Members from the 496th Air Base Squadron Contracting Flight, stationed at Moron Air Base, Spain, recently visited the 725th Air Mobility Squadron stationed at Naval Station Rota, Spain.
Members of the 496th ABS were shown how the 725th AMS directly supports the U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Global Mobility mission. By providing quick-turn maintenance, supply, cyber, command and control, and expeditionary aircrew support, the 725th AMS executes U.S. Transportation Command missions transiting into Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. The 496th ABS were also given an opportunity to view some of the recent acquisitions that 725th AMS has received with the help of the contracting flight and how the Airmen use them to improve mission execution.
Located on a Navy installation, the 725th AMS has a more complicated process to execute their budget than most units as they have to coordinate Spanish contracts with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, facilities projects with the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, and Air Force projects through the 496th ABS.
Much of the tracking of the contracts and the proper execution of the budget falls on Patricia Herrling, a 725th AMS budget analyst. A member of the squadron since 2015 and the wife of a retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, her only experiences with Air Force budget execution have been here at NAVSTA Rota and have proved to be instrumental in liaising between the two services.
"It's often difficult to build strong relationships remotely, so this in-person meeting was incredibly valuable,” said Herrling. “Connecting with our partners face-to-face allowed us to better understand their work and ensure our contract packages align with their needs."
The 725th AMS is one of two geographically separated units the contracting flight supports, providing advice, soliciting bids, and awarding contracts for a portion of the 725th AMS' $4.5 million annual budget.
“It was a great opportunity for the contracting team to get out of the office and engage directly with our mission partners,” said Capt. Christopher Unger, 496th ABS Acquisitions Flight commander. “As we work to be mission-focused business leaders, it’s invaluable for our team to see the challenges and requirements firsthand. This helps us apply sound business judgment to support mission success. The team was all smiles, especially when we had the chance to view the inside of a C-5M [Super Galaxy], an exciting experience for those of us who don’t typically work with aircraft.”
The 725th AMS and 496th ABS are the only Air Force squadrons on the Iberian Peninsula, making their partnership one of necessity. At the end of the day, members of the 496th ABS left NAVSTA Rota with a better understanding of the 725th AMS mission and a strengthened partnership between the two squadrons.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2025 08:09 |
| Story ID: | 553483 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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