The winners of our 16th annual Military Times Service Members of the Year awards did not seek honors for the outstanding work they performed on the job and in their communities.
That is what makes this award so special: They were nominated by peers and commanders inspired by serving alongside troops who truly went above and beyond the call of duty. In shining a spotlight on the 2016 Service Members of the Year, we salute all who have volunteered to serve their nation in uniform.
This year's winners will be honored July 14 at a Capitol Hill gala with members of Congress and other VIPs. Here's a closer look at each of these outstanding service members:
Capt. Zachariah Fike
Photo Credit: Courtesy Fike
SOLDIER OF THE YEAR: CAPT. ZACHARIAH FIKE
Assignment: Officer strength manager for the Vermont National Guard's recruiting and retention battalion.
Fike is the founder of Purple Hearts Reunited, a non-profit group dedicated to returning that returns lost medals and military keepsakes to veterans or their loved ones. Purple Hearts Reunited has returned more than 200 medals to veterans or their surviving family members, and the group receives three to five medals in the mail every week.
Fike, a Purple Heart recipient who has deployed to Iraq and Afghanista, now serves as. He said his goal for the coming year is to return the approximately 100 World War I medals he's received by April 2017, in time to mark the 100th anniversary of that war.
Staff Sgt. Dylan Crawford
Photo Credit: Courtesy Crawford
AIRMAN OF THE YEAR: STAFF SGT. DYLAN CRAWFORD
Assignment: Pararescueman with 31st Rescue Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
Crawford spent three weeks in Nepal helping treat patients after the April 25, 2015 earthquakes and helped recover fallen service members after a helicopter crash. He also volunteered with the Special Olympics, and the emergency room of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa. He also deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year, and helped recover an uninjured F-16 pilot who crashed during a takeoff.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Samuel Johnson
Photo Credit: Courtesy Johnson
SAILOR OF THE YEAR: HOSPITAL CORPSMAN 1ST CLASS SAMUEL JOHNSON
Assignment: Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 2, Norfolk, Virginia
Johnson returned from deployment to Afghanistan in 2014 and found the veterans outreach nonprofit Team Red, White & Blue. He took charge of the Hampton Roads, Va. chapter, growing it to more than 1,200 troops, veterans and civilians. He has devoted up to 45 hours a week to the group, which fosters community between civilians and veterans via sports and social events.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Brian Downing
Photo Credit: Marine Corps Photo
MARINE OF THE YEAR: GUNNERY SGT. BRIAN DOWNING
Assignment: Infantry platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Unwilling to see his Marines live in dilapidated barracks, Downing figured out how to get materials needed to renovate 90 rooms, common areas and duty posts. He organized working parties and scheduled outside contractors to spruce up the living quarters.
Downing, made gunnery sergeant in just10 years and is now working on his master's degree.
Lt. Cmdr. Megan Drewniak
Photo Credit: Coast Guard Photo
COAST GUARDSMAN OF THE YEAR: LT. CMDR. MEGAN DREWNIAK
Assignment: U.S. Coast Guard at the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden
Drewniak created the mentorship program at Coast Guard Sector Miami and its women's leadership program, bringing in speakers to inspire shipmates. Last year, she aided a fellow Coast Guardsman at Sector Miami dealing with alcoholism and suicidal thoughts. She also helped start a CrossFit gym on base, getting certified to instruct and eventually leading shipmates in workouts.
