Chief Master Sergeant Robert E. Dinsmore: Age 55

CMSgt Robert E. Dinsmore served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Service Code (AFSC) was Bomb Loader, Aerial Gunner-Helicopter and Special Missions Aviator. He received the following medals, decorations, awards, ribbons and citations: Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with service star, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and NATO Medal for Yugoslavia.

CMSgt Dinsmore was born September 5, 1969 to his parents, John and Eleanor Dinsmore, in Dayton, Ohio, and he was reared there. He graduated from Bethel Local High School in Tipp City, Ohio, in 1988. He volunteered for military service and entered service in the U.S. Air Force November 10, 1988.

CMSgt Dinsmore’s military service began with his completion of six weeks of Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB). After completion of the Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist Technical Training Course at Lowry AFB, CO, in March 1989, he then began working as an aircraft armament systems specialist and retrained as an MH-53J/M aerial gunner in 1994. He worked as a bomb loader on the F-15, a twin-engine all weather fighter airplane, the F-4 Phantom II, a two-seater twin engine all-weather long-range suppressor jet interceptor and fighter-bomber, and the B-52 Boeing Stratofortress, a long-range sub-sonic jet-powered strategic bomber.

He served at Kadina Air Base, Japan, for two years during April 1989 to April 1991. Then he served at Loring A.F.B., Maine, with the 44th Munitions Maintenance Squadron for one year during April 1991 to June 1992 as a load crew member loading the B-52. He returned for a second deployment to Kadina Air Base, Japan for two years loading the F-15 for two years during June 1992-June 1994.

CMSgt Dinsmore switched from loading bombs to working as an aerial gunner on the Sikorsky MH-53 J/M PAVE Low helicopter, a long-range special operations and combat search and rescue helicopter, with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at the Air Force installation, Herbert Field, FL, for two years during July 1994 to November 1996. This was followed by assignment to RAF Mildenhall, England, for four years during November 1996 to November 2000 with the 21st Special Operations Squadron RAF continuing to work on the MH-53 helicopter as an instructor. After extending his service in the U. S. Air Force, he served at Kirtland AFB, N.M., for four years. First, he worked during November 2000 to September 2003 with the 551st Special Operations Squadron as the MH-53J Evaluator Aerial Gunner. Second, he served there during September 2003 to July 2004 as the MH-53J Aerial Gunner Aircrew Training Device Manager and Instructor Aerial Gunner with the 58th Training Squadron. Third, he served during July 2004 to November 2004 as the HH-60G Instructor Aerial Gunner with the 512th Rescue Squadron. He then served at Nellis A.F.B, NV, during December 2004 to December 2007 working as the Flight Superintendent and HH-60G Evaluator Aerial Gunner on the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, a four-blade, twin engine medium-lift utility military helicopter used in combat rescue operations. He then returned to serve five more years at Kirkland AFB, NM. First, he served during December 2007 to September 2009 as Operations/Squadron Superintendent and HH-60G Evaluator Aerial Gunner with the 512st Rescue Squadron. Second, he served during September 2009 to February 2012 as the Superintendent of Staff and HH-60G Evaluator Aerial Gunner with the 58th Special Operations Wing. Third, he served during February 2012 to March 2013 as the Squadron Superintendent/Chief Enlisted Manager and HH-60G Evaluator Special Missions Aviator. He continued serving as the Chief Enlisted Manager and AC-130W Aerial Gunner the 73rd Special Operations at Cannon A.F.B., N.M. for 18 months during March 2013 to October 2014. His last place of service was at Barksdale AFB, LA, with the Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command for four years during October 2014 to December 2018 as the AFGSC Career Enlisted Aviator Major-Command Functional Manager on the Bell UH-1 Twin Huey, a twin-engine medium sized helicopter performing Intercontinental Ballistic Missile support and security missions. CMSgt Dinsmore retired there December 1, 2018.

CMSgt Dinsmore’s conclusions about what serving in the U.S. Military means to him are: “ Serving in the military definitely gave me a sense of pride of defending our country and a sense of purpose. My jobs in helicopters, special operations, search and rescue and nuclear defense were all critical to someone’s life at some point. The feeling that I was doing something that was bigger than myself was amazing. That is why I kept going to work every day and stayed 30 years. My whole life has been spent in service in the military, as a voluntary fire-fighter and an EMT for a while. After I got out of military service, I wanted to continue serving, and that is why I started Operation Combat Bikesaver, now reimagined as ETS (Veteran Education Training & Support). I wanted to give back and to make a difference in someone else’s life.” He would like people to remember him as caring and as being a provider.

While in the military, CMSgt Dinsmore used the G.I. Bill and received a B.A. Degree in Business Management from Santa Fe College of Art and Design in 2003, and he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2008. When CMSgt Dinsmore retired from military service, he again used the G.I. Bill and received an Associate Degree in Machine Shop from Central AL Community College in 2022. Since then, he has worked as a machinist at All Phases and Industries, a trusted solution for North American buyers of fabricated, cast and machined metal products, at Mt. Megs, AL.

In 2019. CMSgt Dinsmore started Operation Bikesaver. This then became VETS (Veteran Education, Training & Support, and its mission is to provide support programs for veterans that decrease suicide rates and improve mental health while enhancing their well-being with education and engaged training in the trade arts. Veterans lose something when they leave military service. VETS has created programs to regain some of what the veterans have lost. The focus is on camaraderie, teamwork, friendship and reclaiming that incredible sense of purpose. A hands-on approach is taken by using motors, metals, minds and music to get veterans off of the couch and into a caring environment where they can learn, be involved and take charge of their own lives again. The VETS programs are offered in an alcohol and drug-free space. The programs include: (1) Shop Day where veterans work on cars, motorcycles and anything mechanical to repair or customize them into a unique one-of-a-kind vehicle, (2) Metal Night focusing on welding, machining and bending metal to create tools, works of art or to repair broken things, (3) Peer Support Group with a safe veteran-only environment to heal and move forward in life, and (4) Music Night making and listening to music which is healing so a musical jam session is offered where veterans can hang out, learn to play a chord or two or simply explore music and fun. Veterans can come and learn how to work on motorcycles without paying anything because funds are provided by donations and grants. When a veteran earns a motorcycle build, he is provided with a $2000.00 budget which can be used to do anything the veteran wants to a motorcycle or his desired vehicle. Metal Night is on Thursday 6:00-8:00. On Sunday 8:00-5:00, veterans can be involved in maintenance and customization of motorcycles and cars, and a free lunch is served to veterans. The site is located at 2711 Kent Road, Tallassee, AL. Further information can be obtained at the web site: http://www.vetsprograms.org or by e-mailing to: info@vetesprogram.org

CMSgt Dinsmore and his wife, Stephanie, have been married nine years. They enjoy traveling via a two-seater motorcycle and seeing the country. He is serving as the Senor Vice Commander of the VFW Post 5035 in Tallassee, AL, a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the River Region Veterans Coalition in Montgomery, AL.