Airman earns "Service Member of the Year" award

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Master Sgt. William G. Janczewski II was honored July 18, on Capitol Hill, as "Service Members of the Year" by newspaper publisher Military Times, along with four other service members, one from each branch of service.

"It's very, very humbling," Janczewski said of his being named the Airman of the Year. "I see what happened as just doing my job. The volunteer work was just a way to pay back all my experiences, so other families or other people don't have to go through the same problems we went through. Being here tonight, it's just very humbling to be recognized for something on this scale."

Janczewski's son, six-year-old Ethan, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The young boy was born with only a right ventricle and right atrium. The heart defect left the newborn in the hospital for nearly five months -- about four of those in an induced coma.

Ethan is now in stable health. Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Larry O. Spencer, the military presenter for the award, said Janczewski and his wife were able to get through the difficult times thanks to support from friends and family.

Janczewski works to provide that kind of support to others who may face similar family crisis. He volunteers with the Arkansas Congestive Heart Defect Coalition to help others who are in the same situation now that his family was in years ago.

An Air Force firefighter who is approaching 20 years of service, Janczewski serves with the 19th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. He said he plans to stay in uniform as long as he is allowed.

"I love the job and I love the mission," he said.

Serving as the keynote speaker for the event, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert noted that the five were so impressive, their fellow service members had taken the time to sit down and nominate them for the award. The admiral said he was impressed.

"They continue to put service before self while off duty as well as while on duty; volunteering to do such things as volunteer in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, teaching math and English to children in Afghanistan, raising awareness for Gold Star Families, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and working with wounded warriors," Greenert said.

Noting that July is the 40th anniversary of the all-volunteer military force in the United States, he said the award recipients represent the best of what America has to offer -- to those at home, and to those overseas.

"These individuals represent a really special quality of all the service members that we have," the admiral said. "And they represent the face of the United States around the globe. They build the trust that enables the partnership that we need so very much to continue to do what we do around the world to ensure security. They are our ambassadors."

From sister services, the four nominated were: Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Karen D. Beattie; Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Clifford M. Wooldridge; Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua E. Beemer; and Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Chase M. Severns.


Military Times has presented the Service Member of the Year Awards for 13 years now. The company publishes such newspapers as Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times.

To read profiles of the winning service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard, click here.

(Information courtesy of Army News Service)