Whether Jason Truskowski was in the back of an ambulance racing to an accident, or standing in front of a group of women teaching self defense, or putting away tables and chairs at an annual hunter's breakfast, he always had the same feeling - satisfaction.

It's the payment of volunteering.

And that sense of satisfaction is why Truskowski, an Air Force staff sergeant at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is often the one who'll raise his hand and say, "Yeah, I can do that."

Truskowski, the perpetual volunteer, is the 2013 winner of the 35th annual John M. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year, which was presented Wednesday by the Tacoma-Pierce Chamber.            

"It's just something I enjoy doing," Truskowski said about volunteering. "I get a lot back from giving. It's very rewarding."

Truskowski was a volunteer fireman with the Bald Hills Fire Department in Yelm, assisting on 35 emergency calls that included car accidents, drug overdoses and injuries from falls. He'd carry in the emergency equipment as the EMTs worked on an injured person. Besides the EMT calls, he also helped put out wild land fires and volunteered 450 hours with the department.

"Anything that 9-1-1 would routinely be called for, we did," Truskowski said.

He also volunteered for the annual Hunter's Breakfast put on by the Bald Hills Fire Department, putting up and taking down tables and chairs for the breakfast on the first day of hunting. In June, Truskowski, the son of an Air Force jet mechanic, helped put up and take down the sound equipment and tables and chairs for the dance at the annual Special Olympics that JBLM hosts every year. During the sporting events, he provided security and chatted with the participants, giving lots of "good job."

"I thought it was a neat way to get involved with a unique and fun event," Truskowski said.

In addition to going out on EMT calls, putting out wild fires, helping with the annual hunter's breakfast and helping with the Special Olympics, Truskowski also helped with cleanup at his church in Yelm after social events. He also led a group of eight mothers with their children on a short hike near Carbon River.

"It was good," Truskowski said about the hike. "The weather was good. It was just a thing we put together for the wives of this Yelm's mom's group."

Truskowski, who is in charge of media relations and social media at McChord Field and will be reassigned next month, also volunteered for a number of on-base events. He helped with the Josh Fueston Memorial, a 4-mile relay swim promoting awareness of post traumatic stress disorder. He also helped unload more than 50,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies at McChord Field in response efforts to global natural disasters.

In addition, Truskowski volunteers time to teach self defense for women, helping them learn to escape from sexual predators. As a sexual assault victims advocate, Truskowski leads focus groups, helps victims cope and goes to the hospital with victims.

But despite all his volunteering, Truskowski, who is married to Kristin and has two children ages 8 and 4, is able to keep a balance. All the volunteering doesn't get in the way of two things - his job and his family.

"Family is very important to me," said Truskowski, who has been in the Air Force for nine years. "I always make time for my family."

Truskowski's helping hand doesn't end when he gets home with his family.

"Even in our home life he's helpful in every aspect of our life," Kristin said. "He's a hands-on dad. He's a hands-on husband.

As the son of an Air Force mechanic, Truskowski appreciates the importance of family as he moved across the world as a kid growing up. He lived in England for 17 years where his dad was stationed several times, working on F-111s. Truskowski was born at a military base in South Carolina and his dad moved the family to Mountain Home, Idaho, when he retired.

"I grew up military," Truskowski said. "I knew it was something I wanted to do."

The Anderson Military Citizen of the Year award is presented to someone who is active-duty and makes exemplary contributions to the community. Truskowski was presented the award at the Best Western Plus Tacoma Dome Hotel.