125 Years of Family Serving Family – Sahin Ozdemir, Incirlik AB

Sahin Ozdemir, the Incirlik Express store manager in Turkey, has worked for the Exchange for over 30 years and loves his job so much that he works the checkout every morning just to talk to his customers.

One in a series of honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family

For Sahin Ozdemir, serving the military came naturally to him when he first began working as a waiter in a restaurant near the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. His smile and easy demeanor were welcomed by many U.S. military members, and he soon developed a camaraderie with them.

Ozdemir went above and beyond for his customers and it was because he went the extra mile surprising one of his customers, who worked for the Exchange with a birthday cake, that he was offered a job.

“We became friends and he offered me a job to come work for the Exchange,” Ozdemir said. “I was very excited but explained how I was obligated to serve 15 months in the Turkish military.”

After his military service, Ozdemir was determined to join the Exchange family and immediately set out to find his friend.

“I served my time and later found my friend who kept his promise,” Ozdemir said. “It’s been over 30 years and I couldn’t be happier.”

Ozdemir works as the Incirlik Express store manager and loves his job so much, that he works the checkout every morning just to talk to his customers.

“I love to make people happy,” he said. “It is my priority to listen to their problems, fulfill their requests and see them happy as if they were at home.”

One way Ozdemir and his team like to help their customers enjoy their shopping experience is by giving away surprise gifts during the holiday seasons.

“This feeling is too beautiful to be expressed in words,” Ozdemir said. “It is an honor serving the military.”

Ozdemir plans to work for the Exchange for as long as he can because there is nothing more fulfilling than putting smiles on his customers faces.

“If you can make people here, miles away from their homes comfortable and happy, then we are doing our jobs right,” he said.

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