Joint Base San Antonio > News

543rd ISRG opens Joint Collaboration Facility
February 5, 2021 — A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 543rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group Joint Collaboration Facility, or JCF, took place at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Jan. 29... MORE

Joint service members stand with U.S. Air Force Col. Ty Gilbert, 543rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group commander, as he prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon and officially open the Joint Collaboration Facility.

DOD announces use of masks, other public health measures
February 5, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III signed a memo Feb. 4 that, effective immediately, directs all individuals on military installations and all individuals performing official duties on behalf of the Department from any location other than the individual’s home, including outdoor shared spaces, to wear masks in accordance with the most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines... MORE

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered a DOD-wide stand down to discuss the problem of extremism in the ranks, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 3.

Feedback Fridays
February 5, 2021 — 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... MORE

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.

AACOG-led consortium seeks Sentinel Landscape status for JBSA-Camp Bullis
February 4, 2021 — Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis sits astride the Southern Edwards Plateau on the Northwest edge of San Antonio. This gem of JBSA is vital to military training and readiness as it provides a rugged tactical training area in this Texas Hill Country landscape essential to the training of all military services’ combat medics and Air Force security forces... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis sits astride the Southern Edwards Plateau on the Northwest edge of San Antonio.

433rd Security Forces Squadron defenders return home
February 4, 2021 — More than 30 defenders with the 433rd Security Forces Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing, reunited with their families at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Jan. 31... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Steven Redgate, 433rd Security Forces Squadron, reunites with his sons, Michael and Atom, and daughter, Desire Casillas, at the airport in San Antonio Jan. 31, 2021. Redgate has been with the 433rd SFS for 10 years and just completed his first deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brittany Wich)

Portable exercise equipment ‘working out’ during COVID-19
February 4, 2021 — Physical readiness has long been a priority for the U.S. Air Force and now as COVID-19 is posing restrictions on fitness centers, portable training units located throughout the base are providing a convenient option for service members... MORE

Beaver Fit Gym Boxes at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, provide better access to members.

Secretary of Defense orders military stand down to address challenge of extremism in the ranks
February 4, 2021 — A Department of Defense-wide stand down will occur over the next 60 days so that each service, command and unit can take the time to have needed discussions about extremism in the ranks, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 3... MORE

433rd Airlift Wing recognizes 2020 annual award winners
February 3, 2021 — Following a year of unprecedented events, the 433rd Airlift Wing continued a new trend of modified operations by announcing the 2020 wing annual award winners during a recognition ceremony 30 at the wing auditorium at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Jan. 30... MORE

Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, speaks at the wing’s annual award winner recognition ceremony Jan. 30, 2021 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The ceremony was livestreamed using multiple platforms to allow a remote audience facilitating social distancing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brittany K. Wich)

JBSA flips switch on for new Smartflower solar energy devices
February 3, 2021 — Joint Base San Antonio flipped the switch on for two new flower-shaped solar power devices Feb. 1, furthering the joint base's efforts in energy conservation and eco-friendly initiatives... MORE

Members of the 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron and CPS Energy demonstrated the new SmartFlower solar energy device at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Feb. 1.

Mentorship in the Air Force develops the Force
February 3, 2021 — Mentorship is a professional relationship in which a person with greater experience and wisdom guides another person through development, both personally and professionally. The overall goal of mentoring is for a mentee’s potential to be maximized... MORE

Local Army ROTC cadets support San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game
February 3, 2021 — Army ROTC cadets spoke with parents, youths and community partners about ROTC opportunities and their leadership experience within the ROTC program... MORE

Prior to the kickoff of the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game, cadets from The University of Texas at San Antonio Army ROTC 5th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command, teamed up with the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion San Antonio to speak with spectators as they entered Heroes Stadium in San Antonio Jan. 30.

JBSA Security Forces install base access kiosks to enhance social distancing efforts
February 3, 2021 — On a combined average across JBSA, the Visitor Control Centers process 21,640 customers per month, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, the 502nd Security Forces Group has installed new kiosks that will further reduce the health risks during customer check-in when requesting base access. ... MORE

An example of the new kiosks at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Luke East Visitor Control Center. The intent of the kiosk and new pager system is to minimize the number of customers in the VCCs and to allow customers to wait outside in the comfort of their vehicles until they are called to be serviced by receiving a message on their cell phone or being notified on the pager device.

DOD experts explain science behind COVID-19 vaccines
February 2, 2021 — Almost six weeks after the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the first two COVID-19 vaccines, many questions have arisen concerning their efficacy in attacking the SARS-CoV-2 virus and deadly COVID-19 disease. To better understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, MHS Communications spoke to two medical experts who have been intimately involved in the Department of Defense’s effort to develop and roll out vaccines for Americans... MORE

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Community Pharmacy relocates to new Exchange
February 2, 2021 — The Fort Sam Houston Community Pharmacy has moved into the new Army and Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) located at 2500 Funston Road at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the contact number remains the same at 210-295-9965... MORE

Army Spc. John Petersen, pharmacy technician, hands a prescription to a beneficiary at the Community Pharmacy in the Exchange at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Feb. 1. On average, new prescriptions take about 30 minutes to fill. For prescription refills customers generally wait about 2 minutes for pick up.

Air Force announces Airmen leadership qualities
February 2, 2021 — The Airman leadership qualities are expected to form the basis for the future officer and enlisted performance reporting systems. The alignment between evaluating units and evaluating Airmen is intended to further emphasize and accelerate an understanding and adoption of the associated leadership qualities... MORE

COVID-19 convalescent plasma; how to save a life today
February 2, 2021 — The Department of Defense Blood Donation Centers are looking for volunteers to donate COVID-19 convalescent plasma. ... MORE

Civilian Challenge pilot program designed to kick-start wellness journey
January 29, 2021 — In an effort to enhance wellness opportunities for Department of Defense civilian employees on Joint Base San Antonio, the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Army Wellness Center is now offering a motivational Civilian Challenge to a small group of U.S. Army North civil service personnel as part of a pilot test... MORE

The Army Wellness Center Civilian Challenge, or AWC3, is designed to help walk the DOD civilian workforce through a 12-week wellness journey by focusing on activity, nutrition, mindfulness, and sleep.

JBSA senior secures Valero Alamo Bowl scholarship
January 28, 2021 — When Bradley Ludington, a senior at Randolph High School, attended the Valero Alamo Bowl Dec. 29, 2020, it was not only to see a great football game, he was also there as one of the recipients of a Valero Alamo Bowl scholarship... MORE

Randolph High School senior Bradley Lundington, 2020 Valero Alamo Bowl scholarship recipient, poses for a photo while attending the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Dec. 29, 2020.

Air Force Civilian Service goes digital, continues to hire
January 28, 2021 — The Air Force Civilian Service has also adapted to the new environment and in ways different than others. While some companies and organizations are navigating layoffs, reassigning workloads, and downsizing, AFCS is hiring... MORE

The Air Force Civilian Service is hiring.

‘Continuity,’ ‘maintaining momentum’ define John Roth’s goals as acting Air Force secretary
January 28, 2021 — After decades of distinguished service, including at the highest levels of the Air Force’s leadership, John P. Roth decided recently it was time to retire. ... MORE

John P. Roth is the Acting Secretary of the Air Force.