AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Each Marine walks their own career path, making decisions that will influence their time and what they do as a service member. One Marine, an aviation electrician systems technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, is a shining example of someone who has taken full advantage of the opportunities within the Marine Corps to become a better Marine and better person.
Staff Sgt. Joshua Rothman, a Pine Hill, N.J., native, works for VMAQ-4 as the night shift staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge of aviation electrician maintenance. Working from midnight to when the sun is straight above the desert floor at noon every day, Rothman is responsible for overseeing all maintenance during his crew's shift.
"My Marines and I work on all the electrical components of the aircraft, such as flight instruments and electrical wiring," said Rothman. "I chose this job because I wanted to learn a skill that would be useful in or out of the military, and I just like working with my hands."
Joining the military seemed like keeping a family tradition alive for Rothman. Both of his grandfathers served in World War II, and his father served in Vietnam.
"They didn't try to make careers out of the Army or anything, but it really gave me a sense of patriotism knowing about their service," explained Rothman. "It gave me the encouragement to join the Marines."
Since joining the Marine Corps, Rothman has deployed five times to foreign soil, including three deployments to Iraq. Rothman said the experience he has gained from his deployments has shaped him as a Marine leader and has fine-tuned his job skills.
"One of the best things about him is his complete honesty at work," said Capt. Michael Costa, the avionics officer with VMAQ-4. "If something isn't right, he will let you know, even if it may be his fault. Honesty like that keeps Marines safe in this job field and in the military as a whole."
Before joining the ranks of VMAQ-4, Rothman spent three years as a Marine recruiter, which he said helped him become a better leader and showed him the importance of communication.
"I don't think I was the most social person when I started recruiting," explained Rothman. "I talked to a lot of people and each one had their own view of the military. I learned to communicate my experiences to them and show what the military had to offer."
When Rothman returned to his military occupational specialty almost a year ago, he took those communication skills and applied them to his role as a leader.
"He really hit the ground running," said Costa. "He had been out of the MOS for years, but the transition back to electronics was seamless in my eyes. His ability to communicate with the Marines and get the job done is amazing."
Rothman credits his motivation to excel and be a good Marine to the Marines he works with and to his family. Although he has deployed previously while married, this deployment to Iraq is the first one since the birth of his first child.
"Webcam and video calls on the computer have got to be the best inventions ever," said Rothman. "I get to see my family almost every day while I am in Iraq. I miss them, and they are why I do what I do. It is about knowing that the U.S. presence here is something that is making the world a better place for my son to grow up in."