Joint Base San Antonio > News

SECAF recognizes past, looks forward to future at Air, Space, Cyber Conference
September 15, 2020 — Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett virtually addressed Air Force Association 2020 Virtual Air, Space and Cyber conference attendees at the Pentagon Sept. 14... MORE

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett delivers a pre-recorded message for the Air Force Association Virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2020 at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Sept. 10, 2020. Due to COVID-19 this year will be the first virtual AFA conference. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark)

DOD educates military service members, civilian employees on Social Security Payroll Tax Deferral
September 11, 2020 — In order to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Presidential Memorandum was issued Aug. 8, 2020, followed by Internal Revenue Service guidance issued Aug. 28, 2020, to temporarily defer the withholding of Social Security taxes for certain individuals beginning Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020... MORE

In order to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Presidential Memorandum was issued Aug. 8, 2020, followed by Internal Revenue Service guidance issued Aug. 28, 2020, to temporarily defer the withholding of Social Security taxes for certain individuals beginning Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020.

Air Force to survey members on interpersonal violence
September 3, 2020 — The Air Force will soon survey total force Airmen and Space Professionals about their experiences surrounding interpersonal violence... MORE

The Department of the Air Force launched a new crowdsourcing campaign to solicit ideas for dress and appearance improvements on the Air Force Ideation Platform, IdeaScale. Airmen and civilians are invited to submit ideas beginning Sept. 3.

Air Force seeks dress and appearance ideas through new crowdsourcing campaign
September 3, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force launched a new crowdsourcing campaign to solicit ideas for dress and appearance improvements on the Air Force Ideation Platform, IdeaScale. Airmen and civilians are invited to submit ideas beginning Sept. 3... MORE

Air Force selects 8,246 in technical sergeant promotion cycle; list posts Aug. 24
August 19, 2020 — Air Force officials have selected 8,246 staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant out of 28,358 eligible for a selection rate of 29.08 percent in the 20E6 promotion cycle... MORE

Blue graphic with technical sergeant stripes announcing the selection rates

CMSgt. Bass installed as 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
August 17, 2020 — Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass formally took the reins Aug. 14 as the Air Force’s 19th Chief Master Sergeant, in the process becoming the first woman and the first person of Asian American descent to be elevated to the service’s highest-ranking enlisted officer... MORE

CMSgt Bass installed as the Air Force’s 19th Chief Master Sergeant

New Medical Provider Trends Dashboard available
August 12, 2020 — Airmen and Space professionals relocating on a permanent change of station with dependents are now able to access a Medical Provider Trends Dashboard that provides historical medical services information at Department of the Air Force installations. ... MORE

Brown formally installed as 22nd Air Force Chief of Staff
August 6, 2020 — In remarks following the formal “Change of Responsibility” ceremony in which he took over from retiring Gen. David L. Goldfein, the 21st Chief of Staff, Brown acknowledged an array of people who influenced his life. Among them were his wife, Sharene, and his parents, as well as a list of Air Force colleagues, including Goldfein and other “extraordinary leaders.”... MORE

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett administers the oath of office to incoming Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. during the CSAF Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 6, 2020. Brown is the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark)

Air Force removes administrative burden, allows pregnant and postpartum women to attend PME
July 29, 2020 — Pregnant and postpartum members may now attend professional military education without an exception to policy, and are also exempt from the requirement to have a passing fitness assessment prior to attending. Previous policy prevented pregnant women and women within their one-year postpartum deferment period from attending PME, creating an unintended barrier to their developmental milestones. ... MORE

Lt. Col. Hallie Herrera salutes during her change of command ceremony at Fort George G. Meade, Md., June 16, 2020. Hererra, who was eight months pregnant at the time, took command of the 22nd Intelligence Squadron. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo by Felix Herrera)

Name, rank, service and badges will be more identifiable on OCP
July 24, 2020 — OCP rank insignia, badges, name, and service tapes will now feature a lighter, three-color background pattern, versus the current seven-color pattern, to increase readability and ease rank recognition... MORE

OCP rank insignia, badges, name, and service tapes will now feature a lighter, three-color background pattern, versus the current seven-color pattern, to increase readability and ease rank recognition.

Air Force publishes resources to support Airmen & Space Professionals in courageous conversations
July 19, 2020 — To equip leaders in leading those necessary conversations, the Department of the Air Force developed a resource list on race-specific issues, unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion, among others... MORE

Air Force building more inclusive culture through Dress and Appearance updates
July 10, 2020 — The changes, as outlined in an Air Force Guidance Memorandum dated July 1, 2020, include the removal of subjective language and other rules that may have been creating unintentional or unfair barriers for Air and Space Force uniformed members... MORE

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey helps civilians voice their opinions
July 7, 2020 — The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is a government-wide, Office of Personnel Management administered annual survey that Air Force civilian employees have been participating in since 2006. The approximately 100-question survey takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete and is anonymous... MORE

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey graphic

Water safety remains important during a pandemic
July 5, 2020 — Indeed, last summer was the last of its kind for the foreseeable future however, despite this new normal the risks associated with swimming and being around the water remain the same... MORE

USSF field command structure reduces command layers, focuses on space warfighter needs
July 2, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force and the United States Space Force have finalized the new service’s organizational structure for echelons below the headquarters, reflecting the newest branch of the armed forces’ guiding principles of being a lean, agile and mission-focused organization... MORE

The U.S. Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect and defend U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Battling COVID; a cyber Airman’s story
June 29, 2020 — Tech. Sgt. Brandon Ibanez, a cyber intelligence analyst with the 854th Combat Operations Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, doesn’t wear a helmet to work, nor does he wear a sword or shield. Ibanez’s role in his unit requires him to analyze intelligence and triangulate technical, geographical and operational information to provide situational awareness for leadership. This information enables his leaders to determine the best course of action in any given scenario... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Brandon Ibanez, a cyber intelligence analyst with the 854th Combat Operations Squadron, stands in uniform for a photo outside his home in Chicago, Illinois, June 15, 2020. As a Gladiator in the 960th Cyberspace Wing, it’s not a requirement to don the traditional uniform of ancient Roman fighters, and it would be impractical because the enemy in cyberspace doesn’t attack using guns or spears. (Courtesy photo by Anna Czekaj)

Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass named 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
June 19, 2020 — In selecting Bass, incoming Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said Bass brings skills, temperament and experience that the job requires and an outlook on leadership that meshes with his own... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass was selected June 19 to become the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, becoming the first woman in history to serve as the highest ranking noncommissioned member of a U.S. military service.

Air Force cancels 2020 Marathon, offers virtual option
June 10, 2020 — Numerous scenarios were explored to produce an event that was safe for all and met the high event standards. All scenarios led the marathon team to conclude the event would be unable to proceed in a manner that participants have come to expect... MORE

Fireworks go off at the start off the Air Force Marathon held on Sept. 21 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Fireworks at the start line was added to this year’s marathon to add more excitement and entertainment to the race. (U.S. Air Force photo/Wesley Farnsworth)

Air Force IG directed to independently examine racial disparities in service’s discipline, advancement opportunities
June 10, 2020 — Department of the Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and service chiefs, Gen. David Goldfein and Gen. Jay Raymond, have directed the Department of the Air Force Inspector General to independently review the service’s record on military discipline and developmental opportunities for African American Airmen and Space Professionals... MORE

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)