Joint Base San Antonio > News

Possible military pharmacy changes due to COVID-19
March 31, 2020 — Do you use a military pharmacy? If so, there may be temporary limitations that result in s decrease in service or closure at your pharmacy due to COVID-19. To maintain patient and personnel safety, you may have to temporarily switch your prescription to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or to a TRICARE retail network pharmacy... MORE

Army seeks retired medical Soldiers to support COVID-19 efforts
March 30, 2020 — The U.S. Army is actively seeking retired officers, noncommissioned officers, and other Soldiers in certain medical specialties to assist with COVID-19 pandemic response efforts... MORE

Army engineers now eyeing 100-plus sites for COVID-19 response
March 30, 2020 — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified more than 110 sites across the country it could retrofit to help local hospitals deal with patient overflow amid the COVID-19 outbreak, its commander said March 27... MORE

Military OneSource, family and spouse programs still available
March 30, 2020 — Military OneSource is a Department of Defense-funded program that is both a call center and website that provides comprehensive information, support, and resources on every aspect of military life... MORE

President signs Executive Order calling up Air Force Reserve medics, other specialties
March 30, 2020 — On March 27, the President signed an Executive Order authorizing mobilization of the Reserve Component in response to COVID-19 operations. For the Air Force Reserve, personnel already serving in the Selected Reserve and Participating Individual Ready Reserve, as well as those assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve, may be asked to volunteer to activate in support of COVID-19 response. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tatiana Abasolo, a member of the Air Force Reserve’s 624th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, provides instruction on how to properly secure a patient for movement during an aeromedical staging and aerial port training at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 3, 2019.

Local Navy recruiter produces face shields to fight against COVID-19
March 30, 2020 — Petty Officer 2nd Class Elias Grey, a recruiter assigned to Navy Recruiting Station Midland, is producing 3D-printed face shields for civilian medical personnel during his off-duty time... MORE

BAMC modifies services to reduce COVID-19 risk
March 29, 2020 — To ensure Brooke Army Medical Center's healthcare professionals are poised to support an increased need for acute patient care and minimize risk to all, certain services and programs have been delayed/reduced at this time... MORE

BMT Airmen transported by airlift to Sheppard, other training bases
March 28, 2020 — COVID-19 can’t stop the military. It can try, but national security is 24/7 and basic military training, along with technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base and other training installations, continues on its mission to provide trained Airmen to protect and defend the country. ... MORE

Basic Military Training graduates off load from a plane at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, March 27, 2020. Usually the newest Airmen will arrive by bus to Sheppard, but to mitigate exposure Air Education and Training command opted to transport them via air lift. The airlines are contracted with the Air Force to pick up the Airmen in Lackland and transport them to Sheppard, Keesler AFB and other training bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

BMT safety mitigation efforts protect trainers, pipeline
March 27, 2020 — To help slow the spread of COVID-19 while accomplishing the mission of turning civilians into mission-ready Airmen, U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training here has implemented layers of protective measures to mitigate transmission risk of the virus within the BMT pipeline. Specific mitigation measures that have been implemented across BMT include implementation of a 14-day restriction of movement upon arrival, as well as social distancing, symptom monitoring, and increased sanitation... MORE

U.S. Air Force basic training trainees that will be placed in a 14-day restriction of movement period arrive at the 737th Training Support Squadron March 24, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Tips for telework success
March 27, 2020 — The Air Force has elevated its Health Protection Condition in response to the fast spread of Coronavirus 2019; in response, service members, civilians and families are encouraged to practice prevention measures. In addition to following strict personal and environmental hygiene, social distancing, staying home if sick, and self-quarantining if exposed to those with COVID-19 symptoms, teleworking when possible has been highly encouraged in both the civilian and military sectors... MORE

Air Force BMT adjusts schedules, locations to sustain mission readiness
March 27, 2020 — In order to ensure the health and safety of trainees and instructors and to preserve dorm capacity, new recruits will be brought in based on a four-week repeating cycle that includes stringent restricted movement guidelines, dedicated time for deep cleaning between rotations, resetting the instructor cadre and the testing of an alternate BMT location at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. ... MORE

DOD civilians, contractors, certain government employees granted temporary access to JBSA exchanges, commissaries
March 26, 2020 — This authorization is intended for use when it is impractical (to include safety/public health concerns) to procure grocery supplies from civilian sources off-installation... MORE

BAMC will only test high-risk populations that meet specific criteria for COVID-19
March 26, 2020 — Due to increasing levels of community transmission and in order to ensure availability of testing in our highest-risk populations, effective March 26, Brooke Army Medical Center will only test high-risk populations that meet specific criteria, such as cases in which the test result will help in making significant clinical decisions... MORE

DISA renews antivirus software license agreement helping teleworkers keep machines safe at home
March 26, 2020 — The DOD Antivirus Software License Agreement with McAfee allows active Department of Defense employees to utilize the antivirus software for home use... MORE

JBSA commander outlines key critical mission functions to be maintained
March 26, 2020 — In an effort to minimize health risks associated with COVID-19 and in response to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Stay Home/Work Safe orders, effective at noon March 26, 2020, Joint Base San Antonio will go to Official Business Only operations... MORE

DOD releases overseas stop movement order in response to COVID-19
March 26, 2020 — Building upon previously enacted movement restrictions governing foreign travel, permanent change of station moves, temporary duty and personal leave, this stop movement order will also impact exercises, deployments, redeployments and other global force management activities. Approximately 90,000 service members slated to deploy or redeploy over the next 60 days will likely be impacted by this stop movement order... MORE

Air Force basic trainee tests positive for COVID-19
March 26, 2020 — Air Force officials announced, March 25, a trainee in the Air Force’s basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has tested positive for COVID-19... MORE

Army makes exceptions to enlisted promotion policy during COVID-19 outbreak
March 26, 2020 — In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Army has initiated several policy exceptions that will impact enlisted promotion cycles scheduled until the end of this fiscal year, unless terminated sooner, G-1 officials announced March 24... MORE

Air Force works with privatized housing project owners on emergency, urgent work orders
March 25, 2020 — With the evolving COVID-19 situation, privatized housing project owners have assured the Air Force that emergency and urgent work orders should and will continue to be addressed while routine maintenance has been temporarily suspended for many privatized projects... MORE

To find the latest COVID-19 information for Wright-Patterson AFB, go to www.wpafb.af.mil/corona/ (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)

Medical, dental elective procedures will be postponed 60 days due to COVID-19
March 25, 2020 — As of March 31, all military treatment facilities and dental treatment facilities will postpone elective surgeries and procedures for 60 days, the Department of Defense announced March 25. The policy applies to all beneficiaries: active duty service members and their families, retirees, and Reserve and National Guard service members on active duty or a delayed effective date active-duty order... MORE

Lori Elliott, 325th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental technician, examines a patient at Tyndall Air Force Base, Mar. 4, 2020. Dental assistants are recognized for the critical part they play in patient care. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kayla Fitzgerald)