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Army updates retention program, rewards performance
March 31, 2026 — In an effort to retain top talent in essential positions, the Army updated its reenlistment bonus program to reward individual merit and place greater emphasis on longer reenlistment contracts... MORE

Two soldiers face each other and raise their right hands while two soldiers hold an American flag and a helicopter hovers in the background.

Army highlights Army Food Program overhaul
March 31, 2026 — Army leaders and industry partners say the service is in the midst of a sweeping transformation of how Soldiers are fed on installations, calling the effort long overdue and essential to readiness... MORE

METC conducts joint service radiology training
March 27, 2026 — The radiology technology course at the Medical Education and Training Campus on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, prepares students to operate digital X-ray equipment and assist with specialized imaging procedures in field and hospital environments... MORE

Army approves XM8 Carbine
March 27, 2026 — On Dec. 10, 2025, the decision was made to advance the procurement of a carbine variant of the Army’s M7 Rifle, designated the XM8. While not a replacement for the M7, the carbine exemplifies the program’s commitment to rapidly incorporating Soldier feedback... MORE

U.S. Army Soldier with the Army Marksmanship Unit conducting rifle drills with the XM8 at Fort Benning, Ga, February 2026.

Basura Bash brings community together to clean up San Antonio, JBSA waterways
March 26, 2026 — Volunteers from throughout the Joint Base San Antonio community gave their time and energy on a beautiful spring morning to clean up the Salado Creek Park area at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston during the 2026 edition of the annual Basura Bash March 21... MORE

The Future of Army Medicine: MEDCoE, MRDC host annual Medical Warfighting Forum
March 26, 2026 — Senior Army leaders, medical professionals, and defense industry partners convened at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from March 10-12 for the 2026 Medical Warfighting Forum... MORE

BAMC hosts National Disaster Medical System field test
March 26, 2026 — Brooke Army Medical Center was selected by the Defense Health Agency to host the National Disaster Medical System Modular/Convertible Capability Pilot Sept. 8-12, 2025... MORE

U.S., Colombian military leaders kick off 22nd joint-service senior enlisted engagement
March 20, 2026 — U.S. and Colombian military leaders gathered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, March 16, 2026, to open the 22nd iteration of the Programa Integral para Suboficiales de Alta Jerarquía, or PISAJ. Led by U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command and U.S. Army South, the program has been a recurring geo-strategic event since its inception in 2015... MORE

MICC leaders kick off 2026 Golden Sneaker Strong Teams Challenge
March 19, 2026 — Leaders with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command kicked off the 2026 Golden Sneaker Strong Teams Challenge March 18 at MICC headquarters, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, encouraging Soldiers and Civilian employees to build healthier habits while strengthening readiness and teamwork across the command... MORE

Navy Medicine participates in OPMED 2026
March 19, 2026 — Senior leaders across the Department of War, federal government, academia, and industry attended the 2026 Annual Operational Medicine Symposium & Technology Showcase held at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, from March 17-18... MORE

SAN ANTONIO – (March 17, 2026) – Dr. Darrin Frye (right), chief science director, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, served as a panelist on a continuing education panel titled, “Overcoming the Unique Medical Challenges across the Indo-Pacific Theater during the 2026 Annual Operational Medicine Symposium (OpMed) & Technology Showcase held at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. Other panelists included Capt. Niels Olson, Medical Corps, chief medical officer, Human Systems Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit; Capt. Delbert Clark, Medical Corps, command surgeon, 3rd Marine Division; Capt. Richard Gilliard Jr., Medical Service Corps, commanding officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Darrin Cox, commanding general, 18th Theater Medical Command. Dr. Michael McGinnis, executive director of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and director of the Navy Medicine Civilian Corps served as the panel’s moderator. OpMed is one of the largest and most influential military medical events in North America for senior medical officials, clinicians, government leaders, and solution providers. The symposium explores how the Military Health System is preparing for large scale combat operations by championing innovations in combat casualty care to strengthen warfighter survivability and enhance the medical readiness of the joint force. NAMRU San Antonio, part of Navy Medicine Research & Development, works alongside research partners in the civilian sphere, academia, industry, and other government agencies to drive support of Department of War objectives for a lethal fighting force and ensure U.S. service members have access to the latest scientific advances. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio holds change of command
March 19, 2026 — Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio held a change of command ceremony at the Fort Sam Houston Community Center March 5. Cmdr. Joel D. Strong was relieved by Cmdr. Robert L. Brown Jr. as NTAG San Antonio’s commanding officer... MORE

NTAG San Antonio Holds Change of Command Ceremony

The Department of War equips Airmen with cognitive tools
March 17, 2026 — The Department of War equipped Airmen with a new, practical mental health kit at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on March 6, 2026. ... MORE

NAMRU San Antonio conducts gap-driven research for operations in extreme cold
March 17, 2026 — To support the future warfighter, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio researchers took part in Arctic Edge 2026 held in Alaska from Feb. 23 to March 13... MORE

Andres Martinez Murillo, lead biomedical engineer for Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, explains stability testing on the novel SynDaver thermal, bleeding manikin thigh to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kaitlin Salle at the Kodiak Coast Guard Clinic in Kodiak, Alaska during Arctic Edge 2026, Feb. 26. The novel manikin thigh is meant to keep the circulating ‘blood’ heated to normal body temperature so that researchers can see decompensation of bleeding while exposed to extreme cold. NAMRU San Antonio, part of Navy Medicine Research & Development, conducts gap-driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research in support of Navy, Marine Corps and joint U.S. warfighter health readiness and lethality while engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC1 Abigayle Lutz/Released)

Commissaries to start selling single-use paper and plastic bags on April 6
March 17, 2026 — Starting April 6, commissaries will start charging a nominal price for each single-use paper or plastic bag. Cost associated with this change is 5 cents for plastic and 10 cents for paper single-use bags... MORE

Starting April 6, commissaries will start charging a nominal price for each single-use paper or plastic bag. Cost associated with this change is 5 cents for plastic and 10 cents for paper single-use bags. (DeCA graphic)

Ten from JBSA among Air Force Medical Service 2025 award winners
March 17, 2026 — The Air Force Surgeon General is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Air Force Medical Service Annual Awards. The awards include both individual and team awards. There are 10 recipients from Joint Base San Antonio... MORE

Army approves M111, first new lethal hand grenade since 1968
March 11, 2026 — The U.S. Army has cleared the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade (OHG) for Full Material Release (FMR), marking the first new lethal hand grenade to achieve FMR since 1968 when the Mk3A2 entered service... MORE

Air Force, Army pharmacy students take part in field training exercise
March 10, 2026 — U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army pharmacy students participated in a field training exercise at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, March 4, 2026... MORE

Teaming up for patient safety strengthens military readiness
March 10, 2026 — Every day, care teams at military hospitals and clinics work to keep patients safe. Patient safety is everyone’s job across the Military Health System. Patient Safety Awareness Week takes place through March 14. This year’s theme, “Teaming Up for Patient Safety,” shows how teamwork helps keep patients safe and improves care. ... MORE

Navy Medical Service Corps leaders visit NAMRU San Antonio
March 10, 2026 — U.S. Navy Capt. Kris Hodapp, deputy corps chief, Medical Service Corps, and Capt. Bryan Pyle, MSC policy and practice officer, visited with leadership and MSC officers assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute and Tri-Service Research Laboratory at Joint base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on March 4... MORE

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 4, 2026) – U.S. Navy Capt. Bryan Pyle, Medical Service Corps (MSC) Policy and Practice officer, gave a State of the MSC brief to MSC officers assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio at the Tri-Service Research Laboratory (TSRL). With an emphasis on Navy Medicine’s North Star and Lines of Effort, the briefing focused on career progression, community values, manpower, promotion trends, and maintaining accuracy of military records. Prior to the briefing, they met with NAMRU San Antonio leadership, toured the command’s research laboratories and conducted independent record reviews with each MSC officer. The MSC mission is to provide specialized healthcare, administrative, and scientific support to Naval forces, maximizing operational readiness and optimizing the "human weapon system". Comprised of professionals in clinical, scientific, and administrative fields, the MSC supports Navy Medicine’s mission to deliver manned, trained, and equipped medical units to the Fleet, Fleet Marine Force, and Joint Forces. NAMRU San Antonio, part of Navy Medicine Research & Development, conducts gap-driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research in support of Navy, Marine Corps and joint U.S. warfighter health readiness and lethality while engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (Navy Photos by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

A new era begins: NCOLCoE renamed United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy
March 10, 2026 — In a significant move for the U.S. Army, the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence (NCOLCoE) at Fort Bliss, Texas, was officially renamed the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (USANCOA) on March 6, 2026. This event marks a strategic transformation to integrate the institution more fully into the Army's academic framework... MORE