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Defense against electromagnetic pulse priority for SA-EMD
October 1, 2020 — Imagine waking up one morning with no electricity, no cell service, and no chance of them returning for months. That is the potential nightmare of an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, whether naturally occurring or man-made... MORE

Michael Lovell, executive director of the Joint Base San Antonio-Electromagnetic Defense Initiative and 5G program executive, speaks to attendees of the San Antonio-Electromagnetic Defense quarterly meeting held virtually Sept. 29, 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

JBSA-Randolph lifeguards come to the rescue – but not at pool
September 28, 2020 — At the beginning of every pool season at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, MariAnne Clark tells the lifeguards she supervises they have the most important job of all the summer hires... MORE

(From left) Lifeguards Maiah Kuzan, Samuel Landreth, Dominic Mercado, Blake Mai and Matthew Oakland hold coins they received at the 502nd Air Base Wing Commander’s Staff meeting at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Sept. 24. The lifeguards were recognized for their actions taken in putting out a fire in JBSA-Randolph base housing. The individuals, who were cleaning the pool for the end of season, saw the smoke from housing, called 911, rushed over to warn the family and put out the fire prior to the fire department arriving on scene.

Run with the Chief brings JBSA teammates together
September 24, 2020 — For U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio command chief, his chief’s run Sept. 22 was about more than exercise, it was about participants coming together to connect, decompress and reduce stress... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider (left), 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio command chief, meets with participants for a three-mile run Sept. 22, 2020, at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Don’t overlook the signs: Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility
September 24, 2020 — One of the messages military members can take away from Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month each September is that it is their responsibility to serve as wingmen to all their brothers and sisters in arms. ... MORE

For information on suicide prevention, visit the Air Force Wingman Online Suicide website at www.wingmanonline.org/Home or call 866-66-1020.

DOD anticipates significant troop reduction in Afghanistan
September 24, 2020 — Based on the current conditions in Afghanistan, the Defense Department expects there will be fewer than 5,000 U.S. military service members in that country by the end of November, said David F. Helvey, who is currently performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs... MORE

A crew member assigned to the scans his sector while providing security during a flight aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a fly-to-advise mission Dec. 14, 2019, in Southeastern Afghanistan.

Deadline to renew expired, expiring CACs drawing near
September 21, 2020 — Earnest Bridges, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military Personnel Division chief, advises all JBSA personnel whose Common Access Card, or CAC, has expired or will expire by Sept. 30 to make an appointment as soon as possible to renew their card... MORE

The deadline is quickly approaching for Joint Base San Antonio military members and civilians with expired or expiring common access cards.

Air Force Families Forever expanding services at JBSA
September 21, 2020 — Air Force Families Forever is a long-term assistance program that supports family members or next of kin of deceased Airmen, whether they are regular Air Force or Reserve component members, who have fallen or passed away while in combat or conducting non-combat related duties... MORE

Air Force Families Forever is expanding support and services to eligible family members and next of kin including spouses, parents, children, step-children and siblings.

JBSA support to evacuees at COVID-19 onset molded later responses
September 18, 2020 — “There were substantial lessons learned from the partnership and the operation that DHHS executed here at JBSA-Lackland that we were able to transition into our support posture for JBSA."... MORE

A Feb. 2, 2020 photo of empty lodging facilities at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) troops fighting wildfires in California
September 18, 2020 — In the midst of the California wildfires, there are over 200 U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) Soldiers supporting wildland fire ground response operations in the August complex, located in the densely forested northern part of the state... MORE

U.S. Army North Commanding General Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson speaks with Soldiers.

Joint warriors utilize JBSA landing zones for vertical lift training
September 17, 2020 — For the second time in as many weeks, joint warriors converged on Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Annex to formally confirm the suitability of helicopter landing zones in order to expand the maneuver space for vertical lift operations and improve home-station training for San Antonio’s military units... MORE

Two Soldiers under helicopter with rigging equipment.

U.S. Army North supports Texas agencies during pandemic, beyond
September 14, 2020 — As COVID-19 cases began to surge this summer in Texas, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army), headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, joining forces with the Texas Military Department and Texas Division of Emergency Management to combat the disease... MORE

A military commander pins an award on a Soldier in a medical center.

U.S. Army North’s new senior enlisted advisor reflects on COVID-19 response
September 11, 2020 — Command Sgt. Maj. Phil K. Barretto, the new senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army North (Fifth Army), arrived in Military City USA in July from South Korea, where he served as the 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Division command sergeant major... MORE

People speaking in the hall of a medical center.

Air Force stands up first medical logistics master ordering facility at Port San Antonio
September 3, 2020 — The Air Force is working with civilian partners and sister services to ensure personal protective equipment and other pandemic-related supplies are delivered wherever they are needed, whether to military treatment facilities or civilian hospitals... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Brison King, non-commissioned officer in charge, Warehouse Operations, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, packs critical lab supplies at Port San Antonio, Texas, August 24, 2020.

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.

ARNORTH task forces on COVID-19 front lines in San Antonio hospitals
August 28, 2020 — Service members from across the country belonging to U.S. Army North have converged on San Antonio as part of Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces activated to support hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis... MORE

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.

JBSA continues HPCON CHARLIE protective measures
August 20, 2020 — As Joint Base San Antonio prepares to begin reopening services through phased, deliberate measures, personnel continue to follow the guidelines, such as physical distancing and capacity limits, established by local and state leaders, as well as the Department of Defense and Centers for Disease Control, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the community... MORE

Pandemic, physical distancing do not stop transitioning service members
August 20, 2020 — The coronavirus may have changed the way many things happen at Joint Base San Antonio, but they still happen. Service members still train, security forces still protect installations, firefighters still respond to calls, and transitioning service members still depart military service... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio's newly activated Joint Transition Readiness Center, located on the Brooke Army Medical Center campus, houses the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program. The program currently assists separating service members virtually through the many aspects of this life-changing event and offers full Department of Defense Transition services to members of all branches assigned to JBSA.

JBSA schools to start school year with online instruction
August 20, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio schools will start the first few weeks of the 2020-21 school year with remote learning before being allowed to open campuses to students under directives issued by local health authorities and the Texas Education Agency... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio schools will start the first few weeks of the 2020-21 school year with remote learning before being allowed to open campuses to students under directives issued by local health authorities and the Texas Education Agency.

JBSA supports task forces deployed to San Antonio hospitals
August 14, 2020 — As service members descended upon San Antonio to provide COVID-19 support to Texas hospitals, 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel were simultaneously conducting critical missions to ensure arriving health care workers were ready to relieve local hospitals and support communities across Texas... MORE