CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- Sgt. Jacob Bublitz, the chief instructor for engineer training areas 9 and 10, with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and native of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, received the 2014 Service Member of the Year Award from the Military Affairs Committee, a part of the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 9, 2015, aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Members and guests from the MAC hosted an award ceremony at the Officers’ Club to congratulate Bublitz on his achievement.
Jason Harris, vice chairman of the MAC, read off the numerous accomplishments of Bublitz, including Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter and of the Year, his completed instructor courses and personal military awards.
When Bublitz made his way to the podium to present his speech, he proclaimed that even though he was selected as Service Member of the Year, the award was a collaborative effort on behalf of every Marine he has worked with.
“It’s a great honor, but it’s really more of a privilege because of what the award stands for,” said Bublitz. “To have this award out of 12 very capable individuals who could have won; accepting it is very humbling.”
Bublitz went on to say that there were service members more deserving of the award than him.
“I think what allowed (Bublitz) to be recognized is that he’s so modest just to serve every day as a noncommissioned officer,” said Sgt.Maj. Paul Berry, sergeant major of Marine Corps Installations East. “There are 53,000 Marines in (II Marine Expeditionary Force) alone, so just to be chosen out of that group is something to be proud of.”
Berry, who is the appointed chairman for determining the winner of this award, explained that in order to be selected for Service Member of the Year, individuals must first win Service Member of the Month, which is also presented by the Military Affairs Committee.
“The Service Member of the Month Award is done on a rotational basis,” said Berry. “Each of the major commands from different services selects someone internally. From here, the sergeants major from the major supporting commands vote on one of the 12 monthly winners for the Service Member of the Year Award.”
Bublitz received the Service Member of the Month Award in June 2014, making him eligible to be selected for Service Member of the Year.
“The Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce for years has been gracious enough to recognize the Service Member of the Year,” said Berry. “The Service Member of the Year Award means it’s a chance for Jacksonville and Onslow County to recognize the very best that our military services have to offer.”