US Air Force sergeant corresponds for Turkey

After six weeks of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, McCartney’s first assignment was at Keesler Air Force Base in Michigan. She spent six months there training in air traffic control technical school. She then spent four years at Travis Air Force Base in California.

"Then last summer I had orders to come here to Incirlik AB, Turkey, for 15 months," she wrote in response to a Democrat-Herald question. "I have five months to go and then I will be assigned to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for three years.

"I work in the tower where my job is to sequence and separate military and civilian aircraft, issue safety alerts, and issue landing and takeoff clearances. It can get pretty busy at times. …

"In the tower we work with the Turkish Air Force controllers who are all really nice and hospitable, they are always offering chai tea! Turkey is a beautiful country and I have had an awesome experience living here in a Muslim country."