JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Feedback Fridays is a weekly forum that aims to connect the 502d Air Base Wing with members of the Joint Base San Antonio community. Questions are collected during commander’s calls, town hall meetings and throughout the week.
If you have a question or concern, please send an email to jbsapublicaffairs@gmail.com using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.” Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available.
Q. Is there any way we can get better support from the Education Center?
I understand COVID-19 has caused a strain on everyone, but for it to take more than a month to answer a question, especially regarding specific programs and tuition assistance, is unfair.
In my case, an email was submitted July 22, a request asking for someone from the education center to reach out by Aug. 12, and then I finally I got a response Sept. 4.
Classes that I had registered for ended up becoming full. I missed the opportunity to start classes during the fall semester, because we have to have all documentation in at least 10 duty days before we start.
Tuition assistance is a privilege and we only get a certain amount of funding each year. Now the fiscal year is practically at its end, which means unless I schedule a class now, I'm losing out on money that I've earned and the ability to further my education.
I have already submitted an ICE comment on this situation. Thank you.
A. Thank you for sharing your concerns about the delay in responses from your servicing Education Center, and I am sorry for the delay and inadequate service you experienced with our Education Center.
Based on your feedback, we are looking into this situation to refine our processes and responsiveness. We will also coordinate and de-conflict with other Mission Partner Education Centers to identify any shortfalls and responsiveness issues. We will be sure to post all updates to our JBSA website.
Currently, all JBSA Air Force Education & Training centers are available virtually via telephone, video conferencing, Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) messaging services and email. The current processing time for all customer inquiries is within 3-5 business days but often sooner.
Additionally, the Centers have expanded opportunities for Airmen to receive advisement services through virtual mass briefings on initial tuition assistance, Transition Goals-Plans-Success (T-GPS) and the Skillbridge program.
Lastly, the JBSA Education & Training Centers created a TeamUp calendar at https://teamup.com/ks4rjh6tc128dcwzrx listing all upcoming virtual briefings being offered to the JBSA community.
Contact information for AF Education & Training:
JBSA Lackland: 210-671-8711/Org Box: 802fss.fsdee@us.af.mil
JBSA Randolph: 210-652-7439/Org Box: randolph.education@us.af.mil
JBSA Ft Sam Houston: 210-221-0852/Org Box: usaf.jbsa.502-abw.mbx.502-fss-fsd@mail.mil
Q. When will the south gate at JBSA-Randolph be open? We were told by email it would be open mid-September. It is now mid-October.
Also, when will the Selfridge gates at JBSA-Lackland open back up? It has been a very long time they have been closed for what was said to be “repairs.” I’ve seen no repairing and they are still closed.
A. The JBSA-Randolph South Gate has re-opened and it has resumed being the installation's commercial vehicle inspection station as of Oct. 28. It is inbound only from 6 to 8:30 a.m. and then both inbound and outbound from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
In turn, the East Gate has closed until further notice (as it was before South Gate repairs began) as of Oct. 27, as part of the overall JBSA gate posture during COVID-19.
As for the JBSA-Lackland Selfridge gates, based on the needs of our mission partners neither gate has been determined for a re-open date at this time.
Gate availability is based on the need to balance the safety of our JBSA community with our mission partner and traffic volume demands.
We regularly monitor these demands for senior leader-requested changes or significant shifts in traffic patterns, and we will respond accordingly while maintaining that balance.
Thank you for your patience and understanding in this unprecedented time.