39th ABW Community Center complete, ready to open Published July 21, 2015 By 39th Air Base Wing INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- The construction of the new community center is complete, but plans to open the facility are on hold pending approval of the Turkish Air Force, here. The community center, which cost roughly $9.23 million and created approximately 145 Turkish jobs over a two year period, completed construction in early April 2015. It is important to note that since Incirlik Air Base is a Turkish military installation, all construction and facility openings require Turkish Air Force approval. The 39 Air Base Wing submitted the required paperwork in late January 2015 to the Turkish Air Force for approval to open the facility to the public immediately after construction completion. The paperwork however has taken an unexpectedly long time to process for reasons that are unclear. Opening the community center has been a major priority for the 39th Air Base Wing leadership and a topic of interest for the base community as the new facility will offer updated and new services. "I am very proud of this new facility and know it will be well used by U.S. and Turkish personnel and families on base," said Col. Craig Wills, 39th Air Base Wing commander. "I am also especially proud of the jobs created and multimillion dollar investment in the Turkish economy. On the other hand, I am disappointed that the facility has not yet opened to our base community. I am hopeful that the Turkish air force will release the building soon." The new center will have the same services and amenities the old center, along with a new 350-seat capacity theater with a digital movie theater system, the base education office with two colleges and the base library. In addition, the facility will be equipped with free wireless internet that will be available to patrons. For more information on the community center, contact 676-6966.