JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The Joint Base San Antonio Women’s Initiative Team is dedicated to identifying and eliminating barriers for women at JBSA, while providing resources and championing change.
One of the latest initiatives has been to open up more maternity parking across JBSA. These dedicated parking spots are a step towards ensuring the comfort and convenience of expectant mothers. While Maternity parking spaces are not required by law, creating parking spaces for expectant mothers is a way to improve the quality of life for residents. It demonstrates that taking care of families is a top priority within the JBSA leadership.
Command Chief Master Sgt. Casy Boomershine, JBSA and 502nd Air Base Wing; Maj. Gen. David M. Gaedecke, vice commander, Sixteenth Air Force; and Brig. Gen. Lisa M. Craig, vice commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, were on hand at a ribbon-cutting event June 1 at the JBSA-Randolph Exchange to celebrate the creation of pregnancy parking spaces across all of JBSA.
Designated maternity parking throughout JBSA will improve the quality of life for pregnant service members, civilians, and spouses by shortening the walking distance to the Exchange.
The JBSA WIT aims to connect men, women and their allies and grow a community of diverse networks while creating a better climate for the women of today and tomorrow. As part of these efforts, the team has put together a newsletter highlighting the various activities and initiatives that the JBSA WIT is involved in.
“We chose pregnancy parking because we were certain that the lack of it was negatively impacting our local servicemembers, civilians, and dependents,” said Lisa Peralta Bell, formal training manager with the 802nd Force Support Squadron and a member of Women's Initiative Team.
“In October 2022, Capt. Sarah R. Watters and I began working with the 502nd Civil Engineer Group to secure pregnancy parking at our commonly used base facilities to include commissaries and exchanges,” Peralta Bell said. The group was able to secure five pregnancy parking spots at each operating location.
The team focuses on many lines of effort and the latest focus LOE is overcoming childcare barriers and increasing support and resources for military members at JBSA.
“We are also currently working on a duty section pregnancy parking policy that we are very excited about,” Peralta Bell added. “Our team would like to thank Command Chief Master Sgt. Casey D. Boomershine and Senior Master Sgt Amber N. Isenberg from the 375th Cyberspace Operations Squadron for their unwavering support and guidance.”
The team is always looking for volunteers to help out with their initiatives. Those interested in getting involved can reach out to the team through the provided QR codes in the attached newsletter or join the JBSA WIT Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1537241979978603. The Department of the Air Force WIT Facebook page is located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AFWIT/.
The JBSA WIT monthly meetings are both virtual and in-person and all are invited to attend.