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Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off
March 2, 2017 — Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) spoke on the importance of Army Emergency Relief, or AER, during the campaign kickoff event at the Fort Sam Houston Theater March 1... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) spoke on the importance of Army Emergency Relief, or AER, during the campaign kickoff event at the Fort Sam Houston Theater March 1. AER is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to “Helping the Army Take Care of its Own.” AER financial assistance is conducted within the Army structure by mission commanders and garrison commanders through AER Sections located at U.S. Army installations worldwide. The general referenced several cases where AER assisted Soldiers with financial needs. Of all the Army values, he said contributing to AER to help out fellow Soldiers is the most selfless service act anyone can do and also highlighted the importance for every Soldier to know about AER and the services they provide. In addition, this year marks the 75th anniversary of AER, a program of Soldiers helping Soldiers since 1942.

ARNORTH Soldiers hone marksmanship at Engagement Skills Trainer
March 2, 2017 — Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston challenged their marksmanship abilities on the Engagement Skills Trainer at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Feb. 22... MORE

Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) challenged their marksmanship abilities on the Engagement Skills Trainer at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Feb. 22. Soldiers practiced firing and qualifying with the M9 pistol and M16 rifle to ensure every Soldier was familiar with the weapons. Once complete with qualification, Soldiers engaged in shoot/don't shoot scenario based training. Using the E.S.T. simulator has benefits of allowing firers the opportunity for increased training without the added cost of ammunition and other logistical requirements.

Air Force selects 1,391 for promotion to senior master sergeant
March 2, 2017 — The Air Force has selected 1,391 master sergeants for promotion to senior master sergeant of the 11,788 eligible. The overall selection rate was 11.80 percent, with an average selectee overall... MORE

Congratulations to the 1,391 selected for promotion to senior master sergeant! The list is available on myPers and the Air Force Portal and Airmen can also access their score notices on the virtual MPF via the secure applications page. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Kat Bailey)

Former load master tours C-5M Super Galaxy
March 1, 2017 — The 433rd Airlift Wing hosted Charlie Adcock, Family Motor Coach Association president, and Jon Walker FMCA senior vice president Feb. 21, 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas... MORE

Master Sgt. Dave Delgado, a 356th Airlift Squadron load master, explains the different load configurations of a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft to Jon Walker (left), Family Motor Coach Association senior vice president, and Charlie Adcock FMCA president, Feb. 21, 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Adock, a retired Air Force load master, stopped by the 433rd Airlift Wing to view the unit's new C-5M Super Galaxy which arrived in June 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Benjamin Faske)

Name change: 502nd "SFLSG" now "SRG"
March 1, 2017 — Effective March 1, the 502nd Security Forces and Logistics Support Group has officially changed its name to 502nd Security and Readiness Group.The group, currently under the command of Col. Thomas... MORE

School systems serving JBSA families receive $5 million grant
March 1, 2017 — The National Math and Science Initiative, or NMSI, in collaboration with the Alamo Area Council of Governments, announced a $5 million grant Feb. 27 to support expanded math and science educational opportunities at school systems serving families stationed at Joint Base San Antonio. ... MORE

Marcus Ligenfelter, (left) president of the National Math and Science Initiative, or NMSI, presents a $5 million check Feb. 27 earmarked for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education in high schools serving military dependents at Joint Base San Antonio. This is the first round of funding and will be directed to individual school districts within JBSA to incentivize advanced placement classes. This is a Department of Defense-supported initiative to provide the successful model to the military. Also in photo from left are Rad Weaver, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce president; Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle, commander, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA; Chris Schuchart, Medina County judge and chair, Alamo Area Council of Government; and Diane Rath, AACOG executive director.

BAMC Soldiers take part in medical readiness training exercise in Ghana
March 1, 2017 — Fifteen American Soldiers traveled more than 10,000 miles from the U.S. to Ghana to conduct U.S. Army Africa’s Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, Feb. 5-24. The MEDRETE team included 12 active duty Soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and three North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the state medical detachment in Bismarck. ... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Keith Lathrop, nurse anesthetist assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center, helps unload and inventory medical supplies the U.S. Army is donating following the closing ceremony of Medical Readiness Training Exercise 17-2 at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, Feb. 22. MEDRETE 17-2 includes participants from the Ghanaian government, U.S. Army Africa, Brooke Army Medical Center and the North Dakota National Guard. It is the second in a series of medical readiness training exercises that USARAF is scheduled to facilitate in various countries in Africa. The exercise offers opportunities for the partnered militaries to cooperate on medical specific tasks, share best practices and improve medical treatment processes.

2017 AF Trials hopeful: Tech. Sgt. Ben Seekell
March 1, 2017 — Airmen from across the nation journeyed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for their chance at becoming members of the 2017 Warrior Games team during the Air Force Trials Feb. 24-March 3... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ben Seekell, 2017 AF Trials competitor, stretches before his 1,500 meter run during Track and Field qualifications at the Warrior Fitness Center Feb. 28, 2017 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Seekell impressively returned to active duty after a 2011 improvised explosive device attack in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chip Pons)

Are you PCSing or deploying overseas?
March 1, 2017 — In August 2016, Air Mobility Command began a pilot program to charge Military Transportation.Authorization to Individual Government Travel Charge Card accounts. The program was a success and will be... MORE

In August 2016, Air Mobility Command began a pilot program to charge Military Transportation
Authorization to Individual Government Travel Charge Card accounts. The program was a success and will be immediately implemented Air Force-wide. If individual GTCCs do not have enough credit to cover anticipated travel expenses and the tariff charge, members must contact unit agency program coordinators and complete a GTCC credit limit increase form.

Army North Task Force 51 Soldiers train at Kelly Annex
March 1, 2017 — Soldiers assigned to Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise, or EDRE training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Kelly Annex, Feb. 22-24... MORE

Soldiers assigned to Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise, or EDRE training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Kelly Annex, Feb. 22-24. An EDRE is designed to exercise the movement plans of a unit to deploy to a theater of operations. All deployable units normally conduct an annual EDRE. TF-51 is Army North’s contingency command post and conducts a Defense Support of Civil Authority, or DSCA, homeland defense and theater security cooperation in order to promote the defense and security of the United States. This training better prepares TF-51 for an exercise next month in Atlanta. In that scenario, local, state, federal and Department of Defense agencies will come together to work out issues that surround hurricane disasters and relief along the eastern coastline.

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio researchers developing field portable sterilizer
March 1, 2017 — Researchers at the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, or NAMRU-SA, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are developing a portable sterilizer that can be used in military field operations and operate by battery when power is not available... MORE

Roy Dory (right), biomedical engineer and head of NAMRU-SA’s Biomedical Systems Engineering and Evaluation Department is also the principal investigator for the field-ready portable ozone sterilizer project. Dory and team member Dr. Luis Martinez prepare to test the prototype.

Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury in Your Child
March 1, 2017 — When it comes to traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can’t have too much information. Traumatic brain injuries affect millions of Americans each year, and each TBI experience is unique. Be sure to know... MORE

Foulois Firsts
March 1, 2017 — While known for being the “father of U.S. military aviation” with his historic flight at Fort Sam Houston March 2, 1910, Benjamin D. Foulois was also the owner of many other aviation-related “firsts.”... MORE

March 2 marks the 107th anniversary of the first military aerial flight taken by Army Lt. Benjamin Foulois when he boarded the “Signal Corps ‘Aeroplane’ No. 1” and circled Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston’s MacArthur Parade Field.

Are your running shoes spying on you?
March 1, 2017 — Five or 10 years ago, such a statement might have been appropriate for a cartoon matinee or slapstick farce, but in a new world defined by the Internet of Things, this statement isn’t just a possibility, but an actual cyber vulnerability to be aware of. Companies today are adding the word “smart” to a constellation of different products: water bottles, refrigerators, televisions, and yes, even running sneakers... MORE

Navy hosts Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Challenge in San Antonio
February 28, 2017 — The U.S. Navy Recruiting Command Southwest Region City Outreach Program, in cooperation with Northeast Lakeview College and Navy Recruiting District San Antonio or NRD-SA, from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, hosted a regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Challenge Competition at Palo Alto College’s Aquatic and Athletic Center Feb. 25... MORE

Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Bailey, a recruiter with Navy Recruiting Station New Braunfels, judges one of 26 robotics teams during the U.S. Navy’s Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Challenge Competition. U.S. Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) Southwest Region City Outreach Program in cooperation with Northeast Lakeview College and Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio hosted the competition at Palo Alto College’s Aquatic and Athletic Center Feb. 25. The competition was comprised of three evolutions consisting of a Poster/Notebook Presentation and Interview, Speed Obstacle Course and the Challenge Course.

Fourth annual JBSA Half Marathon draws near
February 28, 2017 — The fourth annual Joint Base San Antonio Half Marathon is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. April 30 at JBSA-Randolph. The 13.1-mile race will take runners through many of JBSA-Randolph’s scenic and... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio members run down Harmon Drive April 26 during the start of the JBSA Half Marathon at JBSA-Randolph. In its second year, the race not only provided an opportunity for members from all JBSA locations to tour the scenic route and rich history of JBSA-Randolph, but to experience camaraderie and teamwork between runners and volunteers alike throughout the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Slade)

12th Maintenance Group Hosts Job Shadow Day 2017
February 28, 2017 — JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - Students from Judson High School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy visited with the 12th Maintenance Group Feb. 2 at Joint Base San... MORE

Robert Hamm, 12th Maintenance Group deputy director, poses with the Judson High School Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Academy class Feb. 2, 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The group completed a tour of the flight line and an aircraft maintenance hangar.

Overcoming adversity: One Airman's fight to beat cancer and serve
February 28, 2017 — All Airmen will face some form of adversity in the pursuit of their military service. For Senior Airman Cameron Sowle, it was cancer.Sowle, cyber operator for the 221st Combat Communications Squadron,... MORE

While deployed to the Middle East in 2015, Senior Airman Cameron Sowle found a lump in his neck he would later discover was stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Courtesy Photo).

Electrical safety an essential part of daily life
February 28, 2017 — To turn on or off modern conveniences in this day and age means flipping an electrical switch and in an instant, you have power... MORE

Let’s talk SHARP: A conversation with AMEDDC&S leaders
February 28, 2017 — At the most recent U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School NCO Professional Development at Blesse Auditorium at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Feb. 22, Maj. Felicia Williams, AMEDDC&S victim advocate, hosted a panel from AMEDDC&S and JBSA to discuss the Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, or SHARP, program... MORE

(From left) Brenda Clark, U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School sexual assault response coordinator, or SARC, discusses the Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, or SHARP, program with Command Sgt. Maj. Aaron Stone, 187th Medical Battalion; Nykita Riley, SARC, 32nd Medical Brigade; and Maj. Felicia Williams, AMEDDC&S victim advocate.