Joint Base San Antonio > News

Sergeant Major of the Army visits JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
January 16, 2020 — During a visit to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 15, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston joined senior Army noncommissioned officers from across the post during a morning physical readiness training session led by U.S. Army North, as well as Soldiers with the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence... MORE

During a visit to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston joined senior Army noncommissioned officers from across the post during a morning Physical Readiness Training led by U.S. Army North, Jan. 15. The visit was an opportunity to show how leaders here are preparing to tackle the upcoming Army Combat Fitness Test. The test, which will become the required physical test of record effective October 2020, is designed to transform the culture of Army fitness to ensure Soldiers are fit to fight.

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence welcomes new commander
January 13, 2020 — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, conducted a change of command ceremony Jan. 10, where Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent relinquished command to Maj. Gen. Dennis P. LeMaster... MORE

(From left) Maj. Gen. Dennis P. LeMaster, Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey and Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent salute the national colors during the playing of the national anthem during the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 10.

U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) celebrates 77 years
January 13, 2020 — It was 77 years ago when Fifth Army officially activated, Jan. 5, 1943, at Oujda, French Morocco. In 2004, with its rich, vibrant history that originated during the ongoing battles of World War II, Fifth Army became U.S. Army North... MORE

Spc. Dazhir Walker, 323d U.S. Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own;” Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and senior commander, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Noles; and Army North Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, senior enlisted leader, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, cut a cake to celebrate Fifth Army’s 77th birthday at the Military & Family Readiness Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 10.

MICC welcomes new command sergeant major
December 30, 2019 — Members of the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command welcomed their new command sergeant major during an assumption-of-responsibility ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 19... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Chantel Sena-Diaz addresses members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command and guests during an assumption-of-responsibility ceremony Dec. 19 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. As the new MICC command sergeant major, she received the organizational colors from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler, the MICC commanding general, during the ceremony.

Photographic perspectives of Cole High School students focus of Fort Sam Houston Museum exhibit
December 27, 2019 — Perspectives on military life, nature and architecture through the camera lens of Cole High School students is the theme of a new exhibit that opened at the Fort Sam Houston Museum Dec. 10... MORE

Maricah Frank, a student at Cole High School located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, took this photo of upside down troop helmets filled with personal items and equipment in the parking lot in front of the old Brooke Army Medical Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The photo, titled “Field Day,” is one of 101 images submitted by students in the Cole photography program that are included in an exhibit at the Fort Sam Houston Museum that opened Dec. 10.

JBSA group meets to address educational issues, plan education summit
December 6, 2019 — A group of 29 Joint Base San Antonio members and parents discussed and brought forth ideas on how to address educational issues and challenges experienced by military school-age children and their families during a meeting at 502nd Air Base Wing Headquarters at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 26... MORE

A group of 29 Joint Base San Antonio members and parents discussed and brought forth ideas on how to address educational issues and challenges experienced by military school-age children and their families during a meeting at 502nd Air Base Wing Headquarters at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 26.

Medical Center of Excellence leaders serve Thanksgiving luncheon
November 29, 2019 — Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent and Command Sgt. Maj. Buck O'Neal, along with other U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence leaders, served Thanksgiving luncheon to Soldiers at the Slagel Dinning Facility at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 28... MORE

Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent and Command Sgt. Maj. Buck O'Neal, along with other U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence leaders, served Thanksgiving luncheon to Soldiers at the Slagel Dinning Facility at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 28. The time-honored military tradition of senior leaders serving Thanksgiving Day dinner to Soldiers is an example of how military service is like an extended family. For many, this is their first time away from home and their first holiday away from home.

‘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.