Turkey
Incirlik Air Base
📍 Adana, Turkey
Home to the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik supports NATO operations and provides a vital staging platform for air operations across the Middle East region.
OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance)
OHA applies — rates vary by location and rank. Visit DTMO for details.
Incirlik Air Base is an OCONUS assignment. Overseas Housing Allowance replaces BAH for overseas locations.
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Government housing managed by the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron — mix of townhomes and apartments; accompanied tours are limited and command-sponsored dependents must be approved; unaccompanied personnel live in dormitories
- Off-base (Turkish economy): Families with command sponsorship can live off-base in Adana; OHA covers rent up to cap; typical rents range from $500-$1,500/month for modern apartments in newer developments
- Top pick: Çukurova and Seyhan districts — newer apartment complexes, closer to international schools and shopping, 15-25 min commute to base
- Note: Turkish rental market is mostly unfurnished; expect to buy appliances, light fixtures, and window coverings — budget $2,000-5,000 for initial setup
- Important: Accompanied tours are limited to specific billets; many personnel serve 12-month unaccompanied remote tours — verify dependent status with your assignment manager before planning
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Çukurova — Upscale district 15-20 min northwest of base, modern high-rise apartments, gated communities with pools and security, popular with expat families and embassy personnel
- Seyhan — Central Adana district 15 min from base, more affordable, older buildings mixed with newer developments, close to parks and the Seyhan River waterfront
- Yüreğir — East side of Adana, closer to base (10-15 min), more traditional Turkish neighborhood, lower rents but fewer expat amenities
- İncirlik village — Immediate area outside the base gate, some short-term rentals, convenient but limited amenities and rougher surroundings
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Incirlik Unit School (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, K-12 combined school, small classes
🏫 Middle Schools
Incirlik Unit School (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, middle grades in combined K-12 facility
🏫 High Schools
Incirlik Unit School (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, small high school, limited AP but strong support
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (NATO Gate) — Primary entry from Adana/İncirlik road, 10-20 min peak waits (7:00-8:30 AM), 24/7 operations, Turkish security at outer perimeter with U.S. inner security
- Note: Turkish security forces control the outer perimeter; always carry NATO orders, military ID, passport, and SOFA card — Turkish police occasionally conduct checkpoints on approach roads
- Tip: Traffic on D-400 highway can be very heavy during Turkish rush hours (8:00-9:00 and 17:00-18:30); plan for an extra 15-20 min during peak commute
- Tip: The base is within a major urban area — Adana has 1.7 million residents; base access is tightly controlled and visitors require advance sponsorship
Internet Providers
- Türk Telekom — Largest national provider, DSL and expanding fiber in Adana, speeds up to 100 Mbps DSL, fiber up to 1 Gbps in select neighborhoods
- Turkcell Superonline — Leading fiber provider in Adana, speeds up to 1 Gbps, generally reliable in Çukurova and Seyhan districts
- Vodafone Turkey — Competitive DSL and fiber, good mobile data packages, 4.5G coverage throughout Adana
- Starlink — Increasingly popular for personnel in off-base housing; excellent speeds (100-200 Mbps) for remote work and streaming, available throughout Turkey
- Top pick: Turkcell Superonline fiber in Çukurova; Starlink for areas with unreliable wired service
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary with U.S. products; shoppette, Class Six, and food court for daily essentials
- Adana city center — Ziyapaşa Boulevard and Cemal Gürsel Caddesi for Turkish fashion, boutique shopping, and modern shopping malls like M1 Adana and Optimum Outlet
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Migros, CarrefourSA, and Metro Grossmarket (military-friendly wholesale club) throughout Adana; local pazars (markets) for fresh produce, spices, and Turkish delight
- Dining: Adana is famous for Adana kebab — try Kebapçı Şakir or Ciğerci Apolas; the riverside restaurants along the Seyhan River offer excellent meze and rakı
- Local specialties: Adana kebab, şalgam (fermented turnip juice), bici bici (shaved ice dessert), and the Saturday farmer's market in Seyhan for olives, cheese, and baklava
Gyms & Recreation
- Titan Fitness Center — On-base gym with cardio, free weights, group fitness classes, and indoor basketball court
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Offers trips to Cappadocia (3 hrs), Mediterranean beaches in Mersin (1.5 hrs), Taurus Mountains hiking and skiing, and historical sites across Turkey at subsidized rates
- Hodja Lakes Golf Course — 9-hole on-base course, open year-round in Adana's mild Mediterranean climate, popular with U.S. and Turkish personnel
- On-base: Bowling alley, movie theater, swimming pool (seasonal outdoor), community center, and several sports fields
- Adana: Merkez Park along the Seyhan River — largest park in Adana with running paths, picnic areas, and the Central Mosque; Yüzüncüyıl Atatürk Forest for weekend hiking
- Day trips: Mersin beaches and ancient Tarsus (1 hr), Cappadocia fairy chimneys and hot air balloons (3 hrs), Gaziantep for the world's best baklava (2.5 hrs), Cyprus by air (45 min flight)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, DODEA school — primary employers for command-sponsored spouses; USAJobs for GS/NAF positions on base
- Defense contractors: Limited contractor presence compared to other OCONUS bases; primarily Turkish local national positions supporting base operations
- Turkish economy: SOFA spouses with work authorization can pursue off-base employment but Turkish language fluency is typically required; English teaching at private language schools is the most accessible path
- Remote work: Strong option for command-sponsored spouses; Turkey is GMT+3, enabling overlap with European and Middle East business hours; Starlink availability makes reliable connectivity feasible
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center offers limited job search support; remote work and on-base employment are the primary realistic options
- Volunteer: Base Thrift Store and Spouses' Club provide networking and resume-building opportunities for those on accompanied tours
Local Attractions
- Cappadocia — 3 hours north; UNESCO World Heritage site with fairy chimneys, underground cities, and world-famous hot air balloon rides at sunrise
- Mersin and the Mediterranean Coast — 1.5 hours south; sandy beaches, ancient Roman ruins at Soli-Pompeiopolis, and fresh seafood restaurants along the waterfront
- Tarsus — 45 min west; birthplace of St. Paul, ancient Roman road, Cleopatra's Gate, and the historic Tarsus Waterfall
- Gaziantep — 2.5 hours east; culinary capital of Turkey — the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and incredible baklava shops in the historic copper bazaar
- Mount Nemrut — 5 hours east; giant stone heads from the 1st century BC Kingdom of Commagene atop a 7,000-ft mountain — stunning sunrise views
- Istanbul — 1.5-hour flight from Adana Şakirpaşa Airport; Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and Bosphorus cruises make for epic long-weekend trips
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Aerial view of Incirlik Air Base showing the 10,000-ft runway and hardened aircraft shelters
community
Community gathering at Incirlik Air Base demonstrating the tight-knit base community
base
Airfield infrastructure and flightline operations at Incirlik
downtown
Adana skyline with the Seyhan River and Sabanci Central Mosque — 6 miles from base
nature
Hot air balloons over Cappadocia — a popular weekend trip 3 hours from Incirlik
restaurant
Famous Adana kebab — the city's signature dish served at countless local restaurants