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Understanding depression in a time of COVID-19
September 28, 2020 — This is a stressful, uncertain time. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many significant changes to how we live daily life. Social distancing, quarantine, and isolation can be overwhelming and may cause feelings of insecurity, confusion, hopelessness, and, ultimately, depression... MORE

The National Institute for Mental Health defines depression as a common but serious mood disorder that negatively affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities such as sleeping, eating, and working.

433rd Airlift Wing Airmen help San Antonio combat spread of COVID
September 24, 2020 — Senior leaders from the 433rd Airlift Wing, the Air Force Personnel Center, and the City of San Antonio and Bexar County Metropolitan Public Health District gathered to recognize 433rd AW Reserve Citizen Airmen, who assisted at the Bexar County COVID-19 Operations Center at the San Antonio Alamodome Sept. 17... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Juan Vazquez Garcia, 433rd Medical Group, processes a COVID-19 positive case report as a case investigator at the Bexar County COVID-19 Operations center in San Antonio, Texas Sept. 17, 2020.

COVID-19 amplifies importance of Trusted Care culture
September 21, 2020 — Preparing for the unexpected has long been an essential part of the military ethos. While you can never fully prepare for something like a global pandemic, the best alternative is having a culture in place that empowers your team to adapt and respond to heightened uncertainty. For Air Force Medicine, this is the Trusted Care culture... MORE

An Airman holds up his Trusted Care badge at the Defense Health Headquarters.

Air Force pushes fitness testing to Jan. 1
September 17, 2020 — Official physical fitness assessments across the Department of the Air Force will resume Jan. 1, 2021, officials announced Sept. 16... MORE

To continue minimizing close contact among personnel during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensure units and personnel are fully ready to resume, physical fitness testing has been delayed from October to January 2021. Testing in January will proceed without obtaining waist, height and weight measurements.

BAMC prepares for upcoming flu season
September 16, 2020 — Staff members at Brooke Army Medical Center are getting geared up for the upcoming flu season... MORE

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu shot vaccination each year, but good wellness habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help prevent the spread of germs.

Reserve recruiters enhance social media knowledge to reach more recruits
September 15, 2020 — Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiters have turned more to technology – including social media – to reach potential recruits. A group of 15 Total Force recruiters from the 351st Recruiting Squadron recently sharpened their social media skills by participating in the Defense Information School’s virtual Social Media Forum... MORE

Recruiters have become more reliant on technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, using their phones and computers to connect with potential recruits on social media and video teleconference.

Air Force recruiting continues to find ways to work around COVID-19
September 15, 2020 — As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, Air Force Recruiting Service continues to find innovative ways to overcome obstacles. In conjunction with the Air Force Personnel Center, an electronic version of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test is now available for the first time ever... MORE

Due to COVID-19 limiting opportunities to take the traditional Air Force Officer Qualifying Test, Air Force Recruiting Service and the Air Force Personnel Center’s strategic research and assessments branch, collaborated to create the first electronic version of the traditional AFOQT.

Digital giving available for Army chapels across the world
September 11, 2020 — Soldiers, their families and civilians who attend chapel at any Army post across the world can now give their tithes and offerings online... MORE

Soldiers, their families and civilians who attend chapel at any Army post across the world can now give their tithes and offerings online.

Former BAMC COVID-19 patient returns as convalescent plasma donor
September 11, 2020 — Thefety Tibbs, who was among the first COVID-19 patients treated at Brooke Army Medical Center, is now among the first of BAMC's former patients to donate convalescent plasma, which is currently being explored as a potential treatment for COVID-19... MORE

Richard Rangel, medical laboratory technician, prepares Thefety Tibbs, who was among the first donors of convalescent plasma, for his first convalescent plasma donation in June 2020 at the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

AETC teams come together to supply BMT uniforms
September 8, 2020 — With Air Force Basic Military Training coming to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, due to COVID-19, the mission of the base has become to not only train, but create premier warfighters. ... MORE

Airmen with the 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron help basic military training trainees from the 737th Training Wing Detachment 5 try on issued military clothing at the squadron’s warehouse at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 26, 2020. The squadron worked with different Air Education and Training Command units to support basic military training at Keesler by providing uniforms for trainees.

DOD closing in on COVID-19 convalescent plasma collection goal
September 8, 2020 — In just three months, the Department of Defense passed the 65 percent mark toward meeting its goal of obtaining 10,000 units of COVID-19 convalescent plasma, or CCP, by Sept. 30... MORE

Steve Holton, a collection specialist and site supervisor for the East End Louisville American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, monitors the apheresis process, so named for separating whole blood into parts to use as needed. Yellow plasma is collected into the left bag, to be used for the treatment of COVID-19.

BAMC, WHASC chosen for COVID-19 vaccine trials
September 4, 2020 — As part of the Operation Warp Speed, or OWS, goal to deliver safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics by January 2021, five Department of Defense locations have been identified to participate in the Phase III trial evaluating the vaccine candidate AZD1222 under development by AstraZeneca. Two of the locations are in San Antonio. ... MORE

The San Antonio Military Health System is adjusting its COVID-19 drive-thru screening and testing hours of operation over Labor Day weekend.

Boyd's rite of passage, history as greatest instrument of learning
September 2, 2020 — A respected researcher and writer of history, Gary W. Boyd, the command historian of Air Education and Training Command, has lived through several significant periods of history — all of which he believes has determined our present and shapes our future... MORE

Gary W. Boyd, Air Education and Training Command historian, reads through documents of the formation of Randolph Field July 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. A respected researcher and writer of history, Boyd has lived through several significant periods of history—all of which he believes has determined our present and shapes our future.

AFIMSC provides Air Force with innovative post-COVID workspace options
September 1, 2020 — The Air Force Civil Engineer Center and the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Ventures innovation office are developing a viable plan that will optimize telework operations for the enterprise... MORE

SAMHS adjusting COVID-19 testing for Labor Day weekend
September 1, 2020 — The San Antonio Military Health System is adjusting its COVID-19 drive-thru screening and testing hours of operation for the Labor Day weekend... MORE

502nd Logistic Readiness Squadron helps recruits continue training during pandemic
August 31, 2020 — The 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has been providing clothing to new recruits at an alternate Basic Military Training location since March 2020 to help the U.S. Air Force continue forging America’s future Airmen during the coronavirus pandemic... MORE

Man wearing a mask speaking to a woman in military uniform. People sewing clothing in the background.

AFSFC Airman aims to save world, one book at a time
August 28, 2020 — Master Sgt. Daniel Crook serves his country as a military working dog scheduler at the Air Force Security Forces Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland by day, but by night he writes and illustrates books for children. Through his stories, he hopes to bring a little light to what many see as a troubled world... MORE

Family photo of Air Force Security Forces Center author

Virtual Fridays provide holistic resiliency programs to military spouses
August 28, 2020 — Since May, the Joint Base San Antonio Key Spouse program has hosted Virtual Fridays for military spouses each week at 2 p.m. The learning experience includes a presentation, followed by a question and answer session... MORE

Five women participating in a virtual, computer meeting.

Amid pandemic, Army program helps families get back to school
August 27, 2020 — Master Resilience Trainers, or MRTs, help support families with children to maintain their resilience and connection... MORE

Two students who attend a Department of Defense Education Activity school in Vicenza, Italy, complete classwork from home through digital learning.

COVID-19 patients can give back with convalescent plasma
August 26, 2020 — With flu season fast approaching and no approved vaccine developed for COVID-19, supplies of life-saving measures such as blood and plasma are being put under strain. To help hold back the tide, the Defense Department has established a goal of obtaining 10,000 units of donated COVID-19 convalescent plasma by Sept. 30, 2020, to combat the potential rise in cases. ... MORE

A patient that recovered from COVID-19 donates COVID-19 convalescent plasma at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020. The procedure separates plasma from red blood cells and returns the blood cells back to the patient producing three units of COVID-19 convalescent plasma per donor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody B. Bordeaux)