LOCATIONS:

Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (1xSO1 and 1xSO2) – Ankara

Contact: 0090 (0)312 455 3224

NATO Rapid Deployment Corps-Turkey (NRDC-T) (1 x Col, 3 x Lt Col & 1 x Wg Cdr) – Istanbul

Contact: 0090 (0)212 202 6034

Component Command-Air Izmir (31 posts from Gp Capt down to Cpl) – Izmir

Contact:   0090 (0)232 411 1688

LIVING:

Climate:

Ankara.  Summers are hot and fairly humid whilst winters are very cold and wet.

Istanbul.  Similar to the Balkans; hot and humid in summer and cold with sporadic heavy snowfall in winter.

Izmir.  Hot and dry summers with winters not dissimilar to a Scottish summer.  Occasional light snowfalls.

General Lifestyle:

All Locations.  Turkey is a rapidly developing country but personnel posted to Turkey would need to be of a ‘pioneering spirit’.  It is strongly recommended that all military personnel and their spouses are able to drive.  Whilst taxis are cheap in comparison to the UK, the public transport system is patchy.  It is recommended that 4x4 vehicles be used in Istanbul especially where road conditions during the winter months between the HQ and the accommodation can be treacherous.  The standard of local driving leaves a great deal to be desired and personnel should ‘expect the unexpected’!  Owing to legal difficulties, NATO service in Turkey does not allow individuals to make tax-free purchases on the local community.  In all locations, however, limited duty-free alcohol is available, there is subsidized fuel and individuals can buy tax-free cars in UK on the basis that Turkey is outside the EU.  Many things (staple commodities, labour) are much cheaper than in UK, but other things (electronic goods, car parts) can be a lot more expensive.  Travel to and from Turkey can be expensive and for those with boarding school children this is likely to be a major outgoing.  There are cheap flights to Turkey from UK (Easyjet and German Wings, both to Istanbul and both at inconvenient times), but most fly either BA or THY: cheap deals available in UK tend not to be available for journeys starting in Turkey, so only rarely can these be found.

Ankara.  The city is the Nation’s Capital and is cosmopolitan in nature.  Personnel are supported from Izmir and live in 2 well-appointed apartments within a block of 5.  The apartments are about 5km from the British Embassy and its facilities are made available to you.  The COE-DAT is a further 5 km from the Embassy but Ankara traffic can be heavy and a journey that should take 10 minutes can often take much longer.

Istanbul.  At some 15 million inhabitants, this is the Nation’s largest and primary city, though not its capital.   Nonetheless this vibrant city, situated at the junction of 2 continents and split by the Bosphorous is the centre for business and culture.  Byzantine and Ottoman Constantinople, it has the monuments left over from a colourful history and its place as the meeting point of East and West make it fascinating and absorbing as a place to visit: this is also true of it as a place to live, but bureaucracy, the different culture and the language barrier can make it remarkably frustrating as well.   All personnel are accommodated in good housing in gated compounds in Zekeriyaköy, a village built for the affluent, which sits in a lush forest some 18km from the HQ and a good two hours generally speaking (on a good day) from the centre of the City.  Personnel are directly administered by a WO1 AGC(SPS) and a Locally Employed Civilian, who work from the NSE WO house in Zekeriyaköy. 

Izmir.  Turkey’s 3rd city is on the Aegean coastline and within reach of many notable historic sights and the popular holiday resorts of Bodrum, Kusadasi and Marmaris.  The bulk of the UKSU Turkey personnel are co-located with NATO personnel at Sirinyer.  Married accompanied personnel are accommodated in Californian Villa Resort type housing in Urla some 55m from the CC-Air HQ whilst single and unaccompanied personnel are allocated 1-bed apartments in the centre of Izmir, 9km from the HQ.

Arrival: