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National Guard turns 382: How is the National Guard 140 years older than the U.S.?
December 13, 2018 — When the National Guard celebrates its 382nd birthday Dec. 13, skeptics might ask the obvious question: "How can the National Guard be 140 years older than the nation, and exist more than two centuries before it popularly took on the name National Guard?"... MORE

The official birth date of the Army National Guard as a reserve component of the Army is December 13, 1636. On this date, the Massachusetts colonial legislature directed that the colony’s existing militia companies be organized into three regiments. This date is recognized based upon the Department of Defense’s practice of adopting the dates of initial authorizing legislation for organized units as the birthdates of the active and reserve components of the armed services.

Joint Base San Antonio, City of San Antonio enter into mutual aid agreement for emergency response
December 13, 2018 — Joint Base San Antonio and the City of San Antonio have entered into a nine-year mutual aid and support agreement that will allow for more efficient response and recovery actions during emergencies... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio and the City of San Antonio have entered into a nine-year mutual aid and support agreement that will allow for more efficient response and recovery actions during emergencies. Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman, 502d Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, along with San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood, San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus, Deputy City Manager Erik Walsh and other city officials, were on hand for the signing of the agreement at San Antonio City Hall Nov. 29. Gen. Lenderman and Chief Hood were the signatories for the document.

AFPC showcases Premier College Intern Program to local students
December 13, 2018 — Approximately 30 students from Texas A&M University-San Antonio toured the Air Force’s Personnel Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Nov. 30 to get a first-hand understanding of the Premier College Intern Program... MORE

Texas A&M University-San Antonio students enter the Air Force’s Personnel Center Headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Nov. 30. During their tour, the students visited different sections of AFPC where they learned about human resources specializations such as benefits and entitlements, classification and staffing.

ARNORTH leaders emphasize importance of SHARP program
December 13, 2018 — Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan and Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, U. S. Army North (Fifth Army) command team, addressed students recently in the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (U.S. Army SHARP) Foundation Course at held at the Army Medical Department Center and School, Army Health Readiness Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan and Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, U. S. Army North (Fifth Army) command team, addressed students recently in the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (U.S. Army SHARP) Foundation Course at held at the Army Medical Department Center and School, Army Health Readiness Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Former 37th TRW commander attends BMT graduation unlike any other
December 12, 2018 — As a former 37th Training Wing commander, retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Andrew P. Iosue has seen countless Basic Military Training graduations. The graduation he attended Nov. 30, however, was like no other, as he witnessed his step-grandson, Michael Willett become Airman 1st Class Willett... MORE

CCATT Pilot Unit sparks innovation in Chilean program
December 12, 2018 — Medical health officers from the Chilean Air Force visited the 59th Medical Wing on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Dec. 7 to gain a better understanding of Critical Care Air Transportation Teams... MORE

Medical health officers from the Chilean Air Force look at a hand-held ultrasound unit on Dec. 7, at Camp Bramble on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The Chileans visited the 59th Medical Wing to gain a better understanding of Critical Care Air Transportation Teams and the advanced equipment available during each mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kiley Dougherty)

Brooke Army Medical Center deploys HIPAA-compliant secure messaging app
December 11, 2018 — Medical professionals at Brooke Army Medical Center have deployed a cloud-based messaging app which will allow them to securely share patient information from their personal devices and desktop workstations... MORE

Don Ryan (left), a representative of the company that developed the app, teaches Maj. Samuel Owen (right), physician, how to use the secure messaging app at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 4. The app, which is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant, will allow BAMC staff members to share patient information and photos securely.

Overcoming the holiday blues is possible
December 11, 2018 — The holiday season is upon us once again, and it is often a busy season. It is filled with shopping, gifts, festivities, joyous music, holiday parties, decorations, and many opportunities to be with family, friends, and coworkers as we close out the old year and welcome the New Year. However, for some this can be a challenging time. Instead of being a season of joy, some may experience increased stress, feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety. Psychologists often refer to this as the holiday blues. Unfortunately, this is a real phenomenon and some will contemplate suicide... MORE

The winter and holiday season can create a wide variety of feelings in people: such as joy, warmth and generosity. While the holidays are celebrated by some as a time of giving and cheer, it can bring feelings of loneliness and depression in others.

Resources available to service members dealing with substance use disorders
December 11, 2018 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Behavioral Medicine has launched a new program to make it easier for service members to get help for substance use disorders. The new Addictions Medicine Intensive Outpatient Program is an intense five-week outpatient program offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Multi-Disciplinary Behavioral Health Clinic... MORE

A Soldier holds his Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care commencement coin.

Patients inspire prosthodontist at BAMC
December 11, 2018 — In the Brooke Army Medical Center Dental Surgery Clinic, maxillofacial prosthodontists and technicians serve many patients per month and perform procedures each work day... MORE

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Young J. Honnlee, 59th Medical Wing maxillofacial prosthodontics fellow, evaluates the inside of a patient’s mouth at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Honnlee prepares to make impressions of the patient’s teeth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

Follow safety tips for a happy holiday season
December 11, 2018 — The Christmas season can be the most joyous of times, but it can also be deadly. Approximately 400 fires occur annually involving Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, injuries and more than $10 million in property loss and damage. ... MORE

For more information about Winter Holiday Safety visit the National Fire Prevention Association website at www.nfpa.org/education or contact the Fire Prevention Offices at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-221-2727, JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-2921 or JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-6915.

NORAD Tracks Santa program underway for 2018
December 10, 2018 — The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating its 63rd anniversary of defending the homeland along with its tradition of tracking Santa’s journey around the globe Dec. 24... MORE

The 63rd iteration of NORAD Tracks Santa kicked off Dec. 1, with a more mobile friendly website at http:// www.noradsanta.org, social media channels, “Santa Cam” streaming video and a call center that will be operating around the clock on Dec. 24.

Austin-based Army Futures Command reveals new insignia as it 'forges' ahead
December 10, 2018 — The Austin-based Army Futures Command now officially has a shoulder sleeve insignia and distinctive unit insignia that its Soldiers will wear while they work toward modernizing the Army... MORE

The shoulder sleeve insignia (left) and distinctive unit insignia for Army Futures Command. With a golden anvil as its main symbol, the shoulder patch and unit insignia are a nod to former Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's personal coat of arms that used a blue-colored anvil.

543rd Engineer Detachment geospatial engineers paint a picture for border mission
December 10, 2018 — When the Department of Homeland Security requested the Department of Defense to provide a range of assistance to secure the border from Texas to California, the 543rd Engineer Detachment, U.S. Army North, began their part of the border support mission by analyzing maps and refining data to paint a picture of the operating areas for commanders and decision-makers to better visualize their areas of operations... MORE

Pfc. Matthew J. McGill, 543rd Engineer Detachment geospatial engineer, reviews geospatial imagery for a port of entry along the border from Texas to California. The detachment began their part of the border support mission by analyzing maps and refining data to paint a picture of the operating areas for commanders and decision-makers to better visualize their areas of operations.

Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command announces Sailor of the Year
December 10, 2018 — A Navy Cardiovascular Technician Program instructor at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston was selected as the Navy Medicine Education, Training and... MORE

Rear Adm. Tina Davidson, commander of Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command, and Command Master Chief Petty Officer Richard Putnam, NMETLC, present Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Guillen, NMTSC hospital corpsman, with a plaque in honor of his selection as NMETLC regional Sailor of the Year Dec 6, 2018, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

President Trump picks Gen. Milley for Joint Chiefs chairman
December 10, 2018 — President Donald Trump selected Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of Staff of the Army, as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a morning tweet preceding the annual Army-Navy game, Trump tweeted his nomination of Milley... MORE

Gen. Mark A. Milley (right), the Army's chief of staff, right, was nominated to succeed Marine Corps General Joe Dunford (left) as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. President Donald Trump tweeted the nomination Dec. 8, 2018.

Trees for Troops provides trees for military families
December 7, 2018 — Since 2005, Trees for Troops has collected and donated more than 176,000 trees for military families. This year, 165 trees were given out at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Dec. 7. FedEx has logged more than 653,400 miles for this charity in the United States alone. They deliver the Christmas trees to 65 military bases, either in the U.S. or overseas... MORE

Specialist Barbar Fretto, with the Army Reserve and her husband Nicholas, an Army cadet, look for tree a to celebrate their first Christmas as husband and wife during the Trees for Troops event at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Dec. 7, 2018. Trees for Troops has impacted many families and individuals.

Feedback Fridays
December 7, 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... 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. (Photo by Courtesy graphic)

Alamo Wing reinforces resiliency
December 7, 2018 — Reserve Citizen Airmen should consciously practice self-care, and one way to strengthen well-being and prepare for life’s troubles is to ensure the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness are strong... MORE

For some, all types of fitness may take a backseat during the holiday season, but the Air Force Reserve wants to keep readiness in focus. Reserve Citizen Airmen should consciously practice self-care, and one way to strengthen well-being and prepare for life’s troubles is to ensure the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness are strong.

Fort Sam Houston Caisson Section welcomes Beau, a gifted horse
December 7, 2018 — What began as a conversation during a meeting of the Uniformed Veterinarian Medicine Association, or UVMA, turned into a generous gift, as the Fort Sam Houston Caisson Section welcomed a new horse to the team during a ceremony at the Military Funeral Honors building Nov. 27... MORE

Beau, a six-year-old quarter horse, has begun his training as a caparisoned, or riderless, horse and is expected to be part of a ceremonial team that renders honors to fallen service members.