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‘Mission Thanksgiving’ accomplished; local Soldiers enjoy a taste of home
November 29, 2019 — Mission Thanksgiving 2019 was declared a success, as more than 300 community members volunteered to host more than 800 Soldiers from the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 28... MORE

Mission Thanksgiving 2019 was declared a success, as more than 300 community members volunteered to host more than 800 Soldiers from the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 28. For many young Soldiers attending training at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Thanksgiving was be their first major holiday away from their home and family.

USAISR program training local first responders on advanced burn care
November 29, 2019 — Paramedics and emergency medical technicians with the San Antonio Fire Department are being trained on the basics of advanced burn care through a new program and partnership with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

The Burn Strong program is a partnership between the San Antonio Fire Department and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in which paramedics and EMTs learn the basics of advanced burn and trauma life support care.

BAMC hosts live chat with Army’s first doctor in space
November 29, 2019 — With the holiday season at hand, the first Army doctor in space expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve his nation as a Soldier and a NASA astronaut during his live, in-flight interview with more than 250 staff members, patients and family members Nov. 27 at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Col. Andrew Morgan, formerly assigned to BAMC as an emergency physician, arrived on the International Space Station July 20, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Morgan will spend more than six months conducting about 350 science investigations. “It is an honor to have Brooke Army Medical Center, the gold standard in military trauma and burn care, aboard the International Space Station with me,” said Morgan, who then displayed an organization T-shirt and set a BAMC coin spinning in zero gravity to huge cheers and applause.

Innovative contract approach earns MICC team Army-level award
November 27, 2019 — The innovative approach for awarding a contract in support of approximately 6,800 facilities geographically displaced in three states over more than 1 million acres for Fort Bliss, Texas, earned a team led by the Mission and Installation Contracting Command top acquisition honors... MORE

(From left) Pat Hogston, Monica Chisolm, Raul Guerra and Wiley Cox were part of a Mission and Installation Contracting Command integrated process team earning recognition as the 2019 Secretary of the Army award winner for excellence in contracting in the innovation in contracting category.

RHC-Central hosts National American Indian Heritage Month celebration
November 27, 2019 — Regional Health Command-Central hosted the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston National American Indian Heritage Month Celebration Nov. 11 to honor the lasting contributions and achievements Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have made to the U.S. Armed Forces and the nation... MORE

Milo Colton, a professor at St. Mary’s University and member of the Winnebago tribe, performs the Sneak Up Dance, a traditional Northern Plains dance, for attendees at the National American Indian Heritage Month celebration at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 19.

Pilot lands plane blind after bird strike
November 25, 2019 — Todd Unruh never believed he was going to die. Even covered in glass, in pain and flying blind, the pilot felt a sense of calm... MORE

Pilot Todd Unruh shares the story of his emergency landing after a bird strike temporarily blinded him while recovering from his eye injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Nov. 4, 2019.

Breast cancer diagnoses leads to friendship, desire to help others
November 25, 2019 — A diagnosis of breast cancer is a scary thing, especially when your life is already in disarray, but that’s the news a 32-year-old active duty Airman received last summer... MORE

Bianca Rodriguez (left), a breast nurse navigator at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, talks with breast cancer survivor Air Force Staff Sgt. Desiree Mora Mundt Oct. 31. As a breast nurse navigator, Rodriguez serves as an advocate for her patients, arranging surgery, acting as a go-between for the patient and their provider and even coordinating transportation to and from appointments.

U.S. Army Installation Management Command welcomes new command sergeant major
November 20, 2019 — The U.S. Army Installation Management Command welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth and bid farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Melissa Judkins during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 19... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth assumes responsibility as the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Sergeant Major. The change-of-responsibility ceremony took place at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 19.

Excess ARNORTH computer equipment provides educational opportunities
November 18, 2019 — In the early morning hours of Nov. 15, U.S. Army North personnel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston quietly loaded 100 excess laptops and peripherals into a rental trailer, which departed the area headed east. Its final destination was Wilkinson County High School in Woodville, Mississippi, thanks to the Department of Defense’s Computers for Learning program... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. Marvin Tyler Nelson and Sgt. 1st Class Eugenio Moya, U.S. Army North, pack computers for transport to Wilkinson County High School in Woodville, Mississippi. The computers are being donated to the school through the Department of Defense’s Computers for Learning program.

BAMC receives national recognition for surgical quality
November 15, 2019 — The American College of Surgeons recognized Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2018, ranking the hospital among the top 10 percent of participating hospitals for surgical care... MORE

The American College of Surgeons recognizes Brooke Army Medical Center for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2018, ranking the hospital among the top 10 percent of participating hospitals for surgical care. BAMC is one of 88 ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participating hospitals across the nation that have achieved meritorious recognition for surgical patient care. Additionally NSQIP recognized 72 hospitals on its “All Cases” list and 72 hospitals on its “High Risk” list. As a further distinction, BAMC was among only 56 hospitals recognized on both meritorious lists.

Remains of World War II service members laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
November 8, 2019 — More than 70 years after they died fighting for their country, the remains of two World War II service members were laid to rest during separate services at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in early November... MORE

More than 70 years after they died fighting for their country, the remains of two World War II service members were laid to rest during separate services at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in early November. Funeral services were held for 2nd Lt. Toney Gochnauer Nov. 4 and 2nd Lt. Ernest Matthews Jr. Nov. 5.

Army physician has a life-changing experience with London air ambulance
November 7, 2019 — An Army physician at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston broadened his knowledge of trauma medicine during a six-month stint as a member of a world renowned air ambulance service in London... MORE

Maj. Ryan Newberry, U.S. Army Medical Corps emergency and pre-hospital physician assigned to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, on the way to responding to a call involving a trauma patient as a flight physician for London’s Air Ambulance. Newberry served for six months in 2018 for London’s Air Ambulance, which is regarded as one of the top helicopter emergency medical services in the world, as part of a military exchange program between Great Britain and the U.S.

The art of moulage: METC combat medic manikins simulate realistic wounds
November 4, 2019 — Simulation plays an important role in preparing enlisted medical trainees at the Medical Education and Training Campus, or METC, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to respond appropriately when faced with an actual life-or-death situation... MORE

Combat Medic Training program students at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston conduct an emergency cricothyrotomy on a “casualty” during simulation training. The “wounded” manikin also presents with facial burns that were created with moulage techniques.

Class teaches how to prepare for new Army Combat Fitness Test
November 1, 2019 — Approximately 50 servicemembers learned about the standards for the Army’s newest fitness test and the proper techniques for preparing and training for it during a class held at the Vogel Resiliency Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 31... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jose Lopez, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade mechanic shop foreman, prepares to throw a 10-pound ball overheard as part of his training for the Army Combat Fitness Test Fitness Leaders Class at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 31. The class provided classroom and hands-on instruction to Army physical trainers and master fitness trainers on the proper techniques to train and prepare service members to pass the new Army Combat Fitness Test that will take effect in October 2020.

Navy Recruiting District San Antonio brings cheer to special child
October 30, 2019 — To bring some happiness to a local child, Sailors assigned to Navy Recruiting District San Antonio at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston visited the New Braunfels home of Isaac Juarez, 7, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer... MORE

Cmdr. Nicholas Gamiz, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio commanding officer, conducts a mock swear-in of Isaac Juarez during a visit by NRD SA Sailors at Isaac’s New Braunfels home Oct. 28. Isaac, 7, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, was presented with an Honorary Sailor Certificate, an America’s Navy ball cap, a Forged by The Sea t-shirt, a Navy Fiesta Medal, and a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Cole High School cross country teams advance to UIL state meet
October 29, 2019 — The Roger G. Cole High School Cougars varsity girls' and boys' cross country teams used grit and persistence at the University Interscholastic League Region IV Championships Oct. 25, advancing to the UIL state meet Nov. 9 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas... MORE

The Roger G. Cole High School Cougars varsity girls' and boys' cross country teams used grit and persistence at the University Interscholastic League Region IV Championships Oct. 25, advancing to the UIL state meet Nov. 9 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston researchers author paper on military dental emergencies
October 23, 2019 — Researchers at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have authored a research paper analyzing data of dental emergencies and traumatic facial and head injuries among servicemembers that could be utilized in improving troop outcomes and mission preparedness... MORE

(From left) Dr. John Simecek, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio director of craniofacial health and restorative medicine; Dr. Sylvain Cardin, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio chief science director; and Col. Tim Mitchener, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research public health dentist and oral maxillofacial injury epidemiologist, collaborated on a six-page research paper published in the July/August issue of Military Medicine. Their research paper reviewed and analyzed data from 30 previous studies, both published and unpublished, covering reported dental emergencies and oral- and cranio-maxillofacial injuries of U.S. military personnel serving in combat environments, who were deployed, serving in stabilization operations and training exercises and those in garrison.

JBSA health officials urge people to be cautious around bats
October 18, 2019 — After a bat that tested positive for rabies was found at a Joint Base San Antonio residence recently, installation health officials are reminding residents to be careful, use common sense and take cautionary measures if they spot a bat on the installation... MORE

According to the Texas Department of Health, approximately one percent of bats in the San Antonio area carry the rabies virus. In 2018, there were 25 cases of bats testing positive for rabies in Bexar County.

JBSA recognizes Gold Star Mothers, families
October 17, 2019 — The Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Survivor Outreach Support Services hosted the National Gold Star Mothers and Families luncheon at the Warrior Family Support Center on the Brooke Army Medical Center campus Sept. 29... MORE

The Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Survivor Outreach Support Services hosted the National Gold Star Mothers and Families luncheon at the Warrior Family Support Center on the Brooke Army Medical Center campus Sept. 29. Mayor Michael Carpenter of Schertz presented keynote speaker Brig. Gen. Wendy Harter, Brooke Army Medical Center commanding general, with the proclamation declaring Sept. 29, 2019, as National Gold Star Mothers and Family Day.

Operation Battle Buddy Check: Army medicine leaders visit wounded warriors
October 8, 2019 — Thirty-three students attending the Army Medical Department Noncommissioned Officer Academy, or NCOA, Senior Leader Course 201-20 volunteered to speak to several Soldiers at the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion, or WTB, and their families Sept. 28... MORE

Soldiers in transition with family members pose for a group photo with Army Medical Department Noncommissioned Officer Academy students at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.