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DOD officials unveil COVID-related personnel, move guidance
May 28, 2020 — Defense Department officials outlined a conditions-based approach to relaxing the stop-movement order that has been in effect since early March due to the coronavirus pandemic... MORE

SMA expects ACFT to continue as planned in COVID-19 environment
May 28, 2020 — Despite some delays in fielding necessary equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Army’s top enlisted leader believes the service will still successfully implement its new Army Combat Fitness Test... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Phelps (top) gives instructions on the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, on May 14, 2020.

AER expands assistance eligibility for Guard, Reserve
May 28, 2020 — The Army Emergency Relief program recently expanded its assistance eligibility for Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers impacted by COVID-19 missions or policy... MORE

Medical Readiness Training Command Reserve laboratory officer in fight against COVID-19
May 27, 2020 — "We have an obligation to the American people to keep our Soldiers healthy in order to serve in this fight, and I am proud to have been a part of that,"' said Lt. Col. Maria Espiritu, an Army Reserve clinical laboratory officer who oversees COVID-19 testing at multiple laboratories in the U.S. for mobilized military medical professionals... MORE

Lt. Col. Maria Espiritu, a clinical laboratory officer, works at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 20 in support of the Department of Defense COVID-19 Response mission. Espiritu provides guidance to multiple clinical laboratories in the U.S. that provide testing for military medical professionals mobilized to support areas heavily impacted by COVID-19.

5th Brigade Army ROTC hosts virtual commissioning ceremonies
May 27, 2020 — Through these unique times, the 5th Brigade Army ROTC at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and their 36 ROTC Battalions in eight states continue to meet the mission... MORE

BAMC doctor returns to hero’s welcome after New York deployment
May 27, 2020 — Lt. Col. (Dr.) G. Travis Clifton returned to a hero’s welcome last week after a deployment unlike any he’d experienced in his 14-year Army career. ... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) G. Travis Clifton, Brooke Army Medical Center’s chief of general surgery, poses in front of the Javits Convention Center in New York City, April 22, 2020. Clifton deployed to New York to help ease the burden on local hospitals by aiding COVID-19 and other patients at the Javits.

Mortgage, housing assistance website for veterans impacted by COVID-19
May 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, along with several other agencies, launched a new unified mortgage and housing assistance website... MORE

To ensure homeowners and renters have current and accurate housing assistance information during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, along with several other agencies, launched a new unified mortgage and housing assistance website at www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/.

Feasibility of secondary Air Force BMT location proven; COVID-19 surge operations begin June 2
May 26, 2020 — Air Force officials announced that, beginning June 2, the service will continue to hold basic military training at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, as a secondary location until the end of COVID-19 surge operations. The decision to stand up initial operating capability under 37th Training Wing comes after a successful proof of concept trial run... MORE

Garrison commanders are the center of gravity in the fight against COVID-19
May 25, 2020 — Gen. Gus Perna, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command, addressed U.S. Army Installation Management Command leaders around the world during a video teleconference May 18 from IMCOM headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram (far right), commanding general, U.S. Army Installation Management Command, lays out IMCOM's measured approach to transitioning stateside garrisons to reduced Health Protection Conditions to Gen. Gustave Perna, commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command, during a video teleconference May 18 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston

Air Force fitness testing suspended until Oct. 1
May 22, 2020 — The change, which is an update from the original June 1 resume date, is effective immediately. ... MORE

Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility will roll physical fitness testing into their wartime responsibilities starting Oct. 1. The new USAFCENT fitness policy will be available soon on AEF Online at https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Abner Guzman)

JBSA Military and Family Readiness Centers offering virtual services, classes
May 21, 2020 — The Military and Family Readiness Centers at Joint Base San Antonio offer many resources to help military families connect during normal operations, and they are still offering a multitude of classes and support services even though their offices are physically closed... MORE

The Military and Family Readiness Centers at Joint Base San Antonio offer many resources to help military families connect during normal operations, and they are still offering a multitude of classes and support services even though their offices are physically closed.

Motorcycle training courses resume with public health measures in place
May 21, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio’s Motorcycle Safety Training program has resumed with public health and safety measures in place following a hiatus resulting from the implementation of COVID-19 social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio’s Motorcycle Safety Training program has resumed with public health and safety measures in place following a hiatus resulting from the implementation of COVID-19 social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines.

Officials forecast no meat, produce shortages in commissaries
May 20, 2020 — Veterinary health officials with the Department of Defense and Army Public Health Center who are charged with monitoring food safety and food supply for the DOD and Army say although there may be localized supply issues outside of the continental United States, there are no forecasted shortages of meat, poultry or produce... MORE

New emergency leave available to DOD civilians affected by COVID-19
May 20, 2020 — The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, allows civilians across the Defense Department to take the emergency leave from April 1 through Dec. 31, provided that they meet certain conditions... MORE

The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, allows civilians across the Defense Department to take the emergency leave from April 1 through Dec. 31, provided that they meet certain conditions. The new emergency sick leave will be separate from the normal sick leave civilians accrue and can be taken without using accrued sick leave.

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)