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U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research provides realistic combat casualty care training for deploying troops
August 13, 2018 — For more than seven decades, the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has conducted research to save lives on the battlefield... MORE

Master Sgt. Rich Jarret (right), U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Center for Prehospital Medicine, demonstrates how to pack a gunshot wounded with gauze on the newly fielded Tactical Combat Casualty Care-Exportable mannequin that will be used train all Soldiers on basic warrior medical skills, to Command Sgt. Maj. William “Will” Rinehart, United States Army South, as Luciano Cortez, field instructor with trauma effects, controls the TC3-X and PEO-STRI clinical advisor, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Benjamin Baker looks on.

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research welcomes new commander
August 13, 2018 — In a time-honored Army ritual, Col. (Dr.) Shawn C. Nessen relinquished command of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research to Col. (Dr.) Jerome L. Buller during a change of command ceremony July 19 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Maj. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb (right), commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, Maryland, presents the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research flag to USAISR’s new commander, Col. (Dr.) Jerome L. Buller (left) during a change of command ceremony July 19 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, as outgoing commander, Col. (Dr.) Shawn C. Nessen looks on.

Army South hosts PANAMAX joint multinational training event
August 10, 2018 — U.S. Army South hosted more than 300 Soldiers, service members and civilians from 16 nations at several training sites on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for PANAMAX 2018, the U.S. Southern Command’s largest joint military training exercise in the Western Hemisphere. ... MORE

Soldiers from Colombia and the U.S. and an officer from the Panamanian National Police, work in the communications cell of the Combined Forces Land Component Command operations center at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Aug. 8.

Regional Health Command-Central welcomes new top enlisted leader
August 9, 2018 — Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph L. Cecil assumed the role of Regional Health Command-Central's top enlisted leader following an assumption of responsibility ceremony at the U.S. Army Medical Museum Amphitheatre at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Aug. 6... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Johnson (right), commanding general of U.S. Army Regional Health Command-Central, passes the unit colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph L. Cecil during an assumption of command ceremony at the U.S. Army Medical Museum Amphitheatre at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Aug. 6.

Joint Base San Antonio has a new admiral
August 7, 2018 — Command of Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command, or NMETLC, changed Aug. 3 when Rear Adm. Tina Davidson relieved Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle during a combined change of command and retirement ceremony at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Rear Adm. Tina Davidson, incoming commander, Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command, salutes after assuming command at a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Aug. 3. Davidson relieved Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle during a combined change of command and retirement ceremony at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio focuses on improving device to remove dental waste
July 26, 2018 — Improving filtration devices that capture dental waste and keep the environment safe is the focus of a project being conducted at the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Hamlin, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio Environmental Surveillance Department head and research dentist, demonstrates how an amalgam separator is attached to a dental chair and how it works in removing amalgam waste to prevent it from going into the wastewater system. Hamlin is part of a team of NAMRU-SA researchers who are involved in a project to develop a better prototype of the amalgam separator, a cylindrical device attached to a dental chair that filters amalgam, a mixture of metals including mercury, which is used by dentists for large teeth restorations and to fill in cavities.

High lead levels found in some water samples at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
July 10, 2018 — During routine sampling completed in May, 21 samples of drinking water in buildings or residences taken from throughout Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston exceeded the action level of lead from outside sinks... MORE

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body.

Cleaning gives Main Post Chapel a fresher, cleaner look
July 5, 2018 — After undergoing a spring cleaning, the exterior of the Main Post Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has a cleaner, fresher look to it for visitors, worshippers and military members who utilize the historic structure... MORE

: Dedicated in 1909 by President William Howard Taft, the Main Post Chapel, or Gift Chapel, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is used for various religious activities throughout the year, including daily services of various faiths, special religious events, memorial services, weddings, funerals, Bible study groups and choir practices. The structure is known as the Gift Chapel because the city of San Antonio donated the property for the structure and community leaders and military personnel donated funds for its construction. The Main Post Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This HIV screening starts in the privacy of your own home
July 5, 2018 — The Air Force has developed a self-collection blood kit to encourage its active-duty members with a higher risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus to test for infection more frequently than what’s mandated by the military. The kits enable users to be proactive about their own health and potentially prevent the spread of HIV, which can lead to many health complications, including AIDS... MORE

The Air Force offers self-collection kits that include instructions, supplies to obtain a finger-prick blood sample, and a prepaid envelope to mail the sample to a lab for HIV testing.

JBSA Navy Medicine commands host Navy STEM externship visit
July 3, 2018 — San Antonio area Navy Medicine commands hosted 26 middle and high school guidance counselors, and high school chemistry and health professions educators June 27 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston as part of a summer externship focused on high school student career preparation and exploration... MORE

Lt. Cmdr. Kirby Jahnke, Navy Medicine Training Support Center, shows medical instruments to a tour group of San Antonio middle and high school guidance counselors June 27. The tour provided educators and counselors with a general overview of the Navy, to raise awareness of Navy career opportunities through a tour of the medical training campus.

502nd Security Forces Squadron ramping up patrols to reduce home break-ins and thefts
June 18, 2018 — Responding to a string of break-ins and thefts at residential units at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, the 502nd Security Forces Squadron is increasing patrols and instituting measures to prevent further break-ins and thefts from occurring... MORE

Twenty-four bicycles have been stolen at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston since Jan. 1.

USAISR Burn Flight Team deploys to Guatemala
June 15, 2018 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Burn Flight Team, or BFT, deployed to Guatemala June 6 to transport six critically injured pediatric burn patients to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Argelia Felix-Camacho, Registered Nurse, San Antonio Military Medical Center Burn Team, consoles a patient during a humanitarian mission from Guatemala to Galveston, Texas, June 6. An aeromedical evacuation crew from San Antonio Military Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, provided en route medical treatment to the six injured children during the air Mobility Commnd flight to Galveston, Texas. The children were taken to the Shriners Hospital for Children for further care.

AMEDD Museum upgrades honor legacy and contributions of Army medical community
June 11, 2018 — The stories and contributions of Medal of Honor recipients in Army Medicine are included in upgraded exhibits at the U.S. Army Medical Department, or AMEDD, Museum located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. George Wunderlich, AMEDD Museum director, is hoping an exhibit area dedicated to the 52 Medal of Honor recipients who served in AMEDD will be completed and open to public viewing by June 15. ... MORE

George Wunderlich, U.S. Army Medical Department Museum director, stands next to the new exhibit case holding The Command Sgt. Major Jack Clark Jr. Best Medic Award trophy and plaque displayed in the foyer of the museum. The display includes a bigger case made of dark oak wood, a photograph of Clark, the namesake for the award, and new labeling. The display is one of several exhibit upgrades and improvements, which started last year, that have been made at the museum.

Purple Heart honors EOD Soldier’s service, sacrifice
June 7, 2018 — A Warrior Transition Battalion Soldier was presented the Purple Heart for his combat wounds during a ceremony at the Warrior and Family Support Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 1... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center Commanding General Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller (left) thanks Purple Heart recipient Sgt. 1st Class James L. Burch (center) for his service during a Purple Heart ceremony at Warrior and Family Support Center June 1 as Burch’s wife, Dixie, looks on.

Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent assumes command of AMEDDC&S
June 1, 2018 — In front of a formation of Soldiers on the MacArthur Parade Field at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence, from Maj. Gen. Brian C. Lein during a ceremony June 1, hosted by Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, Army Surgeon General and commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Command... MORE

(From left) Maj. Gen. Brian C. Lein, outgoing commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School; Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, Army Surgeon General and commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Command, and incoming AMEDDC&S commander Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent salute the colors June 1.

470th Military Intelligence Brigade member contributes coaching skills to Army volleyball team
June 1, 2018 — A member of the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston contributed his coaching talents in helping the All-Army Men’s Volleyball Team to a second-place finish at an Armed Forces tournament in May... MORE

Sgt. Pedro Ortiz Feliciano, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade analyst at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, served as an assistant coach for the All Army Men’s Volleyball Team that competed in the Armed Forces Volleyball Championship tournament in May at Hurlburt Field, Florida. His expertise and knowledge of volleyball and physical training helped the team to a second place showing at the tournament.

Vogel Resiliency Center offers resiliency day for incoming, graduating high school seniors
May 31, 2018 — Do you remember your senior year of high school? Was it all a bit overwhelming? In high school, many students enjoy a high degree of parental planning and support to manage tight schedules, timelines and decisions. Senior year is often a heady mix of challenging academic schedules, extra-curricular and social activities, and uncertainty throughout the college and financial aid application process. ... MORE

The Vogel Resiliency Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is hosting a Resiliency Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 15 for incoming and graduating high school seniors. The VRC is located at 2490 Stanley Road, building 367.

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio educates civic, business leaders
May 31, 2018 — Thirty-four civic and business leaders from the Defense Orientation Conference Association, or DOCA, toured the Naval Medical Research Unit-San Antonio at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 27 to see a working Navy medical research lab in action and gain insights to share with fellow civilian leaders in their community... MORE

Duane Cox (right), electronics technician at the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio talks to Defense Orientation Conference Association visitors about NAMRU-SA’s efforts to develop diagnostic tools to aid first responders/physician to identify and treat directed energy injuries, during a tour of NAMRU-SA facilities at the Tri-Service Research Laboratory at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 27.

Quadrangle at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston a popular destination
May 25, 2018 — The Quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, or the “Quad,” as it is commonly known, is an iconic structure rich in history dating back to the end of the Civil War... MORE

The completed water and watch tower in 1877 before the addition of the clock at the Quadrangle at present-day Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Warrior & Family Support Center beats summer swelter with new canopy
May 24, 2018 — The Freedom Park Amphitheater at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, part of the Warrior & Family Support Center, received a 12,000-square-foot canopy addition May 17 to shield visitors from the Texas sun... MORE

David Coker (third from left), Fisher House Foundation president, and Rachel O’Hern (second from right), Returning Heroes Home executive director, symbolically cut the ribbon re-opening the Freedom Park Amphitheater at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 17. The amphitheater, part of the Warrior & Family Support Center, received a 12,000-square-foot canopy addition to shield visitors from the Texas sun. Also pictured (from left) are retired Marine Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Juan Ayala, Director of Military Affairs, City of San Antonio; Barbara Gentry, Fisher House Foundation board member; Coker; O’Hern; and Steve Fogle, Chairman, Board of Directors, Returning Heroes Home. The WFSC serves wounded, injured and ill service members as they receive treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center.