Joint Base San Antonio > News

TRICARE revises telehealth policy to respond to COVID-19
May 20, 2020 — To improve virtual access to health care during COVID-19, TRICARE recently revised its policy on telehealth services. This temporarily allows you access to care more easily during the constraints of the pandemic. These changes will remain for the duration of the stateside public health emergency... MORE

Learn how to book a telehealth appointment at a military treatment facility or clinic. (TRICARE Communications graphic)

After a lifetime of service, retirement can wait
May 19, 2020 — Army Col. April Critelli is one of the thousands of men and women who have served in peacetime and combat, to retire in quiet anonymity, a hero. And when the nation called for healthcare professionals to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Critelli came out of retirement and was the first retired reserve volunteer recall officer to be placed on active duty orders and assigned to duty. ... MORE

U.S. Army Col. April Critelli, physician assistant, prepares to end her work day at the McWethy Troop Medical Clinic at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 13. Critelli is the first medical Soldier to return to active duty from retirement during the COVID-19 crisis.

Flying units still delivering during pandemic
May 18, 2020 — Since March 1, the 68th and the 356th Airlift Squadrons have supported the COVID-19 crisis in New York and continued to train aircrew members here... MORE

Aircrew members in the 433rd Airlift Wing prepare a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, for a flight to carry a team of medical technicians mobilized to respond to the COVID-19 crisis April 5, 2020.

JBSA Legal News for Soldiers: Do gift and fundraising rules still apply during a pandemic?
May 18, 2020 — Regardless of our circumstances, the basic ethics rules governing federal employees continue to apply, including the rules on accepting gifts and fundraising... MORE

Air Force English language beta test advances despite COVID-19
May 18, 2020 — The 37th Training Wing began a beta test in March for an Air Force version of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center Army Echo Company program which has been in existence since 1975... MORE

Air Force Echo Flight trainees attend their distance learning classes in the 737th Training Support Squadron learning lab, although separated physically from their classmates to due to COVID-19.

First Airmen graduate BMT proof of concept at Keesler Air Force Base
May 18, 2020 — Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies... MORE

Military training instructors lead graduating Airmen onto the drill pad during the basic military training graduation ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 15, 2020. Nearly 60 Airmen from the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 completed the six-week basic military training course. Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies. The flight was the first to graduate BMT at Keesler since 1968. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Volunteers serve food to new BMT recruits
May 17, 2020 — Meals Operating on Wheels began serving food to Basic Military Training trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 30 to feed Airmen who are quarantined in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

BAMC staff cheers for healthcare heroes
May 17, 2020 — To honor Florence Nightingale’s birthday, Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care staff stood, with room for appropriate social distancing, along the elevated covered walkway that leads from the BAMC parking garage to the hospital and cheered for the staff as they made their way into work May 12... MORE

Staff members from the Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care department line the walkway to greet and cheer on BAMC staff members as they come to work May 12. The critical care department chose the date – which is both the end of Nurses Week and Florence Nightingale’s birthday – to celebrate all the BAMC staff who work to ensure high quality care for patients.

559th Medical Operations Squadron team provides resilience support at COVID-19 epicenter
May 15, 2020 — With more than 2,000 service members deployed to New York City over the last several months, a team from the 59th Medical Wing is one of those providing mental health support to those assisting healthcare workers throughout the region. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie Roserie, social worker, 59th Medical Group, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, boards a van at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, April 28, 2020. Roserie is a part of a six-member team that will provide behavioral health and support services to the service men and women that are provide care and medical services to COIVD-19 patients. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, is providing military support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in need. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aimee Nordin)

Electromagnetic Pulse Defense teams continue building resiliency
May 15, 2020 — The San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio electromagnetic defense partnership has made great strides since its inception just over a year ago, and they continue building resiliency against harmful electromagnetic pulses during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio-Electromagnetic Defense Initiative member Lt. Col. Eddie K. “Thumper” Stamper teleconferences with leadership from the FBI InfraGard National Disaster Resiliency Council May 11, 2020.

Feedback Fridays
May 15, 2020 — If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.” Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available... MORE

Feedback Fridays is a weekly forum that aims to connect the 502d Air Base Wing with members of the Joint Base San Antonio community. Questions are collected during commander’s calls, town hall meetings and throughout the week.

Air Force equipped to protect patients and providers
May 14, 2020 — Even as the U.S. health system faces a shortage of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Air Force Medical Service is equipped to protect patients and providers... MORE

National Police Week parade at JBSA-Randolph honors first responders
May 14, 2020 — Members of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s housing community stood outside their homes, cheered and waved as sirens wailed and a procession of security forces, medical and fire department vehicles, along with percussionists from the Air Force Band of the West, paraded past them on the morning of May 13... MORE

The lead vehicle of the procession during the National Police Week parade drives down C Street at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 13, 2020. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the 902nd Security Forces Squadron invited other first responders to join them in parading through base housing so the community could show their appreciation.

Air Force Thunderbirds honor San Antonio in Operation America Strong flyover
May 14, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds conducted flyovers May 13 over San Antonio and Austin as a salute to frontline healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel, while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) leaders engaged in the COVID-19 fight
May 13, 2020 — The U.S. Army Reserve 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) has been engaged in the military’s COVID-19 response right from the start. Two of the 4th ESC’s top officers are not only great leaders in uniform, but out of uniform they serve as leaders in the healthcare field... MORE

4th ESC leaders engaged in the COVID-19 fight

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds honor frontline responders May 13 in San Antonio, Austin
May 12, 2020 — The #AmericaStrong U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flyover May 13 serves as a salute to frontline #COVID responders in the great state of Texas... MORE

Guard's COVID-19 response is largest since Hurricane Katrina
May 12, 2020 — Almost 47,000 Soldiers and Airmen from the National Guard are activated to help fight COVID-19 in the Guard’s largest domestic response effort since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. More than 51,000 Guard members responded to Katrina... MORE

More than 47,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are activated in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia supporting COVID-19 response efforts. That is the Guard's largest response since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when more than 51,000 Guard members responded.

'The Translator' shines in EOC logistics, transportation role
May 8, 2020 — In late February, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take a stronger foothold in the United States, 2nd Lt. Himanshu Chopra, the 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron's flight commander of material management, began manning the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Emergency Operations Center as Emergency Support Function 1/7, working logistics and transportation... MORE

Local teen requests blood drive for her 16th birthday
May 8, 2020 — Most kids dream about getting a car or having an elaborate party when they turn 16, but one local teen has a less traditional birthday wish. Amber Miller asked her parents if she could have a blood drive for her “Sweet 16.” The sophomore at Health Careers High School has wanted to be a doctor since she was nine. ... MORE

Amber Miller, youth volunteer, works in the Simulation Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, July 9, 2019. Miller hopes to inspire others to donate blood during the COVID-19 crisis.

San Antonio USO adapts to COVID-19
May 8, 2020 — The San Antonio United Service Organizations centers may be physically closed, with the exception of the San Antonio International Airport location, but the staff continues to serve our community every single day... MORE