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433rd Airlift Wing Reserve Airmen continue annual holiday tradition of feeding Alamo City families
January 3, 2019 — Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 433rd Airlift Wing joined forces with 1,000 other volunteers from the Greater San Antonio Area in serving more than 10,000 meals during the afternoon shift at H-E-B’s 26th Annual Feast of Sharing holiday dinner Dec. 23 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio... MORE

Identical twins, Airmen 1st Class Maranda Smith, 433rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron health services technician and Mariah Smith, 433rd Force Support Squadron communications technician, talk with a guest at H-E-B’s 26th Annual Feast of Sharing Dec. 23, 2018, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. This was the Smith sisters first time serving at the event that served over 10,000 meals to area resident from the Alamo City area.

High school tour becomes family affair at 433rd Airlift Wing
January 3, 2019 — Students from Lytle High School, about 30 miles from San Antonio, visited the 433rd Airlift Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Dec. 18, 2018 to tour a C-5M Super Galaxy... MORE

Lt. Col. Matthew Van De Walle, 356th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, describes one of five sets of upgraded landing gear on the C-5M Super Galaxy to students from Lytle High School, Dec. 18, 2018 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

149th Operations Group gets new commander
January 3, 2019 — Col. Matthew Jensen, an F-16 pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, assumed command of the 149th Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Dec. 13, 2018. Col. Raul Rosario, 149th Fighter Wing commander, presided over the ceremony... MORE

Col. Matthew Jensen (right), an F-16 pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, assumed command of the 149th Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Dec. 13, 2018. Col. Raul Rosario (left), 149th Fighter Wing commander, presided over the ceremony.

New program to credential Soldiers as skilled tradesmen
January 3, 2019 — Soldiers can soon use federal funding to earn credentials in skilled trades... MORE

Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division listen to Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey Nov. 30, 2018, during a question-and-answer session at Barlow Theater, Fort Riley, Kansas. Dailey explained changes coming to the noncommissioned officer education system.

433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron takes part in C-5M medevac tests
January 3, 2019 — During a cold, gloomy first week of December, total force Airmen teamed up at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to test the capability of the Air Forces largest aircraft to perform aeromedical evacuation during a proof of concept event. They were joined in the proof of concept by other active-duty Airmen and civilians from various commands and units, including the 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Edgar Ramirez, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, participates in a training scenario during a C-5M Super Galaxy AE proof of concept flight from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Dec. 6, 2018. Active duty, Reserve and Delaware Air National Guard Airmen worked together during the PoC flight to test the cargo compartment of the C-5M with the goal of establishing the aircraft as part of the universal qualification training program for all AE crews. If approved and certified, the C-5M will have the capability to move three times the current capacity in one mission compared to other AE platforms.

Uniform code of military justice changes
January 3, 2019 — Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the Military Justice Act of 2016 instated the most reform to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Manual for Courts-Martial in decades, modernizing dated aspects of the military justice system while also providing transparency. ... MORE

Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the Military Justice Act of 2016 will instate the most reform to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Manual for Courts-Martial in decades, modernizing dated aspects of the military justice system while also providing transparency.

Brooke Army Medical Center welcomes first baby of 2019
January 2, 2019 — He was due after the holiday, but decided to come early to the New Year’s party. A few hours after the ball dropped in Times Square in New York City, Callum Charles Hunt made his appearance at 1:50 a.m. on New Year’s Day, marking Brooke Army Medical Center’s first delivery of 2019. ... MORE

Brig. Gen. George N. Appenzeller (second from left), Brooke Army Medical Center commander, along with Sarah Kelly (far left), BAMC auxiliary president, and Master Sgt. Melinda Griffin (far right), enlisted advisor to the deputy chief for patient support, present a gift basket to retired Army Sgt. Christopher and Hillary Hunt after the birth of their son, Callum Charles Hunt, at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 2, 2019. Callum, born at 1:50 a.m. on New Year’s Day, was BAMC first baby born in 2019.

Resilient Airman supports innovation, wins top award
January 2, 2019 — The Air Force named a 12th Operations Group “problem-solver” at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph as its installation-level Resource Advisor of the Year for 2018... MORE

Autry Fontenot, a budget analyst in the 12th Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, poses for a photo in his office in Hangar 63. The Air Force named him its installation-level Resource Advisor of the Year for 2018. Fontenot supports pilot training innovations by managing millions of dollars.

Latest Operational Camouflage Pattern guidance approves current subdued patches
December 31, 2018 — Airmen wearing Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, uniforms are authorized to add their former Airmen Battle Uniform subdued patches until the mandatory brown subdued ones go into effect... MORE

A guide on the OCP uniform phase-in and what will be allowed in regulation before OCPs become the mandatory Air Force uniform. Airmen started to wear the OCP uniform Oct. 1, 2018.

Air Force’s Officer Training School restructures program to increase quality, quantity of officers
December 31, 2018 — The Air Force’s Officer Training School is changing the paradigm for building officers, pivoting away from separate programs for line and non-line officers and conducting merged classes beginning in January 2019... MORE

An Air Force Commissioned Officer Training course trainee stands in formation, May 24, 2018, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. OTS has recently merged COT with the Total Force Officer Training course to increase the quality and quantity of officers it can produce annually.

Missing Man formation honors Freedom Flyer organizer
December 31, 2018 — Three T-38C Talons flew over the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, at 1:45 p.m. Dec. 21, 2018. It was a missing man formation and a rare but fitting tribute to the instructor pilot who played a key role welcoming home freed prisoners of war... MORE

A photo from 2015 shows retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Huff during a Freedom Flyer Reunion at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Huff died Dec. 5, 2018. The 560th Flying Training Squadron flew a missing man formation with three T-38C Talons over his interment ceremony at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In 1973, Huff was an original organizer for training Vietnam war Air Force pilots after they were released as POWs.

Military Training Instructor Schoolhouse: training the trainer
December 28, 2018 — The distinct wide-brimmed blue campaign hat is easily recognizable and worn only by a specific group of Airmen: military training instructors. Known for professionalism, these specially selected and trained MTIs are tasked with mentoring, teaching and molding civilians arriving at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for basic military training, or BMT... 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.

New Year, New Parent: bring out the best in your parenting
December 24, 2018 — With the new year comes that itch to become a new and improved you. Some make resolutions to exercise more, spend less money, be more organized, or procrastinate less. But how many of you have considered the new year as an opportunity to take stock of where you are as a parent and decide to make sure you're on track to raising the most wonderful little human beings you possibly can?... MORE

Do the best you can to be a good parent. The holidays are a perfect time to make resolutions for the new year.

Air Force issues phishing scam alert
December 21, 2018 — Recently, Headquarters Air Force Judge Advocate General has become aware of a phishing attempt targeting Air Force members using a falsified email notification from the JAG Corps. The subject line of the e-mail is "***HOT*** Jury Summons Notification." DO NOT OPEN OR RESPOND to the e-mail or follow the web link. Follow your unit's cyber security procedures if you receive this phishing attempt. Contact your respective JA office with any questions. ... MORE

Recently HAF/JA has become aware of a phishing attempt targeting Air Force members using a falsified email notification from the JAG Corps. The subject line of the e-mail is "***HOT*** Jury Summons Notification." Please DO NOT OPEN OR RESPOND to the e-mail or follow the web link, & follow your unit's cyber security procedures if you receive this phishing attempt. Please contact your respective JA office with any questions.

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

Joint Base San Antonio Warrior Transition Battalion commemorates 77th Pearl Harbor anniversary
December 21, 2018 — During the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States lost 2,335 American fighting men and women, including 2,008 Sailors, 218 Soldiers, 109 Marines and 68 civilians, resulting in a total of 2,403 American lives lost. To commemorate the event which drove the nation into World War II, the recovering service members and supporting staff at the Joint Base San Antonio Warrior Transition Battalion conducted a unified physical training event at the Fitness Center at the Medical Education and Training Campus Dec. 7, 2018. ... MORE

To commemorate the event which drove the nation into World War II, the recovering service members and supporting staff at the Joint Base San Antonio Warrior Transition Battalion conducted a unified physical training event to commemorate the 77th Pearl Harbor anniversary at the Fitness Center at the Medical Education and Training Campus Dec. 7, 2018.

Feedback Fridays
December 21, 2018 — 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. If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil 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. If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.” Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Soldiers in training depart on annual holiday block leave exodus
December 20, 2018 — Starting in the early morning hours of Dec. 20, nearly 3,000 Soldiers training at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence, or AMEDDC&S HRCoE, departed Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston via the San Antonio International Airport for their Holiday Block Leave... MORE

Army Soldiers attending medical Advanced Individual Training at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence, or AMEDDC&S HRCoE, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston show their holiday cheer before boarding an airplane at the San Antonio International Airport.

Know what goes down the drain and avoid the pain
December 20, 2018 — Our sewers are not designed to cope with modern disposable products. As a result, these items can cause blockages. The drains connecting your home (or place of work) to the main sewer lines are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper and human waste and are often no wider than four inches. ... MORE

Around 75 percent of blockages involve disposable items. To avoid drain pain and a drain on resources, remember to bag it and put in the garbage ... don’t flush it!

Navy scientists developing wound dressing to improve healing of battlefield injuries
December 20, 2018 — In addressing complications that hinder the ability of wounded service members to recover from their injuries, researchers at Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, or NAMRU-SA, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are developing and testing a type of wound dressing that contributes to the healing process and improves patient outcomes... MORE

Dr. Tony Yuan, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio senior scientist and biomedical engineer at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, explains how the electrospinner system operates. The fully automated electrospinner, constructed in 2012, uses high voltage electricity as a force to produce a nanofibrous scaffold from biomaterials for a new type of wound dressing containing natural fibers that can be used to deliver biomolecules and drugs to heal the wounds of service members injured in combat. Advancements in electrospinning and the development of nanofibrous wound dressings made by NAMRU-SA researchers could speed up the healing process for troops wounded on the battlefield, reducing complications and scar formations and improving patient outcomes.