updated. "The expertise of my flight commanders, superintendents and supervisors allows me to be pretty hands off," Ausherman said. "They allow me to focus on long-term issues such as construction projects like the new community center that will be built here eventually." Construction is a big-ticket issue Ausherman works with frequently. Although the squadron received funding for several endeavors such as the new community center, approval must be routed through host-nation authorities. The process, while not impossible, can be very tedious, he said. Other programs such as the non-combatant evacuation plan also fall under the 39th FSS and require a large amount of planning and continuity. The location of Incirlik requires the base to have a plan to quickly evacuate all non-military and non-essential employees should the need arise. The commander must ensure all family members are accounted for and the required paperwork is completed. With Airmen circulating in and out almost constantly, managing the NEO program can be one of the harder tasks to complete. That's why he makes the big bucks. Managing assets worth more than $10 million requires Ausherman to make decisions most Airmen here may never know about, but greatly affect their daily lives. Due to the location of Incirlik and force protection measures, the 39th FSS tailors its programs to meet the diverse needs of the base population. The Sultan's Inn Dining Facility, for instance, is the busiest DFAC in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. The staff provides meals for dorm residents, contractors and other service members on temporary duty or transitioning through Incirlik. "Recently, the DFAC won the John L. Hennessy award for the best dining facility in the Air Force. It really speaks volumes about the good work they put in over there every day," Ausherman said. The 39th FSS also tries to bring a bit of home to the base by authorizing programs such as bingo, poker tournaments, themed parties and events like Moola where club members can win cash and prizes. "At Incirlik, we can do many activities that would be very difficult to do stateside because our facilities here bring in a substantial amount of revenue. In the last year, we made more than $650,000 in non-appropriated funds," Ausherman said. "We really give our staff the freedom to create programs they believe will work out, and most of the time, they do." Building relationships with local nationals is one of Ausherman's biggest goals. In many cases, Turkish nationals provide continuity of programs in the squadron because they do not transition as often as Americans. "Jobs on Incirlik are really coveted by local nationals, and some have been here for more than 30 years," he said. "They know the community the best and have seen many things come and go. They are pretty knowledgeable and really essential to Incirlik. As the summer nears, Ausherman will make his transition to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., but says his two years at Incirlik was well spent immersing in the Turkish culture and learning to work with a foreign military and civilians to achieve a common goal.