39th FSS supports OIR troop surge at IAB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Krystal Ardrey
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  On July 23, 2015, the U.S. and Turkey developed an agreement which allows the U.S. government to conduct combat operations on Turkish air bases in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Following this, the U.S. Air Force deployed six F-16 Fighting Falcons, more than 300 personnel and support equipment, here.

To accommodate the surge in troops, the 39th Force Support Squadron is taking measures to ready the base for the influx of U.S. personnel and NATO allies. These service members will be utilizing Patriot Village, which is currently U.S. Air Forces in Europe's largest contingency lodging arrangement.

According to Tech. Sgt. Daniel Ramirez, 39th FSS contingency lodging NCO in-charge, the 39th FSS is two-years into a 10-year and 1.8 million dollar maintenance plan to make improvements to Patriot Village.

"The purpose of our maintenance plan is to identify and maintain the upkeep of our facilities in Patriot Village," said Staff Sgt. Lisseth Silva, deployed from the 52nd Force Support Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to the 39th FSS as the Patriot Village assistant manager. "Currently we are in the buildup stage of Patriot Village to be able to accept any additional forces. With Patriot Village in direct support of Operation Inherent Resolve, it's key that we maintain the quality of life for our coalition forces."

These quality of life improvements range from standing up a dining facility to opening a community center annex that will offer free Wi-Fi, a seating area and tentatively a coffee shop. There are also plans to add refrigerators and water fountains inside the contingency lodging buildings, as well as a gym annex in the near future.

"We try to do the best we can to keep [deployed personnel's] morale up," Airman 1st Class John Marin, 39th FSS contingency lodging journeyman said. "Anything that we can do to help them feel better and help their time go by a little bit quicker is, in my eyes, the least we can do."

According to the Marin, currently Patriot Village can house approximately 1,900 troops in comfort and approximately 2,250 at surge capacity.

"I've deployed to where they have tents," Ramirez said. "These are hardened facilities, I think these are nicer. I know we say eight to twelve people per room is a surge, but it is not. It's contingency. They may not have desks, but we are making improvements for the morale and welfare of our deployers."

Patriot Village has been serving contingency operations at Incirlik for 60-years. With the 10-year maintenance plan the lodging area will stay ready to serve contingency operations for current and future operations.