Team Izmir celebrates club grand opening Published June 10, 2011 By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt 39th Air Base Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- The 425th Air Base Squadron hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 3 to celebrate the grand opening of the 425th ABS Izmir Club. Many distinguished visitors to include Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife, Suzie; NATO Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Izmir Commander Lt. Gen. Ralph Jodice and his wife, Judy; Office of Defensive Cooperation Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Turkey Maj. Gen. Stanley Clarke and his wife, Rebecca; 39th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Eric Beene and his wife, Laura; and members from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds team were present for event. "The club's new home will not only expand the quality of its services, but it collocates Airmen and services in the same building," said Senior Master Sgt. Nadine Love, from the 425th ABS and narrator for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "Airmen can walk downstairs to socialize at the club and visit the base exchange and commissary." Support facilities such as the Exchange, commissary and club had previously been spread out across the city of Izmir. The completion of the new base exchange is scheduled for the end of June followed by the completion of the commissary projected for the end of July. "It makes it so much easier for us [to have support facilities where we work]," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Marentette, 425th ABS commander. While located at the Bayrakli Park in Izmir, Turkey, the Izmir Club earned U.S. Air Forces in Europe's Collocated Club of the Year in 2006. The 425th ABS, a geographically-separated unit of the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, provides world-class mission support to U.S. people at CC-AIR Izmir, the Office of Defense Cooperation and the U.S. embassy, as well as administers of the Çigli Air Base turnover agreement.