Airman Dylan Hodkiewicz unloads specialized air filters at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Jan. 22, 2026. The shipment gives the base the ability to sustain medical treatment during instances of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination. (Brieana E. Bolfing/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. troops stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey received a healthy dose of reassurance, as dozens of highly specialized air filters that had been designated a top priority were delivered recently.
The filters allow the installation to provide medical care during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear contamination scenarios, according to a 39th Air Base Wing statement Thursday.
Incirlik hosts one of only two U.S. Air Force treatment facilities certified to operate during such attacks, known in military parlance as CBRN events.
“These filters are integral to our mission,” said Capt. Rose Smith, 39th Healthcare Operations Squadron logistics flight commander, said in the statement. “They allow us to convert the first floor of our medical facility into a hardened, CBRN-resistant environment, supporting around 150 patients until they can be transferred to a higher echelon of care.”
The 59 new filters, which arrived at the base on Jan. 22, are part of a $780,000 medical infrastructure upgrade, the statement said. They were designated as a top priority by the U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa surgeon general.
In 2023, the Air Force determined that the filters Incirlik had at the time needed replacement. They had been used regularly during monthly training for more than a decade, according to the statement.
Transferring the filters to Turkey was a challenge unto itself, as noted by wing personnel.
“This was not a routine shipment,” said Staff Sgt. Jarred Bundlie, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of inbound cargo. “Moving 59 pallets of highly specialized equipment across multiple international and regulatory barriers required deliberate planning and constant coordination to make sure everything arrived safely and on schedule.”
Located in southern Turkey near the border with Syria, the base supports operations involving American, Turkish and NATO forces.
The medical campus at Incirlik was built in 1994. An automatic protection system added later allows officials to quickly secure the facilities in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination.
In addition to supporting approximately 150 patients, the facility is designed to shelter roughly 200 medical personnel, allowing sustained operations during crisis or conflict, according to the air wing.
Airman Jahaziel Orozco transports an air filter shipment with guidance from Airman 1st Class Bryan Dickerson at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Jan. 22, 2026. The delivery of 59 of the highly specialized filters is part of a modernization project involving the base's medical treatment facilities. (Brieana E. Bolfing/U.S. Air Force)
