Joint Base San Antonio > News

Laughlin Airman writes 'Letters to Lackland'
May 7, 2020 — Airman 1st Class Cailey Brislin, 434th Squadron Aviation Resource Management at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, writes to Basic Military Training Airmen at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to offer support and words of wisdom... MORE

Airman First Class Cailey Brislin, 434th Squadron Aviation Resource Management (SARM) at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, says she began the Letters to Lackland project when she realized she could make an impact on a trainee who may be feeling lonely--especially in this new climate of physical distancing. She believes getting the opportunity to write words of wisdom has great impacts on Airmen during one of the most formative and vulnerable parts of their Air Force career. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Rachael Parks)

LRS installs plexiglass shields to prevent spread of COVID-19
April 29, 2020 — Back on March 17, Joint Base San Antonio logistics personnel installed plexiglass shields in the area surrounding the driver’s seat of vans transporting service members and eligible Department of Defense ID cardholders around JBSA bases. The plexiglass replaces plastic shields, forming a more protective barrier against the spread of COVID-19... MORE

JBSA ground transportation adapts to fight COVID-19
April 27, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio installations have begun segregating buses by health status to contain the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that the JBSA community stays healthy. As of March 21, all buses on any of the bases will be labeled either green, yellow, or red, to denote who can and cannot ride in which vehicles. ... MORE

Purple flags honor military children in an uncertain time
April 17, 2020 — A team of 10 youth and three adults went out from the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Youth Center April 16 planting purple flags around the base in honor of military children everywhere. April is the nationally recognized Month of the Military Child... MORE

BEAR Base lends a paw to Joint Base San Antonio camp
April 14, 2020 — With a quick gesture from the gloved hand of a cloth, face-covered Airmen on the ramp, the air brakes squeal and hiss as the growls grow to a roar. A hint of diesel drifts on the breeze as the flatbed trucks march forward -- another truck is loaded, and more construction and maintenance supplies roll out to help the U.S. Air Force’s cubs – the Airmen at Basic Military Training in San Antonio. ... MORE

Staff Sgt. Enrique Flores, a container control officer from the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group, discusses the arrival of BEAR Base personnel to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 9, 2020. Flores is on a team of 635th MMG Airmen who are tracking the personnel and 1.2 million pounds of cargo support from Holloman Air Force Base. These expert Airmen and this vital equipment will help ensure that the Air Force’s basic training pipeline will endure throughout the COVID-19 response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Rosine)

Newlyweds graduate Basic Military Training together
April 11, 2020 — Due to safety precautions established in response to COVID-19 family members have not been able attend the graduation of their loved one from Basic Military Training for a number of weeks. That didn’t stop one couple from seeing each other at their BMT graduation March 26... MORE

Newlyweds Austin Matthew Howard and Amanda Elizabeth Howard graduate Basic Military Training together March 26. (Courtesy Photo )

59th MDW leverages telehealth to keep patients, staff safe
April 9, 2020 — While San Antonio is under a “Stay Home, Work Safe” order, members of the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland have found new ways to continue providing high-reliability care through virtual appointments while keeping patients and staff safe... MORE

Capt. (Dr.) Shane Riggs, 59th Medical Operations Squadron psychiatrist, conducts a virtual medical appointment in San Antonio, Texas April 7, 2020. Telehealth appointments can be scheduled by calling the Consult Appointment Management Office at (210) 916-9900. At the time of the appointment, a provider calls or sends the patient a link to the audiovisual platform being used for the visit. The link can be accessed on a patient’s home or work computer, cell phone or tablet, without creating an account.

BMT adapts during COVID-19: adds masks, shortens pipeline
April 9, 2020 — To prioritize safety and continue providing ready Airmen to fuel tomorrow’s Air Force, BMT is moving to a 7.5-week training pipeline. The 7.5-week training program is one of many measures implemented at BMT to limit the spread of COVID-19... MORE

Trainees in basic military training (BMT) learn defensive fighting positions in preparation for BEAST (Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training) on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 8. This was the first day mask wear was implemented at BMT as a required safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Update: Air Force BMT Graduation and Schedule
April 7, 2020 — To fully maximize training effectiveness and space utilization to mitigate COVID-19, the U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training will accelerate BMT from eight and half weeks to seven weeks of training... MORE

To fully maximize training effectiveness and space utilization to mitigate COVID-19, the USAF Basic Military Training will accelerate Basic Military Training (BMT) from eight and half weeks to seven weeks of training according to Col Newsom, the Commander of Basic Military Training.

Op Blue Hero: 97th AMW transports BMT grads to Keesler for technical training
March 31, 2020 — A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, supported the transport of the Air Force’s newest Basic Military Training graduates from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to their technical training school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 20, 2020... MORE

A C-17 airplane taxis into a parking spot

Curbside pharmacy to be implemented at JBSA-Lackland
March 28, 2020 — Effective March 30, the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Pharmacy will institute a mandatory curbside drop-off and pick-up prescription process from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. To facilitate service, patients must call ahead to the following numbers to request any new electronic prescriptions to be filled prior to coming to the pharmacy for pick-up. ... MORE

Senior Airman Elijah Thompkins, 75th Medical Group, hands a prescription over to a beneficiary March 23, 2020, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 75th Medical Group Satellite Pharmacy is providing curbside service until further notice in front of the Base Exchange shopping center in support of social distancing recommendations and to increase efforts to mitigate further spread of the novel coronavirus.(U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs)

149th Fighter Wing remains postured and ready
March 26, 2020 — Essential missions continue with certain adjustments to manning based on unique mission requirements and with consideration to the various federal, state and local guidelines. The Airmen of the 149th Fighter Wing are actively accomplishing federal mission requirements as well as remaining postured and ready for possible state responses... 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

55th Wing brings the Rivet Joint to San Antonio
March 23, 2020 — Members of the Air Force’s 55th Wing, out of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, stopped by JBSA-Lackland Feb. 21 to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the RC-135, known as Rivet Joint... MORE

AETC awards Richard C. Schneider Airman of the Year Award
March 20, 2020 — Airman 1st Class Salvatore Morrone, a religious affairs Airman stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, was awarded the Richard C. Schneider Airman of the Year award by the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps Feb. 13... 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

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

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.

Honor guard service opens Airman's eyes
March 10, 2020 — Airman 1st Class Gage Schneck said serving in the Joint Base San Antonio Honor Guard has been the most rewarding and challenging job of his career so far... MORE

A1C Schneck posing with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

BMT graduation hosts annual Women’s Parade
March 6, 2020 — In honor of International Women’s Day, Basic Military Training graduation hosted the annual Women’s Parade March 6... MORE