Izmir community celebrates U.S. Air Force's 66th birthday

  • Published
  • By Tanju Varlikli
  • 425th Air Base Squadron Host Nation Adviser
IZMIR AIR STATION, Turkey --  Approximately 150 men and women of the 425th Air Base Squadron, and the NATO and Izmir communities celebrated the U.S. Air Force's 66th birthday Sept. 18 with a series of events including an obstacle challenge, Ultimate Frisbee, core group discussions and an Air Force Trivia contest.

"The obstacle course was pretty challenging but I enjoyed the activities and had a lot of fun. I look forward to doing it again," said Tech. Sgt. Cherron Shields, 425th ABS commander's support staff.

The 425th ABS concluded the event by hosting a barbeque for the NATO Allied Land Command Headquarters and sponsored a cardboard boat race.

"We started the day with an obstacle course that challenged our mental and physical toughness, but the highlight of the day was the cardboard boat regatta in which teams assembled their most creative cardboard boats and raced them across the NATO pool," said Staff Sgt. Bassel Noori, 425th Air Base Squadron communications, and the AF Birthday celebrations coordinator. "This year's theme focused on team building and camaraderie ... elements that are essential to the Air Force mission."

One of the events of the day was the core group discussions consisting of 5 to 6 people. Core group discussions are tools to bring members of the Air Force team together in order to build camaraderie and character. Core groups are a critical mechanism to enhance the strength of an Airman's Comprehensive Fitness - physical, mental, social and spiritual.

"Each core group was composed of squadron members who work together," said Capt. Keith Cronican, 425th Air Base Squadron director of operations. "All group members actively participated and had time to work through the questions and benefited from the sense of belonging gained through the process. Each group built a sense of community with one another and focused on Air Force core values and other warrior virtues."