Joint Base San Antonio > News

COVID-19: Exploit what you can control
March 19, 2020 — "Can't," "don't," "contain" and "restrict" are negative words present everywhere in the news, the media and conversation. The threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus will undoubtedly remain a challenge for everyone for months to come. Significant abrupt restrictions and closures are making many within our communities feel very controlled and unhappy... MORE

Goldfein emphasizes protecting force from COVID-19 while fulfilling all missions, operational priorities
March 19, 2020 — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein said March 18 there have been seven confirmed cases of the new coronavirus to date among active-duty personnel, but that the Air Force is “still conducting global missions … which is priority one.” ... MORE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein conducts a press briefing with the Pentagon Press Corps to address Air Force response efforts for COVID-19 at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., March 18, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark)

Social distancing gives health care systems time to prepare, save lives
March 19, 2020 — Social media is flooded with stories from around the world about the lack of health care resources due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. One way to help alleviate the strain on healthcare facilities and professionals is to slow the spread of the disease, or flatten the curve... MORE

BAMC closes dining facilities, adjusts pharmacy operations
March 19, 2020 — Brooke Army Medical Center is implementing additional health protection measures to minimize foot traffic throughout the organization and help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, enabling BAMC to better preserve the health and well-being of patients and staff... MORE

DOD poised to provide masks, ventilators, labs for coronavirus fight
March 18, 2020 — The Defense Department will make available up to 5 million respirator masks and other personal protective equipment from its strategic reserves to the Department of Health and Human Services for distribution, DOD Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said during a news conference at the Pentagon March 18, adding that the first million masks would be made available immediately... MORE

Air Force BMT, technical and flying training mission essential, to continue with mitigation
March 17, 2020 — The Department of Defense response to the coronavirus outbreak continues to be dynamic and policy may quickly change, but as of March 17, U.S. Air Force's basic military training, technical training and flying training operations have been deemed mission essential and will continue with mitigation for COVID-19, Air Education and Training Command announced... MORE

AETC COVID-19 high-risk workforce encouraged to telework
March 17, 2020 — Air Education and Training Command leaders are encouraging high-risk COVID-19 employees to work with their supervisors to begin teleworking... MORE

Air Education and Training Command graphic for press releases. AETC posts press releases for timely news of potentially wide interest. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by SSgt. Charles Pons)

CID encourages vigilance to prevent COVID-19 cyber scams
March 16, 2020 — The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command warns the military community that some phishing campaigns prey on would-be victims’ fear, while others capitalize on the opportunity created by hot topics in the news cycle. The COVID-19 pandemic presents cybercriminals with a way to combine both into a dangerous one-two punch... MORE

Wilford Hall implements temporary entry/exit point procedures
March 15, 2020 — Beginning March 16, 2020, leaders at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center will begin implementing three entry and exit control points to ensure the continued health and safety of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries... MORE

Statement by the Department of Defense on Domestic Travel Restrictions
March 15, 2020 — New travel restrictions for service members, Department of Defense civilians, and their families assigned to DOD installations, facilities and surrounding areas within the United States and its territories... MORE

SAMHS takes precautionary measures to minimize COVID-19 risk
March 15, 2020 — As a precautionary measure, the San Antonio Military Health System, or SAMHS, will be placing triage tents outside of Brooke Army Medical Center, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Randolph Clinic and Reid Clinic to safely screen patients, if needed, for potential infectious respiratory conditions, such as COVID-19, while minimizing the risk to others... MORE

Basic Military Training graduation parade canceled at JBSA-Lackland
March 12, 2020 — The 37th Training Wing canceled the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation parade scheduled for March 13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s parade grounds out of concern for the safety of the newly accessioned Airmen and their family members due to the coronavirus... MORE

DOD halts travel to, from COVID-19 affected countries
March 12, 2020 — In response to the growing coronavirus epidemic, Department of Defense officials are looking to safeguard the health and safety of military and civilian personnel and their families... MORE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the coronavirus, named 2019-nCoV, is similar to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus in that it is spread from animals to people. The MERS virus particles are in blue, surrounding an infected cell. The undated image was taken at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

CSAF visits to listen and learn about COVID-19
March 12, 2020 — Gen. David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, visited Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 11 to observe current operations surrounding COVID-19... MORE

Military health officials begin screening Air Force basic trainees for COVID-19
March 12, 2020 — San Antonio Military Health System officials have begun screening recruits entering Air Force Basic Military Training to prevent COVID-19 transmission... MORE

Air Education and Training Command graphic

Joint Base San Antonio suspends public attendance for non-mission essential mass gatherings, to include BMT graduation
March 10, 2020 — Beginning March 13, Joint Base San Antonio officials will suspend all guest attendance for basic military training, or BMT, graduation ceremonies to reduce potential spread of COVID-19... MORE

The women of flight W039, 3707th Squadron, of 1979, and their families, attend the U.S. Air Force basic military training graduation parade, Oct. 18, 2019, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

DOD issues flexible instructions on response to Coronavirus
March 10, 2020 — The Department of Defense issued memos responding to the need for operations to continue during the outbreak. The DOD documents build on messages from the Office of Personnel Management issued March 7... MORE

One hundred forty-seven passengers traveling from China’s Hubei province arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Feb. 7. They evacuated China to avoid infection by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, spreading from the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the global epidemic.

Have orders to PCS to/from Italy or Korea? Don’t break your housing lease yet, Soldiers!
March 10, 2020 — While the long-term effects of the coronavirus – COVID-19 – continue to be uncertain, the Army is taking immediate steps to protect the force, preserve readiness, and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission among personnel... MORE

COVID-19: A message for SAMHS beneficiaries
March 6, 2020 — The 59th Medical Wing is working with our military and community partners to keep everyone updated with the latest information regarding COVID-19. Please keep in mind the risk of infection remains low; there are currently no community cases of COVID-19 in Bexar County or the City of San Antonio... MORE

USAREC to pre-screen future Soldiers for coronavirus disease as precautionary measure
March 5, 2020 — U.S. Army Recruiting Command is pre-screening all future Soldiers who are about to ship to basic training to ensure they have not been exposed to COVID-19, or coronavirus disease... MORE