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Air Force hosts EFMP summit for exceptional family members
September 20, 2018 — Being the parent of a child with asthma, cancer, autism or any other life-threatening or chronic condition is often a difficult journey that requires patience and sacrifice. Fortunately, thousands of active-duty members have found support through the Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program, which allows Airmen to proceed to assignment locations where suitable medical, educational and other resources are available to treat family members with special needs... MORE

The Air Force hosted an Exceptional Family Member Program summit Aug. 28-29 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. EFMP allows Airmen to proceed to assignment locations where suitable medical, educational and other resources are available to treat special needs family members.

Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop reopens in new location
September 19, 2018 — The Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop, sponsored by the Spouses' Club of the Fort Sam Houston Area, is held a grand re-opening ceremony Sept. 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location, which used to be the site of the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The address is now 1210 Stanley Road, building 123... MORE

(From left) Robert Naething, deputy to the commanding general, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army); Angie Ryder, Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop manager; Stacy Vick, Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop bookkeeper; and Maj. Gen. Mark R. Stammer, commanding general, U.S. Army South, cut the ribbon to open the relocated Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop at its new location of 1210 Stanley Road, building 123. The site was the location for the former Fort Sam Houston Museum.

City of San Antonio enacts new tobacco ordinance Oct. 1
September 19, 2018 — Effective Oct. 1, 2018, a new tobacco ordinance will prohibit the sale or providing of tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age within the boundaries of the City of San Antonio... MORE

Effective Oct. 1, 2018, a new tobacco ordinance will prohibit the sale or providing of tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age within the boundaries of the City of San Antonio. For more information, visit https://www.sanantonio.gov/Tobacco21.

U.S. Army North helping coordinate Hurricane Florence relief efforts
September 19, 2018 — Soldiers continue to help evacuate residents in flood-ravaged communities along North Carolina's coastal plains days after Hurricane Florence made landfall... MORE

South Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1053rd Transportation Company assist a family that was trapped inside their vehicle during the early morning hours as a result of flood waters on the roadway in Hamer, South Carolina, Sept. 18.

MICC standardizes full food service, dining attendant contracts
September 19, 2018 — In order to maximize effective and efficient execution for food services and dining attendant support to the Army, Mission and Installation Contracting Command officials recently established a center of excellence to provide contracting support for feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day... MORE

Mission and Installation Contracting Command contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day. The command executes more than 500 contract actions for accommodation and food services valued at more than $270 million annually.

New biodefense strategy combats man-made, natural threats
September 19, 2018 — The new National Biodefense Strategy is a living document designed to counter man-made and natural biological threats, National Security Advisor John Bolton said during a White House briefing Sept. 18... MORE

A nurse takes a patient’s pulse in the influenza ward at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., near the end of the Spanish Flu epidemic, Nov. 1, 1918. Fresh air was believed to help prevent the spread of the disease, which killed 50 million to 100 million people worldwide. Pandemic flus such as this are rare, occurring just three times in the 20th century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

OPM launches 2018 Combined Federal Campaign with an Enhanced Online Donation System
September 19, 2018 — The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, announces the start of the 2018 Combined Federal Campaign season, which runs from Sept.10 through Jan. 11, 2019. The 2018 CFC season will feature an enhanced CFC Online Donation System (https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome) that increases transparency and helps ensure that the contributions made by federal, postal and military personnel, as well as, retirees can reach the people who need help the most... MORE

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management launches 2018 Combined Federal Campaign with an Enhanced Online Donation System, which runs from Sept.10 through Jan. 11, 2019. The 2018 CFC season will feature an enhanced CFC Online Donation System that increases transparency and helps ensure that the contributions made by federal, postal and military personnel, as well as, retirees can reach the people who need help the most.

T-6A Texan II crashes near Rolling Oaks Mall: Update
September 18, 2018 — A 12th Flying Training Wing T-6 Texan II crashed near Rolling Oaks Mall at approximately at 4 p.m. Sept. 18. The crew ejected and is safe with minor injuries reported at the site. Both were transported to the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Medical Clinic for evaluation... MORE

JBSA-Lackland announces August Diamond Sharp winners
September 18, 2018 — JBSA-Lackland's August Diamond Sharp winners were recently announced... MORE

Secretary of the Air Force provides Air Force update
September 18, 2018 — Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson presented an update of the state of the Air Force Sept. 17, during the 2018 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Wilson discussed restoring force readiness, space operations and the future of the Air Force during her presentation... MORE

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson delivers her "The Air Force We Need" address during the 2018 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 17. During her remarks, Wilson stressed the Air Force will need more active, Guard and Reserve Airmen to fully enable the service's operational squadrons.

Air Force senior leaders announce 2018 Spark Tank Competition
September 18, 2018 — Enlisted, officer and government employees may now submit their innovative ideas for the 2018 Air Force Spark Tank Competition. The competition calls for Airmen to pitch their innovative ideas to the Air Force’s senior leaders through the the IdeaScale Ideation platform at usaf.ideascalegov.com, and will culminate in a showcase of those ideas in Orlando, Florida, early next year at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium... MORE

Enlisted, officer and government employees may now submit their innovative ideas for the 2018 Air Force Spark Tank Competition. The competition calls for Airmen to pitch their innovative ideas to the Air Force’s senior leaders through the the IdeaScale Ideation platform at usaf.ideascalegov.com, and will culminate in a showcase of those ideas in Orlando, Florida, early next year at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium.

Navy Recruiting District San Antonio promotes new chief petty officers
September 18, 2018 — At the conclusion of six weeks of training, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio, or NRD-SA, welcomed six new chief petty officers into the Chief’s Mess during a Chief Petty Officer pinning ceremony at the University of the Incarnate Word campus Sept. 14... MORE

After six weeks of training, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio welcomed six new chief petty officers in the Chief’s Mess during a pinning ceremony held on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word. From left are Erica Saiz, Elbony Harris, Jaewlaye Sherman, Sambath Ham, Marshall Baker, and Titus Jones Jr.

Army Criminal Investigation Command warns of disaster fraud schemes, scams
September 18, 2018 — The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is alerting service members to be on the lookout for “disaster fraud” charitable schemes and repair scams... MORE

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is alerting service members to be on the lookout for “disaster fraud” charitable schemes and repair scams.

Battlefield acupuncture providers combine innovation with tradition
September 18, 2018 — Since 2015, providers with the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland have offered battlefield acupuncture treatments to patients for pain management... MORE

Staff Sgt. Troy Ferrell, non-commissioned officer in charge of the urology clinic at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, receives battlefield acupuncture treatment in his ear for his knee and back pain. The clinic offers treatments every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on a walk-in basis for patients who are looking for an alternative method to traditional pain management medications.

Survey seeks input from family members and friends caring for wounded warriors
September 18, 2018 — Are you a family member or friend caring for a wounded, ill or injured service member? If so, you are not alone. To better understand the specific needs of military caregivers, the Army Public Health Center is conducting a survey. If you are a family member or friend caring for a service member at or Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; or Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; the Army wants to hear from you... MORE

The U.S. Army Medical Command’s Army Public Health Center announced the launch of a survey for military caregivers. The survey seeks to understand the social, economic and health impact of caregiving and identify gaps in services.

The Air Force We Need: 386 operational squadrons
September 17, 2018 — Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the results of an in-depth analysis aimed at outlining what the Air Force needs to implement the National Defense Strategy while speaking at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference Sept. 17... MORE

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the results of an in-depth analysis aimed at outlining what the Air Force needs to implement the National Defense Strategy while speaking at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference Sept. 17.

A Day That Resonates
September 17, 2018 — By looking at him you wouldn’t know it, but Tech Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron flight chief at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has deep scars from a day that took the lives of two fellow Airmen and severely wounded two others. His wounds are invisible. He has post-traumatic stress disorder from a terrorist attack many may have heard news reports about and forgotten. But, Brewer has not forgotten that day … he relives those moments constantly... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron assistant flight chief, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2018 South Central Warrior CARE Event at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Jan. 8, 2018. Brewer suffers from invisible wounds, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from a terrorist attack that took place overseas in March 2011.

PACAF wins Air Force Defender Challenge
September 17, 2018 — The U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command came out on top among 14 international security forces teams to win the Air Force Defender Challenge Championship Sept. 10-13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas... MORE

A U.S. Air Force Airman, Pacific Air Forces Command, competes in a dismounted operation competition during Air Force Defender Challenge Sept. 11, 2018 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas. During the challenge, Airmen are placed into a four-person team and move as quickly as possible across a 3-6 mile distance while using teamwork to overcome physical and mental barriers.

JBSA volunteers, organizations benefit from registration in online system
September 17, 2018 — Organizations throughout Joint Base San Antonio rely heavily on a dedicated group of individuals who contribute hundreds of thousands of hours of their own time annually to the installation’s varied missions and at numerous events... MORE

A volunteer assists in landscaping at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Registration in the Volunteer Management Information System benefits volunteers and organizations seeking volunteers at Joint Base San Antonio.

JBSA civilian’s ingenuity saves the Air Force money
September 15, 2018 — Thanks to Brian Spalinger, an employee at the 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, approximately 60 headlight assembly sets have been refurbished instead of replaced since May 2018, saving the Air Force an estimated $28,000... MORE

Thanks to Brian Spalinger, an employee at the 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, approximately 60 headlight assembly sets have been refurbished instead of replaced since May 2018, saving the Air Force an estimated $28,000. Instead of ordering new headlights assemblies that costs the Air Force approximately $418, Spalinger refurbishes the damaged headlights which not only saves the Air Force money, but it allows the vehicle to be returned to customer at a faster rate.