TSgt. Jason W. Cangemi, age 32, is a Guardian Angel Combat Arms Instructor assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing, 103rd Rescue Squadron, Westhampton Beach, New York. He started his military career and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. on his 18th Birthday in September of 2001 days after 9/11. After his completion of initial training in the Marines, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While serving on numerous deployments to combat zones in the Middle East to include the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the battles of An Nasiriya in 2003 and Al Fallujah in 2004, he climbed the rank structure and received a combat meritorious promotion making it to the rank of Sergeant. Throughout his career as a Marine he was recognized as 2nd Recon Bn. Marine of the quarter, then on to the 2nd Marine Division Marine of the quarter. Finally he competed for and won the United States Marine of the year in 2004.
In 2005 TSgt. Cangemi was injured on his last deployment to Iraq and decided to pursue a career change and head back to his hometown in Suffolk county and join the USAF, 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard. He was led there by his lifelong sweetheart since the age of 5, MSgt Kerri Cangemi, who is currently serving in the USAF. In 2009 while both deployed to Bagram Afghanistan, he proposed and is now married to MSgt. Kerri Cangemi. They have a daughter Kaylee, that is 2 years old.
TSgt. Cangemi assisted the 103rd Rescue squadron in numerous state side civil Search and Rescue missions to include Hurricane Sandy, Winter Storm Nemo, lost Cargo Ship El Faro. He has also assisted with the rescue equipment on numerous NASA launch and recovery missions.
On his down time, TSgt. Cangemi is captain and a goaltender for a hockey team in which consists of his local community and military members.
TSgt. Cangemi's military awards and decorations are as follows; Air Force Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps. Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps. Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserves Forces meritorious service medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Device, Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 Devices, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short, Air Force Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 Device, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Air Force Longevity Service, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 "M" Device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with 1 Device.