Joint Base San Antonio > News

U.S. Army veterinarians visit Colombian military working dog breeding kennels
May 26, 2017 — U.S. Army veterinarians from U.S. Army South and the Army Medical Department Center & School at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston traveled to Bogota, Colombia, May 8-11 to visit with Colombian army veterinarians as part of a subject matter expert exchange pertaining to infectious disease prevention and control and military working dog breeding programs... MORE

A Colombian military working dog handler and trainer briefs Lt. Col. Douglas Owens (black shirt), U.S. Army Medical Center & School Animal Medicine Branch chief, and Lt. Col. Troy Creason, (far right), U.S. Army South veterinarian, about demining training conducted in Tolemaida, Colombia, just before performing a demonstration.

Army South designates new Command Senior Warrant Officer Advisor
May 3, 2017 — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Martina Robles spent the majority of her recent designation ceremony as the newly appointed U.S. Army South Command Senior Warrant Officer Advisor acknowledging the unit’s other warrant officers in attendance... MORE

Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, U.S. Army South commanding general, presents Chief Warrant Officer 5 Martina Robles with her appointment and charge of orders certificate as the new Army South Senior Warrant Officer Advisor.

Conference of American Armies talks interagency operations
May 1, 2017 — The best and brightest minds from 14 nations gathered for the Specialized Conference on Interagency Operations April 10-13 in Salvador, Bahia. The event was part of the Conference of American Armies series and hosted by the Brazilian army... MORE

(From left) Gen. Walter Souza Brago Netto, commander of the Eastern Military Command of the Brazilian Army; Maj. Gen. William Georges Felippe Abrahao, conference president and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Army; and Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, Secretary General of the Conference of American Armies and U.S. Army South commanding general, share a laugh during the opening ceremony of the Specialized Conference on Interagency Operations, in Salvador, Bahia April 10. The event was part of a series of conferences held by the members of the CAA.

ARSOUTH, Belize Defence Force work together for Beyond The Horizon 2017
March 29, 2017 — U.S. Army South, in partnership with the Belize Defence Force, or BDF, and the Ministries of Defence, Health, and Education are taking part in “Beyond the Horizon 2017,” a collaborative training exercise involving numerous U.S., Belizean, and international participants... MORE

The first rotation of Beyond the Horizon, or BTH, exercise personnel arrived in Belize March 25. BTH is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise that U.S. Army South manages. Chargé d'Affaires Adrienne Galanek, from the U.S. Embassy in Belize, spoke with incoming U.S. service members on the importance of the exercise to the continuing relationship between the U.S and Belize March 25 at Price Barracks, Belize. Following her brief, Galanek was given a tour of the BTH17 operations base and its facilities.

Conference helps leaders counter 21st century threats
March 27, 2017 — The week-long Central American Regional Leaders Conference concluded March 23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. U.S. Army South hosted senior leaders from the armies and police of 10 nations throughout the Central American region. The aim of the conference is to build relationships while developing combined plans to counter threats within the region. ... MORE

Maj. Gen K.K. Chinn, commanding general for U.S. Army South, addresses the attendees of the Central American Regional Leaders Conference on March 22 on Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The conference is designed for Central American army officers and police to gather and discuss ideas on how to counter regional threats such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Central American, ARSOUTH leaders meet to discuss regional challenges
March 22, 2017 — The Central American Regional Leaders Conference began March 21 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, with senior military and police officials from throughout Central America in attendance. During the three-day conference, these senior leaders discussed regional challenges and ways to work with each other and the United States to solve these problems... MORE

Maj. Gen K.K. Chinn, commanding general for U.S. Army South, addresses the attendees of the Central American Regional Leaders Conference March 21 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.The conference is designed for Central American army officers and police to gather and discuss ideas on how to counter regional threats such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Army South links past and present through Panama Canal artifacts
March 22, 2017 — U.S. Army South is reconnecting with its history in Panama by displaying three concrete spherical artifacts from the Panama Canal Zone displayed near the flag post in the Army South parking lot. These massive concrete balls were originally on top of light posts lining the Panama Canal... MORE

Three lampposts from the Panama Canal are now prominently displayed in front of the U.S. Army South headquarters building at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

School construction promotes partnership in Peru
March 16, 2017 — In a community where violence and drugs are the norm and old, damaged buildings line the streets, a sign of hope arrived recently. An inauguration for recently built, Jose Maria Arguedas School was held in Aguaytia, Peru, March 13. The construction follows the U.S. Army South theme of working together as trusted professionals and strengthening military-to-military relationships. ... MORE

The Jose Maria Arguedas School was inaugurated in Aguaytia, Peru March 13 by Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, U.S. Army South commander, and Brian Nichols, U.S. Ambassador to Peru. It will serve more than 800 elementary students. The construction of the facility was a joint effort between Peruvian engineers and the West Virginia National Guard, as partners in the State Partnership Program.

Chilean, U.S. Soldiers learn food protection in an expeditionary environment
March 16, 2017 — A team of veterinarians from U.S. Army South and the U.S. Army Medical Center & School at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston participated in a subject matter expert exchange, or SMEE, with approximately 40 Chilean military and civilian veterinarians March 6-9 in Santiago, Chile... MORE

Lt. Col. Matthew Levine, Food Protection Branch chief in the Department of Veterinary Science, demonstrates to a group of Chilean veterinarians how to conduct a rapid field test to identify harmful bacteria in water during the subject matter expert exchange in Santiago, Chile. The exchange was March 6-9.

Boys Scouts learn law, earn merit badge in mock trial
March 2, 2017 — Boy Scouts from Troop 23 present their case to Judge Jefferson Moore, 186th Judicial District Judge, and Col. Roger Shuck, Troop 23 Scout Master and U.S. Army South Inspector General, during a mock trial at the Main Post Chapel Feb. 26... MORE

Boy Scouts from Troop 23 present their case to Judge Jefferson Moore, 186th Judicial District Judge, and Col. Roger Shuck, Troop 23 Scout Master and U.S. Army South Inspector General, during a mock trial at the Main Post Chapel Feb. 26. This was the culminating event for the scouts to earn their law merit badge. This merit badge gives Scouts the opportunity to learn about the history of the law and the functions it serves, the responsibilities and duties and the role of law enforcement officers in our society, consumer protection laws and agencies, new areas of the law and careers in the legal profession. The mock trial gave them firsthand experience on the intricacies of being an attorney.

Conference of American Armies meet in Canada
February 15, 2017 — Canada seems to be one of the favorites when hosting the Conference of the American Armies and for the second time in three years, another specialized conference finds its way back up north... MORE

The Canadian Army hosted the Conference of American Armies (CAA) Specialized Conference in Toronto, Ontario, from February 6 to 10, 2017 with senior army officers from Western Hemisphere armies in attendance. The CAA is an International Military Organization founded in 1960 and provides an opportunity for Army leaders from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, to meet on a regular basis to discuss areas of mutual interest and share lessons learned. In this way, the CAA contributes, from a military thinkers’ point of view, to the security and democratic development of member countries. Canada joined the CAA in 1993, and the Canadian Army has hosted six events since becoming a member. The theme of the latest Specialized Conference was Training for the Interagency Environment.

Army South Soldiers train with M9 at JBSA-Camp Bullis
January 27, 2017 — U.S. Army South Soldiers from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston trained on pistol marksmanship at JBSA-Camp Bullis Jan. 24. The ARSOUTH Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion conducted pre-marksmanship instruction and ran a pistol qualification range... MORE

U.S. Army South Soldiers from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston qualified with their assigned M9 pistol at the JBSA-Camp Bullis range Jan. 24.

Army South hosts State Partnership Program Conference
January 23, 2017 — Military leaders from 20 states descended upon Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 18 in support of the Department of Defense joint security cooperation program, managed by the National Guard Bureau that matches the states/territories of National Guards within the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility of Central and South America and the Caribbean... MORE

Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, U.S. Army South commander opens up the State Partnership Program Conference at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 18 with a discussion on security cooperation changes and challenges that state partners may face in 2017. More than 150 delegates from 20 states converged to exchange military skills and experience, share defense knowledge and further mutual security cooperation.

U.S. Army South trains for post-captivity reintegration mission
January 11, 2017 — As U.S. Southern Command’s designated command to execute post-captivity reintegration for all services, U.S. Army South held a training session at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 8-10. ... MORE

“This is my second favorite work topic to talk about,” said Dr. Gary Percival, Assistant Deputy Director of Human Factors at the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, who addressed people attending the U.S. Army South Reintegration ROC Drill, or rehearsal of concept drill at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan 10. With survival, evasion, resistance, and escape, or SERE, being Percival’s first favorite work topic discussion, he gave the group some insight into the 10 different events that included about 50 returnees and approximately 12 separate families he’s been involved with since 1998. “Where do we get the process?” he asked the group. “From more than 60 years of studying people who’ve been held in captivity and how they came back.”

TRADOC commanding general visits Army South
January 9, 2017 — Gen. David G. Perkins, commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, stopped by U.S. Army South headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Friday to present a leaders professional development session... MORE

Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, U.S. Army South commanding general, explains to Gen. David G. Perkins, commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, how his ARSOUTH uses TRADOC resources to support its mission in the command's area of operations. Chinn also briefed future opportunities and ways that TRADOC can assist in enhancing mission accomplishment.

Commentary: Army Materiel Command recognizes JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Soldiers, organizations
January 3, 2017 — I recently completed a visit with the great Soldiers and organizations of Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 7, 2016, and I could not be more impressed. The professionalism, talent and hard work was apparent in every office, motor pool, and center I visited. ... MORE

Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche
U.S. Army Materiel Command
Deputy Commanding General

Conference of the American Armies participants support human rights in the age of partnership
December 20, 2016 — The Conference of the American Armies met from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to discuss and agree on combined goals regarding human rights, specifically the rights of those who have been affected by a natural disaster... MORE

(From left) Dr. Bridget Gersten, the State Department’s foreign policy/political advisor assigned to U.S. Army South; Lt. Col. Javier Rivera Rosaria, Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Army South; and Enrique Labrador, U.S. Army’s liaison officer to the Conference of American Armies, all attended specialized conference on human rights Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Retreat shows Soldiers how to be ‘Single And Strong’
December 8, 2016 — It can be said the biggest decision of one’s life is whom they decide to marry. Soldiers may make this decision with little knowledge of the person or the person’s expectations, which can lead to marital issues... MORE

Chaplain (Maj.) John Sedwick (left) talks with participants from the Strong Bonds retreat held in Corpus Christi, Texas Nov. 14-16. Strong Bonds is usually a retreat focused on married couples, but has expanded to focus on single Soldiers. The three-day event taught the group how to have healthy relationships in their personal lives and at work.

Army South hosts two-week Colombian army visit
November 10, 2016 — Army South hosts two-week Colombian army visit... MORE

Suboficial Jefe Técnico de Comando (Command Chief Technical Petty Officer) Andres Pacheco, Colombian Navy, speaks to paticipants during a Colombian Army Sergeants Major and Joint Sergeants Major Academy visit to U.S. Army South headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 24.

Army South team assists families displaced by Hurricane Matthew
November 8, 2016 — Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall on the island of Cuba Oct. 4. For safety reasons, more than 700 U.S. personnel were evacuated from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., nearly 1,100 miles away. ... MORE

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, or NSGB, Cuba, families check in at the air terminal Oct. 11 during their return after having been evacuated to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., due to Hurricane Matthew.