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Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | June 12, 2020

Feedback Fridays

By Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman 502d Air Base Wing Commander

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.

Q. When will Basic Military Training graduations be open to the public and families again? I can’t imagine what it must be like for those families that can’t come to San Antonio to see their loved ones graduate and experience this milestone in their lives.

A. Thank you very much for your question. As we continue to move forward in our COVID-19 response and reopening of JBSA support and services, we are actively monitoring Department of Defense-level reopening and travel guidance as well as local conditions to ensure the health and safety of the training pipeline and our JBSA community.

We do not yet have a target date for when families and friends will be able to attend training graduations, but we are in close coordination with the military medical community, as well as the 37th Training Wing, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, Medical Education and Training Command, 19th Air Force, and other JBSA training pipelines and will notify the public as soon as we meet DOD-level guidelines and local health and safety conditions.  

Q. I have several questions regarding a medical facility belonging to Brooke Army Medical Center. Westover Medical Home is located close to where my wife and I live. Several weeks ago, my wife attempted to pick up a prescription that she had requested through the normal process of calling it in. The automated system accepted it and gave her a date it would be ready.

When she tried to pick it up, she was told it was no longer available. She called Express-Scripts/TRICARE and was told the same thing. This was strange because her sister, also a military dependent, had refilled a prescription for the same cream at the Westover Medical Home location just a week or so before my wife was told it was not available.

To further add to the confusion, my wife saw a provider at BAMC a few days ago and was given a prescription. She asked him if she could pick it up at Westover Medical Home. He said he would put in to be picked up at that location.

When my wife went to pick it up, she was told by the pharmacy staff she could not pick it up there and would need to go to BAMC to get it. Can you please clarify this situation for us?

A. We are very sorry for your inconvenience. Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Your feedback helps us to identify areas for performance improvement.

We reached out to BAMC, and they asked that you please call the pharmacy directly or contact the BAMC Patient Experience line to speak with a Patient Advocate at 210-916-2330 or usarmy.jbsa.medcom-bamc.list.bamc-patient-advocacy-center@mail.mil.

Q. What are the fitness center hours and what do their limited operations look like? I want to get my routine back on track, and I want to make sure I follow the rules.

A. Great question and great initiative to get back into your fitness routine!

Effective May 26, JBSA Fitness Centers were reopened for active duty military, active Reserves, and National Guard only.

This week, the Warhawk Fitness Center at JBSA-Lackland and METC Fitness and Sports Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston remain active duty only, but the other fitness centers are open for DOD civilians, retirees, and dependents from 0900-1100, 1300-1500, and 1900-closing.

While in the fitness centers, the protective measures below will be enforced to protect the health and safety of all staff and patrons:

  • 100 percent ID check is mandatory when not in uniform
  • 100 percent health screening for all personnel prior to entering the fitness centers
  • Masks/cloth coverings must be worn when entering/exiting the facility and in all areas when six-feet social distancing cannot be maintained
  • Patrons must wipe down equipment prior and after use
  • Patrons must limit their total workout time to 60 minutes maximum

The hours of operation for all fitness centers are listed below:

  • JBSA-Lackland:
    • Chaparral Fitness Center; Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 0900-2100 and Tuesday/Thursday, 0500-1800
    • Gateway Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0600-1500
    • Gillum Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0500-1800
    • Kelly Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0600-1500
    • Warhawk Fitness Center; Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 0500-1800, Tuesday/Thursday, 0900-2100 and Saturday, 0900-1700
  • JBSA-Randolph:
    • Rambler Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0500-1800 and Saturday, 0900-1600
  • JBSA-Fort Sam Houston:
    • JBSA-Camp Bullis Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 1100-1900
    • Central Post Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0500-1900
    • Jimmy Brought Fitness Center; Monday-Friday, 0500-2000 and Saturday, 0800-1600
    • METC Fitness and Sports Center; Monday-Friday, 0530-1930

Q. When are churches on base opening back up?

A. Perfect timing! Our JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph chapel services resumed June 5 and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston chapel services will resume this Sunday (Father’s Day), June 14.

There will be no children’s church at this time, and attendees over the age of 2 will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing between families.

Q. I would like to bring this issue forward, because I still don’t think it is right.

On Memorial Day/Family Day, a majority of our civilians were on LN status due to COVID-19. However, those of us that continued to come into work on our normal schedules during COVID were told that we had to take annual leave for that Friday.

Why did we have to take leave while others did not, even though they had been home for the past two months, not working?

A. Great question! I am grateful and proud of the hard work that #TeamJBSA has accomplished to ensure mission success during the COVID-19 crisis. Each and every one of you is appreciated for the support you have provided during this pandemic period.

Individuals that are not telework-eligible and are unable to safely perform their duties on site were approved for Weather and Safety leave on that day. These individuals will continue to be approved paid administrative leave, including on Family Day, May 22, 2020.

Unfortunately, employees who were scheduled to be on duty, had to request a form of approved leave if they wished to be off on that day. I encourage you to talk to your supervisor and leadership if you have any further questions or concerns regarding leave status.