Izmir AS  In-depth Overview

As a geographically separated unit of the 39th ABW at Incirlik, Turkey, the 425th Air Base Squadron (ABS) supports the NATO Land Command Headquarters here in Izmir and GSU at Istanbul. The NATO  Land Command Headquarters is led by an American U.S. Army Lieutenant General and consists of military members and civilians from the U.S. and 16 of the 19 NATO countries. The 425 ABS does everything normally accomplished by a wing with the exception of operations. Additionally, the 425 ABS maintains the U.S. facilities on Cigli (pronounced Chili) Air Base, a nearby Turkish Air Force installation. The 425 ABS primary customer is NATO's Component Command Land Headquarters-Izmir. Land component is responsible for the full range of NATO air operations throughout the AOR stretching from the Azores and Canary Islands to eastern Turkey.

The 425th Air Base Squadron was activated in Izmir as the 7266th Support Squadron in November 1955 to support Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe and Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force relieving the U.S. Sixth Fleet of that responsibility. On July 1, 1959, most of the 7266th moved to Cigli Air Base, 13 miles north of Izmir. In 1970, U.S. facilities at Cigli Air Base were turned over to the Turkish Air Force, the 41st TG was inactivated and the 41st Combat Support Squadron was renamed the 7241st Support Squadron and moved to downtown Izmir. In 1973, the 7241st Support Squadron was changed to an Air Base Squadron until August 1980 when it was then designated as the 7241st Air Base Group. In 1993, the 7241st ABG was changed back to an air base squadron and renamed the 741st Air Base Squadron. On November 1, 1994, the 741st ABS was renamed the 425th Air Base Squadron. On October 3, 2005, the 425th ABS was redesignated as the 425th Air Base Group. The most recent change came July 1, 2009, when the group was renamed the 425th Air Base Squadron.

Izmir Air Base and living in Izmir, Turkey is a hidden gem for US personnel.  The NATO base is located about 15 minutes from the city of Izmir, a modern and extremely large city on Turkey's western coast with a population of approximately 3 million people. It is in the center of a beautiful coastal and mountainous area that is visited by millions of European tourists each year, and there is plenty to do in our off-duty time. Izmir is a 12-month unaccompanied assignment.

Transportation office handles limited shuttle bus service to and from NATO. Time and pick up locations change from time to time. You must always check with the dispatch office (located on the 6th floor of the Hilton) for the pick up and departure times. They will not give you the information over the phone, you must go in person to their office or take a photo of the shuttle schedule which is posted on the wall of their office. Also, your sponsor can arrange a shuttle to take him or her to the airport to pick you up. There is a parking ticket fee that you will pay but can get reimbursed with the receipt when you file your PCS travel voucher through Finance.

None available. You may be able to go through the Ramstein AB Telephone Operator at DSN: 314-480-1110 and they may be able to transfer you to a 425 ABS DSN phone line.

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. If dialing from your cell phone to a Izmir DSN you must dial: +90-232-455-xxxx. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code 314 must be included.