Joint Base San Antonio > News > News - Tag Inter-American Air Forces Academy

Security cooperation enables Airman’s American Dream
May 19, 2026 — Even before she was born, Bryanna Garcia was destined to be an Airman. Her father, then-Master Sgt. Jacob Garcia of the Colombian Air Force, served at Joint base San Antonio-Lackland as a partner nation instructor at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy in 2006. Early this May, almost 19 years later, she stood on the parade field near the very place she was born and swore to defend the nation her father once served with as an international partner... MORE

Airman Bryanna Garcia, stands at the parade field after graduating from Basic Military Training, May 7, 2026. Her father Jacob Garcia served as a Partner Nation Instructor at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy in 2006 for two years. Garcia was born in the U.S. and was inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

Inter-American Air Forces Academy conducts first-ever course in Thailand
April 28, 2026 — Members from Inter-American Air Forces Academy recently traveled outside the Western Hemisphere nearly 9,000 miles away in a unique opportunity to train members of the Royal Thai Air Force in remote area of Thailand... MORE

Instructors from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy are shown among members of the Royal Thai Air Force in Ubon, Thailand, Feb. 25, 2026. The IAAFA team was hand selected to conduct an advanced aircraft systems maintenance course as part of a mobile training team in Thailand. It was the first time IAAFA provided training to the Royal Thai Air Force in Thailand. IAAFA is aligned under the 37th Training Wing and provides instruction in professional military education and leadership, aircrew training and technical courses in Spanish. (Courtesy photo)
team in Thailand. It was the first time IAAFA provided training to the Royal Thai Air Force in Thailand. IAAFA is aligned under the 37th Training Wing and provides instruction in professional military education and leadership, aircrew training and technical courses in Spanish. (Courtesy photo)

IAAFA partners with AMC to modernize maintenance simulator
April 18, 2025 — A collaboration between the Inter-American Air Forces Academy and the Air Mobility Command is delivering a major leap forward in optimizing training for the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course at the 318th Training Squadron... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Erik Garduno, 318th Training Squadron, operates the simulator in the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course lab. The squadron recently acquired new and upgraded software and equipment that leaders say significantly improves its functionality and accuracy. The acquisition was a result of a collaborative effort between the Inter-American Air Forces Academy and the Air Mobility Command which enabled the Expeditionary Operations School to share its resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

Southern Fenix 24: US, Chile, Argentina deploy more than 600 to enhance interoperability
August 28, 2024 — More than 600 military personnel from the Chilean, Argentinian, and the United States armies are set to participate in Exercise Southern Fenix 24, a multinational exercise focused on enhancing interoperability for multi-domain operations in the Atacama Desert of Chile from Aug. 27 to Sept. 5, 2024... MORE

Southern Fenix 24: US, Chile, Argentina deploy over 600 to enhance interoperability

Inter-American Air Forces Academy students take part in Operation Jaguar exercise
August 2, 2024 — The capstone exercise in Operation Jaguar included approximately 60 students from Latin American countries and was designed to test skills the students learned while attending the Inter-American Air Forces Academy... MORE

Operation Jaguar at Inter-American Air Forces Academy

IAAFA leads professional development subject matter expert exchange with Brazilian Air Force
October 3, 2023 — A team from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy joined forces with the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in Sao Paolo, Brazil, to conduct a professional development subject matter expert exchange with the Brazilian Air Force, Aug. 22-24, 2023. It was the first visit of its kind in over a decade... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Alvarez, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation and Chief Master Sgt. Yusef Saad, IAAFA’s Senior Enlisted Leader, salute during a retreat ceremony at the Aeronautics Specialist School in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Aug. 22, 2023. The Inter-American Air Forces Academy led the professional development subject matter expert exchange with the Brazilian Air Force. It was the first visit of its kind in over a decade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

IAAFA leaders attend Paraguayan Air Force centennial celebration
March 23, 2023 — Inter-American Air Forces Academy leaders joined Paraguay’s top military officials to commemorate the Paraguayan Air Force’s Centennial Anniversary Feb. 21-24... MORE

Mario Abdo Benitez, President of Paraguay, pins Col. José Jiménez, Jr., Commandant of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, with the Medal of Honor for the Centennial Commemoration of the Paraguayan Air Force in Asunción, Paraguay, Feb. 22, 2023. Benitez greeted senior members of visiting delegations and pinned each of them with the medal of honor to commemorate the anniversary. (Courtesy Photo)

IAAFA infuses agility into training with modern technology, simulators
February 23, 2023 — Virtual reality goggles and body-wor sensors are helping to take technical training to the next level at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The gear is part of a virtual reality simulator, and among the newest equipment being used to train international military students from partner nations... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Edwin Acevedo, 837th Training Squadron, looks at the computer screen while using the new SV-R simulator program at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Jan. 25, 2023. The simulator is among the newest equipment at the academy that will be used to train international military students from partner nations, focusing on counter narcotic efforts and combatting transnational criminal organizations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

IAAFA students take part in Operation Jaguar
January 18, 2023 — Students from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland took part in Operation Jaguar at JBSA-Camp Bullis Nov. 28-29, 2022... MORE

More than 150 U.S., partner nations students graduate during IAAFA training cycle
December 22, 2022 — More than 150 international military students from 12 partner nations and the U.S. Air Force filled an auditorium here for a ceremony to mark the end of their training at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Dec. 7... MORE

Maj. Gen. Julian Cheater, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, speaks at Academy’s graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Dec. 7, 2022. Cheater was guest speaker for the event, in which more than 150 international military students and U.S. Air Force students graduated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

IAAFA team renovates Leadership Reaction Course Complex
November 16, 2022 — Inter-American Air Forces Academy staff and cadre rallied to renovate its Leadership Reaction Course Complex, better known as Project X. About 40 volunteers worked over 100 hours in just two weeks to repair, sand, and paint the 17 obstacles located at the Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex... MORE

Two men work to remove old old paint from wood

IAAFA hosts Jamaican Defence Force members at seminar at IAAFA
June 28, 2022 — The Inter-American Air Forces Academy hosted members of the Jamaican Defence Force and 12th Air Force for a maintenance professional seminar May 31 to June 2... MORE

Jamaican Defence Force warrant officer signs a guestbook on top of a podium

Military students from eight partner nations, U.S. graduate from IAAFA
May 16, 2022 — Twelve weeks after the start of their academic training, military students from eight partner nations across Latin America and the U.S. walked across the stage to accept graduation certificates and their much-anticipated wings from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy April 28... MORE

International students stand next to flags

First Spanish-language SNCO course at IAAFA fills partner nation need
January 6, 2022 — Enlisted Professional Military Education at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland reached a new level this past training cycle with the addition of the International Senior Non-Commissioned Officer course... MORE

IAAFA takes security cooperation mission to Colombia
November 18, 2021 — Instructors at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland took their mission to Colombia to teach Colombian Air Force students Aug. 27 to Sept. 22... MORE

IAAFA instructors stand in front of Colombian school

IAAFA instructor participates in Army Jungle Operations course, brings experience to partner nation students
November 17, 2021 — The Army Jungle Operations Training Course near Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, is a two-week course designed to prepare joint forces members to survive in a jungle environment. One of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy’s instructors recently attended the highly competitive training Sept. 13-24, along with other enlisted and officer members... MORE

Egyptian Armed Forces make historic visit to IAAFA
October 8, 2021 — A new partnership between the Texas National Guard and the Egyptian Armed Forces led to a historic visit at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Sept. 27, when an Egyptian delegation visited the academy... MORE

HH-60G Pave Hawk makes debut at 344th Training Squadron
August 5, 2021 — An HH-60G Pave Hawk landed at its new home July 26 on the grounds of the 344th Training Squadron, Career Enlisted Aviator Center of Excellence... MORE

IAAFA leads professional development seminar in Ecuador
June 14, 2021 — For the first time in more than a decade, members of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland recently collaborated with Ecuadorian armed forces for a professional military exchange in Ecuador... MORE

Mobile paint simulator helps expand training to partner nation students
May 11, 2021 — With just a few clicks, a spray gun and virtual reality goggles, instructors at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are using new software to teach proper painting techniques – in the classroom here and across partner nation countries – without wasting a drop of paint... MORE

Staff Sgt. Julia Reyna, 318th Training Squadron Structures and Corrosion Instructor, uses the paint simulator during a demonstration at Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, April 28, 2021. The newly acquired software allows mobile training teams to travel with the equipment and provide instruction to partner nation members with real-time results while eliminating expenses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)