Team Rota in the Spotlight: Tech Sgt. Joshua Dingler

  • Published
  • By MC3 Michaela Garrison
  • NAVSTA Rota Public Affairs
ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- --  Editor's Note: The 725th Air Mobility Squadron and Tech Sgt. Joshua Dingler are part of a geographically separated unit for the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing.

Aircraft Structural Maintenance Tech Sgt. Joshua Dingler of the 725th Air Mobility Squadron's (AMS), is the non commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of 12 people and has 30 different collateral duties from keeping track of local main tools, training and safety in his office among others. A Lancaster, South Carolina native, Dingler arrived in Rota in 2014,

"Here we provide support for any aircraft coming over. We provide structural maintenance support for those and in addition we work the CTK (composite tool kit) where we maintain accountability of all the tools that are used on the flight line. Then all the maintenance programs like safety, hazardous communication, stuff like that," says Dingler on the roles of his command.

Before being stationed with the 725th AMS Dingler was stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany from 2003 to 2005 and Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas from 2006 to 2014. Dingler noticed a big difference between his first two commands and working at Naval Station Rota with the 725th AMS.

"My favorite part about working at this command is normally my career field wouldn't be integrated with the flight line guys like it is here. So it's kind of a unique perspective to be able to see the other side of the flight line. On a main base we would be in totally different squadrons. We wouldn't be working with each other. So it provides us the opportunity to see it from their side too," says Dingler.

Before working at his previous commands, Dingler attended the Air Force tech school Aircraft Structural Maintenance Apprentice course for his career field and he attended the Air Force Advanced Composite Repair course.

Dingler's schooling doesn't end with his Air Force training. Outside of work he takes time for studying for his Bachelor's degree in Engineering Sciences. He also enjoys playing sports, reading and volunteering.

"I played on a rugby team until I got hurt, I've set up some retirement and promotion ceremonies for guys here. I raised money for Donor's Choose. I like to play golf and I enjoy reading Lee Child. I'm pretty busy with school though. I'm working on my Engineering in Sciences degree so that takes up a lot of my time," says Dingler.

Although school takes up a lot of Dingler's time, he has still made time for traveling to fully appreciate his time here.

"I love being in Spain. I just went to Madrid, I've been to Huelva, Granada and Ronda," says Dingler.

Of all the advice he has for those that are new to Rota, traveling is the most important.

"Advice I would give to people that are new to Rota, is to travel. You've got to get out there. There's so much to see here. Don't get stuck on base, or in just Rota. There's so much more to see," says Dingler.