KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bellio, 338th Training Squadron radio frequency instructor, was recently awarded the 2016 NCO Association Vanguard Award for Air Education and Training Command.
The NCOA Vanguard Award is awarded annually to one enlisted member from each branch of service for acts of heroism resulting in saving a life or preventing serious injury.
“Each recipient of the award is chosen based on them performing an act of heroism,” said Master Sgt. David Way, 338th TRS academic flight chief.
Bellio was recognized for selflessly saving a woman from an automobile overturned in a river.
“I was driving on the highway to pick up my international driver’s license and I saw a couple of cars pulled over and a person running down the hill,” said Bellio. “That’s when it caught my attention and I pulled over. As soon as I saw the car upside down in the river I ran down and tried to help.
“There was a man there who said that he wasn’t able to get her out of the car so I tried to see if I could get her out through the window. There was a boulder in the way but myself and three men there were able to move it. After that I was able to fit in through the window and pull the woman out of the car to safety.”
After rescuing her from the freezing water, Bellio was able to perform Self Aid and Buddy Care, lifesaving training each Airman receives throughout their career, to stabilize her body temperature and treat the woman for shock.
“Going through SABC training helped me in this situation because I knew to ask her if she had any neck or back issues before we moved her and also how to treat her for shock after she was out of the vehicle,” said Bellio. “If you’re driving by and there’s any thought whatsoever that something bad has happened, definitely stop and at least check it out because you never know if you might be able to make a difference with the training we receive in the Air Force.”
According to Way, winning the award is a direct representation of what Bellio is capable of and being put into the position to help another human being when the opportunity arises. He made the decision to put his own life at risk and that shows that he is willing to go above and beyond his leadership’s expectations for him.
From here, Bellio will go on to compete against a member from each major command at the Air Force level.