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War Department extends invitation to bring back troops separated for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
March 23, 2026 — Service members forced to leave the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine now have an extra year to return to the service, if they so choose, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said...

DAF completes records review for COVID-related separations
March 20, 2026 — The DAF recently conducted a proactive review and upgrade of personnel records, identifying 377 who were involuntarily discharged solely for declining the COVID-19 vaccination, ensuring individuals who met the eligibility requirements receive the full amount of post-service benefits...

DOD prepares invitation to bring back troops separated for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
February 14, 2025 — The Defense Department plans to invite service members who were involuntarily separated from service for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine back into uniform at the same rank they held when they separated...

DOD remains committed to protecting health of service members, learning from effects of COVID-19
March 11, 2024 — Four years removed from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a pair of Defense Department health officials testified that DOD remains committed to protecting service members' health, while also continuing to monitor and learn from the effects of COVID-19. ...

How COVID-19 Public Health Emergency’s end affects TRICARE
May 15, 2023 — The Public Health Emergency, or PHE, for COVID-19 expired May 11. You might be wondering what this means about the state of COVID-19 or if there are changes to your TRICARE coverage...

COVID-19 registry provides pandemic response insights, optimizes patient care
April 4, 2023 — The Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solutions program management office quickly built population health management capabilities. EIDS and the DOD Center of Excellence for Trauma Joint Trauma System office established the COVID-19 registry...

San Antonio Market changes masking guidelines
March 27, 2023 — Based on the current COVID-19 Community Level rate and the Community Transmission rate, the San Antonio Market is changing its masking guidelines. As of March 27, universal mask wear will no longer be required in areas where patients may be encountered...

DAF issues guidance on COVID-related adverse actions; Religious Accommodation Requests
February 27, 2023 — The Department of the Air Force has issued guidance on removal of adverse actions and handling of Religious Accommodation Requests related to refusal of COVID-19 vaccinations effective Feb. 24...

Leaders detail future of National Guard
January 25, 2023 — The National Guard remains an integral part of U.S. military might, and it's changing to remain effective for the future, Chief of the National Guard Bureau Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson said...

DOD rescinds COVID-19 vaccination mandate
January 12, 2023 — In a Jan. 10 memo, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III rescinded the Aug. 24, 2021 memorandum mandating that members of the Armed Forces under DOD authority be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the memorandum of Nov. 30, 2021, pertaining to the vaccination of National Guard and Reserve personnel. ...

BAMC officially reopens pediatric critical care unit
January 10, 2023 — Brooke Army Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 5 to officially reopen its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit...

President signs National Defense Authorization Act into law
December 23, 2022 — President Joe Biden has signed the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act into law, allotting $816.7 billion to the Defense Department. ...

Novavax COVID-19 vaccinations now available for service members
August 30, 2022 — The Defense Department is now offering Novavax as an option among the range of COVID-19 vaccines available at military medical treatment facilities...

Defense secretary launches new round of discussions with hemispheric partners
August 8, 2022 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke recently at the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas about how integrated deterrence applies to the Western Hemisphere, placing an emphasis on working seamlessly with allies and partners in the region...

BAMC Pediatrics to offer youth COVID-19 vaccines at Saturday clinics July 22, 30
July 18, 2022 — The BAMC General Pediatrics Clinic will host two Saturday clinics to administer the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments will be available on Saturday, July 23 and Saturday, July 30 from 8 am to noon for children 6 months to 18 years old. Only pediatric COVID-19 vaccines will be available during the Saturday clinics...

Pandemic spotlights the vital role of military lab workers
May 3, 2022 — Clinical labs across the Military Health System -- and the staff who operate them -- play a vital role in early detection of illnesses, diagnosis and treatment of diseases like cancer, diabetes or heart disease...

San Antonio Market closes drive-thru COVID-19 screening, testing locations
April 1, 2022 — The San Antonio Market, to include Brooke Army Medical Center and the 59th Medical Wing, closed their consolidated drive-thru COVID-19 screening and testing sites April 1...

59th Medical Wing close drive-thru COVID-19 screening/testing site; other testing options available
March 30, 2022 — The 59th Medical Wing will close the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center drive-thru COVID-19 screening and testing site April 1...

Military completes latest COVID-19 medical response mission
March 30, 2022 — The last of the 68 military COVID-19 medical response teams that deployed beginning August 2021, completed their mission March 29 at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 68 teams, comprised of approximately 1,275 military personnel, supported 62 hospitals in 59 cities across 30 states and the Navajo Nation...

Air Force medics continue deployments to civilian hospitals and care facilities
March 1, 2022 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, nearly 1,000 U.S. Air Force active duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard medics are serving in civilian hospitals, care facilities, and other public institutions. The Air Force Medical Service has continued to step up as part of the federal COVID-19 response, working alongside other military departments and federal agencies...