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JBSA News
NEWS | July 29, 2019

Update: Gen. Lenderman addresses JBSA mold

By By Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman Joint Base San Antonio

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas—The following is from a social media post originally shared on the Joint Base San Antonio Facebook page July 29, 2019.

The health and well-being of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and civilians at JBSA are essential. Mold in living facilities is unacceptable. To residents who have voiced their concerns and brought attention to this much needed call to action, I thank you.

Last week, I directed a 100 percent inspection of dormitories across JBSA. About three quarters of permanent party dorms have been inspected with 16 percent evidencing mold presence. The remaining permanent party dorms are scheduled to be completed by July 30.

Initial inspections of technical training dorms on Lackland have been completed. Secondary inspections are in progress. For building 1215, 502d Civil Engineering professionals are working 28 rooms impacted by mold with an estimated completion date of Aug. 8. They are treating rooms with a regimen that includes a thorough bleaching process as well as utilizing dehumidifiers, removing and replacing carpet with vinyl planks, and installing ceiling fans. They are also repainting walls to refresh the rooms. The remediation efforts for the whole building should be completed within two months. Similar remediation efforts are being prioritized for other dorms. Updates will be provided.

To date, approximately 200 permanent party and technical training residents have required relocation. Members have been moved internally to other dormitories or on-base lodging. We anticipate and are preparing to meet additional relocation requirements at Lackland. Base leadership is actively working a plan that includes relocating residents to other on-base facilities and, potentially, off-base. Further information will be provided when logistics are finalized.

JBSA has the largest dormitory program in the Air Force with 77 dorms and bed space capacity of 27,000. There are many factors that affect our ability not only to maintain our dormitories but also to sustain them. As we work to correct these near-term issues, we are also continuing to work our long-term 502 ABW Dorm and Training Campus Improvement Plan to mitigate risk and support JBSA mission execution.

Continuing mold issues can be raised at all levels of leadership. If complaints are not satisfactorily addressed, residents have a direct line to me through the “Feedback Fridays” program. Questions and concerns can be sent to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil or the 502d Commander using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.”

Very respectfully,

Laura L. Lenderman, Brig Gen, USAF