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New combat medics tackle burn team duty
May 20, 2020 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the leader in burn treatment both on and off the battlefield for the Department of Defense. For the service members and civilians of this leading-edge treatment division, it means long hours, razor-thin margins of error, and life-saving decisiveness is a daily business, pandemic or not... MORE

Pvt. Sage Deemer, a combat medic specialist temporarily assigned to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center applies bandages and gauze to a burn patient.

TRICARE revises telehealth policy to respond to COVID-19
May 20, 2020 — To improve virtual access to health care during COVID-19, TRICARE recently revised its policy on telehealth services. This temporarily allows you access to care more easily during the constraints of the pandemic. These changes will remain for the duration of the stateside public health emergency... MORE

Learn how to book a telehealth appointment at a military treatment facility or clinic. (TRICARE Communications graphic)

DLIELC hosts first female Lebanese air traffic controller
May 20, 2020 — Airman Maria Abou Daher Maalouf from the Lebanese Air Force is the first female air traffic controller from her country to attend the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for English language training... MORE

Airman Maria Abou Daher Maalouf from the Lebanese Air Force is the first female air traffic controller from her country to attend the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for English language training.

Month of the Military Caregiver: Hidden Heroes
May 20, 2020 — May is recognized as the Department of Defense’s Month of the Military Caregiver. This time is used to honor, commend and show appreciation for those that care for wounded, ill and injured service members. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, known as AFW2, has a Caregiver Support and Family Program to assist caretakers in multiple ways,... MORE

May is recognized as the Department of Defense’s Month of the Military Caregiver. This time is used to honor, commend, and show appreciation for those that care for wounded, ill and injured service members. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) has a Caregiver Support and Family Program to assist caretakers in multiple ways,

Monument recognizes AETC instructors' dedication to developing Airmen we need
May 19, 2020 — During this time of uncertainty, the dedication of Air Education and Training Command’s instructor corps has never been more certain. Like their dedication, a monument stands unwavering here in the honor of AETC’s instructor corps. The obelisk, or pillar, monument stands in-front of the AETC headquarters building and was dedicated in July 1971... MORE

A picture of the Instructor Monument wit the AETC headquarters building in the background.

San Antonio twins looking forward to being U.S. Sailors
May 19, 2020 — Twin brothers Reynaldo and Santos Vasquez of San Antonio are making final preparations to attend recruit training and becoming Sailors in America’s Navy... MORE

344th TRS participates in resiliency chat with CMSAF Wright
May 19, 2020 — Master Sgt. Robyn Pryor from the 37th Training Wing spoke on "The New Normal", a podcast hosted by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright recently... MORE

Msgt Robyn Pryor (bottom center), a 37th Training Wing Airmen, speaks on "The New Normal", a podcast hosted by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright (top left).
Pryor, member of the 344th Training Squadron, discussed the creation of the community, C3 (Care, Commit, and Connect), a community geared towards connecting women with women.

The next transition from ABUs to OCPs: What to expect
May 19, 2020 — The next transition before the final uniform change from the Airman Battle Uniform to the newly regulated Operation Camouflage Pattern combat uniform will be effective June 1, 2020, for all Airmen... MORE

After a lifetime of service, retirement can wait
May 19, 2020 — Army Col. April Critelli is one of the thousands of men and women who have served in peacetime and combat, to retire in quiet anonymity, a hero. And when the nation called for healthcare professionals to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Critelli came out of retirement and was the first retired reserve volunteer recall officer to be placed on active duty orders and assigned to duty. ... MORE

U.S. Army Col. April Critelli, physician assistant, prepares to end her work day at the McWethy Troop Medical Clinic at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 13. Critelli is the first medical Soldier to return to active duty from retirement during the COVID-19 crisis.

Flying units still delivering during pandemic
May 18, 2020 — Since March 1, the 68th and the 356th Airlift Squadrons have supported the COVID-19 crisis in New York and continued to train aircrew members here... MORE

Aircrew members in the 433rd Airlift Wing prepare a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, for a flight to carry a team of medical technicians mobilized to respond to the COVID-19 crisis April 5, 2020.

JBSA Legal News for Soldiers: Do gift and fundraising rules still apply during a pandemic?
May 18, 2020 — Regardless of our circumstances, the basic ethics rules governing federal employees continue to apply, including the rules on accepting gifts and fundraising... MORE

Air Force English language beta test advances despite COVID-19
May 18, 2020 — The 37th Training Wing began a beta test in March for an Air Force version of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center Army Echo Company program which has been in existence since 1975... MORE

Air Force Echo Flight trainees attend their distance learning classes in the 737th Training Support Squadron learning lab, although separated physically from their classmates to due to COVID-19.

Air Force photo contest launches July 1
May 18, 2020 — After a short delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Air Force Photo Contest starts July 1. This year's theme is "We Are Family."... MORE

Graphic to illustrate the 2020 Air Force Photo Contest

First Airmen graduate BMT proof of concept at Keesler Air Force Base
May 18, 2020 — Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies... MORE

Military training instructors lead graduating Airmen onto the drill pad during the basic military training graduation ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 15, 2020. Nearly 60 Airmen from the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 completed the six-week basic military training course. Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies. The flight was the first to graduate BMT at Keesler since 1968. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

IAAFA adapts during COVID-19, continues international PME
May 18, 2020 — In March 2020, when the nation started shelter-in-place orders due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, the Inter-American Air Forces Academy coordinated for all of their international students to return to their home countries. IAAFA got back up and running with distance learning courses and IAAFA’s Alpha Class of 2020 graduated May 15 via a virtual graduation ceremony... MORE

The Inter-American Air Forces Academy commandant, Col. Issac Davidson, celebrates graduates of the 2020 Alpha Cycle during IAAFA's virtual graduation ceremony, May 15. (Courtesy Photo)

Volunteers serve food to new BMT recruits
May 17, 2020 — Meals Operating on Wheels began serving food to Basic Military Training trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 30 to feed Airmen who are quarantined in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

BAMC staff cheers for healthcare heroes
May 17, 2020 — To honor Florence Nightingale’s birthday, Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care staff stood, with room for appropriate social distancing, along the elevated covered walkway that leads from the BAMC parking garage to the hospital and cheered for the staff as they made their way into work May 12... MORE

Staff members from the Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care department line the walkway to greet and cheer on BAMC staff members as they come to work May 12. The critical care department chose the date – which is both the end of Nurses Week and Florence Nightingale’s birthday – to celebrate all the BAMC staff who work to ensure high quality care for patients.

559th Medical Operations Squadron team provides resilience support at COVID-19 epicenter
May 15, 2020 — With more than 2,000 service members deployed to New York City over the last several months, a team from the 59th Medical Wing is one of those providing mental health support to those assisting healthcare workers throughout the region. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie Roserie, social worker, 59th Medical Group, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, boards a van at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, April 28, 2020. Roserie is a part of a six-member team that will provide behavioral health and support services to the service men and women that are provide care and medical services to COIVD-19 patients. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, is providing military support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in need. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aimee Nordin)

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence recognizes its centennial
May 15, 2020 — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, trains the world’s premier military medical force: Army Medicine. There are many important dates in the school’s history, but May 15, 1920, is acknowledged as the date the Army formally approved the establishment of the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where MEDCoE traces its origins... MORE

The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, trains the world’s premier military medical force: Army Medicine. There are many important dates in the school’s history, but May 15, 1920, is acknowledged as the date the Army formally approved the establishment of the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where MEDCoE traces its origins.

Electromagnetic Pulse Defense teams continue building resiliency
May 15, 2020 — The San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio electromagnetic defense partnership has made great strides since its inception just over a year ago, and they continue building resiliency against harmful electromagnetic pulses during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio-Electromagnetic Defense Initiative member Lt. Col. Eddie K. “Thumper” Stamper teleconferences with leadership from the FBI InfraGard National Disaster Resiliency Council May 11, 2020.