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)

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 )

Agile recruiting methods required to get future Airmen to basic training
April 10, 2020 — Travel restrictions, cancelled flights and social distancing guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t getting in the way of the Air Force Recruiting Service’s mission. As the world is telling people to stay at home, the Air Force is finding new and diverse ways to ship applicants to Basic Military Training... MORE

Recruiters use agile methods to ship recruits to Air Force Basic Military Training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BMT proof of concept begins at Keesler Air Force Base
April 9, 2020 — Sixty trainees arrived to the proof of concept Basic Military Training detachment at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, April 7, marking a historic moment for the Air Force’s training program... MORE

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

FAQ: COVID-19 impacts to BMT and technical training (UPDATED)
March 31, 2020 — These frequently asked questions act as a resource for anyone who has questions or concerns about themselves or a loved one that is part of the 37th Training Wing, including basic military training at the 737th Training Group and technical training at the 37th Training Group... 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.

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

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

FAQ: COVID-19 impacts to BMT and Technical Training
March 24, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic and rapidly evolving situation. The Gateway Wing wants to make sure our internal family and external community all have access to factual and up-to-date information. These frequently asked questions act as a resource for anyone who has questions or concerns about themselves or a loved one that is part of the 37th Training Wing team, including Basic Military Training at the 737th Training Group and technical training at the 37th Training Group. To help lessen confusion key terms are defined below. ... MORE

The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic and rapidly evolving situation. The Gateway Wing wants to make sure our internal family and external community all have access to factual and up-to-date information. This frequently asked questions acts as a resource for anyone who has questions or concerns about themselves or a loved one that is part of the 37th Training Wing team, this includes Basic Military Training at the 737th Training Group and technical training at the 37th Training Group.

Latest Air Force trainees continue BMT with enhanced mitigation efforts
March 18, 2020 — For the 668 projected new U.S. Air Force recruits arriving here this week, basic military training is beginning with a 14-day restriction of movement, or ROM, as the service actively conducts mitigation procedures to slow down the spread of COVID-19... 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

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

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

Basic Military Training establishes Tactical Combat Casualty Care course for all Airmen
February 28, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force will fully integrate Tactical Combat Casualty Care into Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 2... MORE

Air Force beta-tests adaptive learning platform in basic military training
January 13, 2020 — Air Education and Training Command’s emphasis on the use of technology to aggressively and cost-effectively modernize education and training took another step forward here with the issuance of personal tablets to two in-processing flights at Basic Military Training... MORE

U.S. Air Force basic military training trainees are issued personal computers during in-processing as part of a pilot test under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement partnership at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Dec. 11, 2019. The computers replace all hard copy textbooks BMT trainees currently use with the intent to help BMT assess learning outcomes, value and return on investment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong)