Izmir AS

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.

NATO ORDERS

All military members performing official duties in Turkey must enter and exit the country using official NATO travel orders (AF Form 1631) in lieu of a passport. The NATO order must have an "official" stamp and a signature (blue ink). Ensure your NATO order is signed in blue ink (stamp color does not matter). Some MPFs may tell you that NATO orders don't have to be signed in blue ink, according to their guidance, but be sure they do. Turkish officials caution that lower-level customs officials at ports of entry may be under the impression that the orders have to be signed in blue ink, which may delay your entry into Turkey. The Turkish Passport Police will stamp your NATO orders when you exit or enter Turkey. The NATO travel order is your de facto passport while performing official duties in Turkey and allows you to enter or exit the country without paying for a visa. Travelers must still carry their PCS or TDY orders when traveling to Turkey. NATO orders are only valid when accompanied by PCS/TDY orders. However, PCS/TDY orders with "NATO travel authorized" will not suffice for Turkish Immigration and the separate NATO travel order is required. When flying commercial into Turkey without orders, you will be denied entry into Turkey and immediately placed on an aircraft departing Turkey.

Do NOT depart your current station without NATO Travel orders.

Civilian Employees (Department of Defense, GS/DAF)

Official travel to Turkey requires an official passport. Your passport should have a Turkish visa before departing your home station. Civilian Employees are not issued NATO Travel orders.

Unaccompanied Tour

As of 1 March 2005, Izmir was designated as an unaccompanied tour.

Community Dress Code

All US military personnel assigned to 425 Air Base Squadron and to NATO are required to wear ABUs at work. You must bring a full set of uniforms (ABUs and blues) to Izmir. All US military personnel should not wear uniforms on the streets of Izmir and while traveling. DoD Civilians Dress Code: Smart Business Casual.

Passports

It is highly encouraged that service members acquire a "U.S.Tourist Passport" prior to getting assigned to Izmir.  If you plan to travel to Greece; they require a U.S. Tourist passport and will not accept your NATO Orders. Also, if you plan to buy a Turkish Cell Phone or SIM card for your US Cell Phone, you will need to show your U.S. Tourist Passport along with a Foreign Identification Number which is requested by you to the Turkish Government via the NATO Customs office once you start inprocessing or 30 days prior to your arrival by email, ask your sponsor for more details.

These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships to the military service members.

All military members performing official duties in Turkey must enter and exit the country using official NATO travel orders (AF Form 1631) in lieu of a passport. Travelers must still carry their PCS or TDY orders when traveling to Turkey. NATO orders are only valid when accompanied by PCS/TDY orders. It is highly encouraged to bring your valid Tourist Passport, if you don't have one it's highly encouraged to get one prior to coming on your assignment. You will need this in order to and pay Turkish taxes on your Foreign cell phone (which needs to be unlocked prior to arriving in Turkey and the Turkish Government requires a one-time Tax payment of 1900 TL). Also you will need it to purchase a Turkish SIM Card. If you decide to purchase a Turkish Cell phone/SIM Card you will not be required to pay the 1900 TL Turkish Government taxes.  If you decide not to do any of the above options; while in the states you can purchase a Google phone which doesn't require a SIM card and you can use anywhere internationally or a Google SIM Card to insert in your current U.S. Cell phone but you must do this prior to coming to Turkey.

All US military personnel assigned to 425 Air Base Squadron and to NATO are required to wear ABUs at work. You must bring a full set of uniforms (ABUs and blues and Service Dress) to Izmir. All US military personnel should not wear uniforms on the streets of Izmir and/or while traveling.

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.