Joint Base San Antonio > News

39th FTS Cobras take over San Antonio skies
November 5, 2020 — The 39th Flying Training Squadron Reserve Citizen Airmen took command of San Antonio military airspace to execute a training and readiness exercise called "Cobras in the Clouds" Oct. 29 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph... MORE

WWII legendary ace’s aircraft lore alive and well at 12th FTW, 39th FTS
October 28, 2020 — The 340th Flying Training Group’s 39th Flying Training Squadron, initially activated as the 39th Pursuit Squadron in 1940, re-designated as the 39th FTS in 1999 and subsequently activated in the Reserve component in 2001, has a storied World War II past that’s being celebrated by its operational host, the 12th Flying Training Wing... MORE

Lt. Col. Thomas Lessner, 39th Flying Training Squadron commander and Air Force Reserve Command T-1 instructor pilot, stands beside the squadron's T-6 flagship aircraft, which the host wing - 12th Flying Training Wing-Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas - painted in the heritage scheme used on the P-51 “Little Girl” flown by Capt. Leroy Grosshuesch, commander of the then-designated 39th Fighter Squadron, during the during WWII single-handed attack on a Japanese destroyer off Goto Retto near Kyushu, Japan in 1945. (U.S. Air Force photo)

39th FTS Cobra honored as August Hidden Hero
September 18, 2020 — Reserve Citizen Airman Maj. Christine Wagner, 39th Flying Training Squadron T-1A evaluator pilot and T-1A schoolhouse chief instructor pilot, was honored as the August 2020 Schertz Cibolo Selma Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council Hidden Hero during a ceremony held at the Schertz Civic Center Aug. 18. ... MORE

New commander takes over 433rd Training Squadron
August 11, 2020 — Lt. Col. Anthony Erard assumed command of the 433rd Training Squadron during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Aug. 7, officiated by Col. Michael J. Vanzo, 340th Flying Training Group commander... MORE

39th FTS T-6 team honors 'beloved maintainer' upon retirement
June 5, 2020 — Carl Powers, retired Air Force senior master sergeant, closed the book on his federal civilian career last month, tallying nearly half a century of service in and out of uniform. Retiring amid the COVID-19 pandemic meant his unit would be unable to render traditional, full honors to the T-6 Texan maintainer, who is the "T-6's most beloved maintainer," said Maj. John Camponovo, 39th Flying Training Squadron T-6 flight commander... MORE

Carl Powers, T-6 maintainer from the 12th Flying Training Wing, Joint-Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, retired May 31 after 50 years of uniformed and civil service. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Take time to prepare so you can enjoy your summer plans
June 3, 2020 — Although the summer months are the most vulnerable time, severe weather can occur anytime, anywhere, and can produce hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding, lightning or a combination of any or all of these... MORE

Long-distance support not new for 340th FTG personnel team
June 3, 2020 — As people around the world worked to adjust to the challenges of working from home, 340th Flying Training Group personnelists quickly adapted and then some, providing mission-critical support to the headquarters and squadrons at seven different installations, as well as modifying processes and implementing improvements to better serve their teammates... MORE

340th FTG Airmen featured in 'Profiles in Leadership' program
April 17, 2020 — Two members of the 340th Flying Training Group are featured in the Air Force Reserve Command's Profiles in Leadership, Volume 5... MORE

Is the San Antonio Spurs Coyote an Air Force Pilot?
March 11, 2020 — In late February, the well-known San Antonio Spurs mascot was sighted riding his motorcycle on the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph taxiway, sparking a flurry of interest and speculation. What could he have been up to!? Later sightings of the Coyote in flight gear confirmed suspicions! He's an Airman! ... MORE

The Spurs Coyote and his mission teammates for the day walk to their planes at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas February 25 where Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and civilian Airmen from the 340th Flying Training Group headquarters, 39th Flying Training Squadron T-6 Texan Flight, 12th Flying Training Wing Safety, 559th Flying Training Squadron T-6 team, and 3rd Combat Camera Squadron (JBSA-Lackland) members, and the NBA San Antonio Spurs production crew worked to put the Coyote through the pilot training process. Video footage will be used for a Spurs Military Appreciation video to be shown during the March 10 game. (U.S. Air Force photo by Debbie Gildea)

RESILIENCY: MTI shares journey from Article 15 to stan/eval leader
February 10, 2020 — Master Sgt. Nickole Rhodes shares her story to offer encouragement to Airmen who might be struggling to overcome hardships and adversity – past or present... MORE

Chief’s Corner: 12 traits of all effective leaders
January 9, 2020 — Effective leadership is almost always one of the main and primary drivers for growth, development and innovation in an organization... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Scott Goetze, Superintendent (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Commentary: Is there value in gadgets and gizmos that are soon forgotten?
December 20, 2019 — The holiday season is in full swing, with all the accompanying anticipation (and dread). For many, including me, there always seems to be far too much to do in far too little time and the frantic effort to make sure everything is perfect strips the joy from the most meaningful aspect of the season: People... MORE

340th FTG process improvement event tackles Reserve status pay issues
December 3, 2019 — Subject matter experts from across the 340th Flying Training Group gathered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Nov. 19-21 for a continuous process improvement event to address pay problems resulting when members transition between statuses, such as Active-Guard Reserve to Traditional Reserve or vice versa... MORE

Teresa Davies, 340th Flying Training Group continuous improvement manager, briefs 340th Flying Training Group members gathered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas Nov. 19-21 for a Continuous process improvement event to address pay issues that occur when Reserve members transition between pay statuses as Davies’ improvement process mentor, Bob Daffin from the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. looks on. (U.S. Air Force photo by Debbie Gildea)

340th FTG welcomes group's first airman basic, honors Air Force heroes
November 18, 2019 — A dozen-plus members of the 340th Flying Training Group traveled to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to celebrate the Nov. 8 basic military training graduation of the group's first "slick sleeve" member, Airman Basic Kevin Rios Rivera... MORE

Reserve Citizen Airmen fly to Corpus Christi to welcome new pilot to the fold
October 29, 2019 — At about three feet tall, Alessandra "Ale" Alaniz might be the shortest pilot ever, but what she lacks in stature, she makes up for in charisma... MORE

Corpus Christi, Texas Driscoll Children's Hospital patient, and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Pilot for a Day Alessandra "Ale" Alaniz poses for a "hero" shot with her new Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, aviation teammates (left to right) Lt. Col. Doug Hayes, 96th Flying Training Squadron; Capt. Roland Kern, 86th Flying Training Squadron; Capt. Anthony Giebelhaus, 86th FTS, and Maj. Wade Dahlgren, 96th FTS. Ale is the 100th child selected for the NAS Corpus Christi program. (U.S. Air Force photo)

340th FTG volunteers help San Antonio abused women, children
October 1, 2019 — More than 70,000 Reserve Citizen Airmen daily answer their nation’s call, including the men and women assigned to the Headquarters, 340th Flying Training Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, who recently supported the Family Violence Prevention Services/Battered Women and Children’s Shelter’s 42-year legacy of delivering life-changing services to San Antonio victims... MORE

340th Flying Training Group volunteers (from left) Master Sgt. Faith Wells, Capt. Yolanda Seals and Lt. Col. Teresa Davies move boxes of clothing to the sorting area at the Family Violence Prevention Services/Battered Women and Children’s Shelter’s Donation Center during the group's Sept. 11 community outreach event.

340th Flying Training Group hosts Congressional staffers
September 19, 2019 — Staff members for U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) toured the 340th Flying Training Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Sept. 16, focusing on total force integration between air reserve and active duty squadrons to accomplish the flying training mission. ... MORE

Nadia Islam and Gilbert Lafuente, staff members for U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), stand on the wing of a T-6 aircraft during a tour of the 340th Flying Training Group Sept. 16, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The visit focused on total force integration between air reserve and active duty squadrons to accomplish the flying training mission.

K-9 fixer upper: 340th FTG volunteers spruce up dogs’ digs
August 23, 2019 — It was a K-9 fixer upper opportunity that led two 340th Flying Training Group members who don’t have pets to spend a recent afternoon helping dogs who don’t have families... MORE

Master Sgt. Melissa Erwin and Anthoney Smith, 340th Flying Training Group, volunteered a few hours last week to paint dog kennels at the Humane Society of New Braunfels Area shelter in New Braunfels, Texas.

340th Flying Training Group volunteers help make a Million Summer Meals for Kids
August 5, 2019 — Volunteers from the 340th Flying Training Group joined the San Antonio Food Bank’s effort to wipe out hunger when they participated in the Million Summer Meals for Kids campaign in July... MORE

Lt. Col. Samuel Moore (blue shirt) and Tech. Sgt. Christian Delgado, from the 340th Flying Training Group headquarters, help prepare sandwiches for nearly 1,000 lunches that will be provided to food insecure children in the San Antonio multi-county region. Group members volunteered July 12 to support the San Antonio Food Bank’s Million Summer Meals for Kids campaign focused on bridging the gap during the summer months, when many kids may not have regular access to food.

From start to finish: Air Force Reserve MTI's lead BMT total force flights
December 21, 2018 — Ten Air Force Reserve 433rd Training Squadron military training instructors guided four total force basic military training flights through eight and a half weeks of training and education in preparation for their Dec. 14 BMT graduation at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. It was the first time in the squadron’s 35-year history that it assumed full responsibility for BMT flights... MORE

Air Force basic military training trainees listen closely to Military Training Instructor Master Sgt. Michael Hernandez, Reserve Citizen Airman with the 433rd Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Attention to detail, discipline and teamwork learned at this stage enabled trainees to succeed and graduate during ceremonies held Dec. 14.