JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Army Reserve and Air Force personnel partnered at the Theater Lead Agent for Medical Materiel warehouse at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field Annex from April 6-10, 2026, to build and standardize medical supply systems in preparation for upcoming large-scale training exercises and real-world patient care operations.
The event, centered on pre-check inventory and packing operations, marked a significant shift in how Army Reserve Medical Command sources, organizes and distributes Army medical materiel, also known as Class VIII in the U.S. Army supply system. For the first time, units collaborated to create standardized medical kits designed to support missions across multiple training environments and operational requirements.
Army Reserve Master Sgt. Jonathan C. Lopes, a senior medical logistics noncommissioned officer with the Pinellas Park, Florida-based Army Reserve Medical Command, said the effort represents a new approach to medical sustainment.
“This is the first time we are utilizing the TLAMM to support real-world medical missions at this scale,” Lopes said. “We are building standardized sets that can be pushed out to support any mission, while also improving efficiency and reducing previous logistical gaps.”
Planning for the operation began at the start of the fiscal year, with leaders developing a unified formulary to standardize medical supplies across units. Orders were finalized in early 2026, and by April, teams assembled at JBSA to conduct full inventory checks and begin building out the supply kits.
The standardized kits are designed to ensure consistency and accountability. Each package contains identical equipment, allowing units to quickly identify shortages, track usage and maintain readiness across formations.
Army Reserve Capt. Kelly Sambrano, a perioperative nurse supporting the operation from the Southeast Medical Area Readiness Support Group in Nashville, Tennessee, emphasized the importance of collaboration between clinicians and logisticians in shaping the system.
“This is laying the groundwork for how we do this moving forward,” Sambrano said. “We’re working together to make sure the supplies match what providers actually need, while reducing waste and improving efficiency.”
The effort also highlights growing interoperability between the Army Reserve and the Air Force, with both services working side by side to execute the mission.
Air Force Master Sgt. Theo Gilmore, a medical materiel specialist assigned to Air Force Medical Command at JBSA-Kelly Field Annex, said the joint environment is critical to mission success.
“Interoperability is important because it shows how airmen and soldiers can come together from different backgrounds and complete the mission efficiently,” Gilmore said. “What we do here directly supports operations and impacts service members’ lives.”
The collaboration streamlined the ordering and fulfillment process, cutting delivery timelines nearly in half compared to previous methods. Lopes said that what once took up to 90 days can now be completed in approximately 45 days, improving responsiveness for both training and operational missions.
While the mission supports real-world medical care requirements, leaders emphasized that it also provides valuable training for Soldiers and Airmen. Logistics personnel gain hands-on experience with medical supplies, while clinicians help refine the contents of each kit based on operational needs.
“This is both training and real-world impact,” Lopes said. “We’re getting repetitions in our craft while directly supporting missions that affect readiness and care delivery.”
As AR-MEDCOM continues to refine the process through after-action reviews, leaders expect the TLAMM model to become a standard for future operations, enabling faster, more reliable medical support across the force.
“This is just the beginning,” Sambrano said. “We’re building something that will continue to improve and better support Soldiers on every mission.”