Iceman in Action: Airman 1st Class Jeremy Hnatiuk

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cassandra Whitman
  • 354th Fghter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Rank and Name: Airman 1st Class Jeremy P. Hnatiuk

Duty Title: Shift Leader, 354th Force Support Squadron

Hometown: Stafford Springs, Conn.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you? Serving in the Air Force is important to me because I feel like serving in the military sets a standard everyone should follow in life. Also, I feel like the Air Force gives people a chance to see the world in ways not everyone can.

What moment or accomplishment as a member of the Iceman Team are you most proud of and why? When I became shift leader at the Two Seasons Dining Facility, it made me feel like I was personally responsible for almost 200 Airmen getting to eat on a daily basis. I also felt like I was doing bigger things for Red Flag-Alaska because I was responsible for the food everyone was eating.

What is your favorite part of your job? Even before I joined the Air Force I always loved to cook. Now, I just cook on a much bigger scale. I never would have thought that I would be cooking the things I do now. Some of the items I cook now I had never even heard of before I joined. I fell in love with cooking so much that one day I would actually want to make cooking a career and hopefully own my own restaurant.

Who inspires you and why? When I go to work or when I do anything military related, I like to think I learned the best of those values from Tech. Sgt. Shawn McCahon. He is the most professional person I have ever met and following the "rulebook" to him is something he takes seriously. As a leader and a mentor, Tech. Sgt. McCahon was, and still is, a great role model for old and new Airmen. 

What's your favorite part about being in Alaska? Believe it or not, the winter in general is my favorite part about Alaska. I have always loved cold weather and snow. The darkness in the winter isn't the best thing, but it is a really weird and "cool" experience to wake up at 9 a.m. on an off day and the sun is just starting to rise.