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Openings and Closures for National Day of Mourning, Dec. 5
December 4, 2018 — Please be advised of Joint Base San Antonio's openings and closures for National Day of Mourning, Dec. 5. The following are the hours of operations necessary to continue essential operations and to support our mission partners and personnel... MORE

Airmen take patriotism to the court
December 4, 2018 — Nearly 30 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing took to the court at the AT&T Center on Dec. 2, to serve in the Living Flag detail before the San Antonio Spurs took on the Portland Trailblazers... MORE

Members of the 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, participate in the Living Flag ceremony held before the Dec. 2 game between the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trailblazers at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Nearly 30 Airmen held the flag aloft during the singing of the national anthem.
(Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs)

Two USAISR nurses among Top 25 of South Central Texas
December 4, 2018 — Two nurses from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston were named among the best 25 nurses of South Central Texas... MORE

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center nurses Tanya Luckado and Michael Mueller were selected as Honorees for the Inaugural Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas sponsored by the South Central Texas Organization of Nurse Executives.

Soldiers credits Basic Life Support course in saving nephew’s life
December 4, 2018 — Have you ever wondered if it’s worth your time or beneficial to take a Basic Life Support course? Ask Spc. Josue Garcia-Marcano and you will get a resounding “definitely” without hesitation... MORE

Pacific Air Forces commander presides over BMT graduation
December 4, 2018 — U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Pacific Air Forces commander, served as the reviewing official for the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Nov. 30... MORE

Medics train for real-world events
December 4, 2018 — More than 125 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland took part in a mass casualty exercise Nov. 28, 2018... MORE

59th Medical Wing bioenvironmental engineers call in a contamination emergency during a MASCAL exercise on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The exercise tested the clinical and field response teams’ communication efficiency between wing personnel and the medical control center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

Flying training commander gets first ride in next-gen fighter and bomber trainer
December 4, 2018 — The 19th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, became the first Air Force Airman to get a sortie and a first-hand look at the capabilities of the next-generation fighter and bomber trainer at Boeing’s St. Louis facilities Nov. 27... MORE

Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, 19th Air Force commander, gets ready for a T-X familiarization sortie at the Boeing facility in St. Louis, Nov. 27, 2018. The T-X trainer will help the service increase the lethality and readiness of future pilots in both under- and graduate-level training courses due to its advanced training capabilities.

How to eat healthy during the holidays
December 4, 2018 — One of the biggest challenges we face during the holidays is eating healthy. We are more likely to indulge at this time of year at holiday parties, family meals and Christmas markets... MORE

Moderation, not avoidance, is key to staying healthy during the holidays.

JBSA Holiday Chapel Services
December 3, 2018 — Joint Base San Antonio chapels have announced the following holiday services for 2018-2019:... MORE

ADVISOR system medical lifeline for operational forces
December 3, 2018 — The Advanced Virtual Support for Operational Forces system, or ADVISOR, coordinated through the Army Virtual Medical Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, provides 24/7/365 on-demand telephone consultations with on-call specialty providers during emergencies... MORE

A Soldier uses the Advanced Virtual Support for Operational Forces system, or ADVISOR, during the Army Best Medic Competition held in September at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.

MICC members supporting presidential funeral
December 3, 2018 — As the nation mourns the passing of the 41st president of the United States, a three-person team from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Sam Houston is providing contract support for funeral arrangements as part of the Task Force Texas... MORE

Freedom Quit Line offers cigarette smokers tools to kick their habit
November 30, 2018 — TRICARE beneficiaries around the world who smoke cigarettes and want to quit now have another source to help them... MORE

Karen LeRoy, research director for the University of Virginia’s research team at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Medical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, speaks with a caller on the Freedom Quit Line. The quit line is a resource for Tricare beneficiaries, which is located at WHASC under at Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the Air Force and the University of Virginia, for cigarette smokers worldwide who are looking for a way to quit smoking and is available at 1-844-I-AM-FREE (1-844-426-3733).

(U.S. Air Force Photo by Daniel J. Calderón)

METC histotechnician instructors make history
November 30, 2018 — Three histotechnician program instructors at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have made history by becoming the only histotechnicians in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy to have attained the Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, or QIHC, certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Onyee L. Carter, a histotechnician program instructor at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, assists a student with a slide sample during laboratory training.

Civil Air Patrol: citizen volunteers serving America
November 30, 2018 — Established Dec. 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol was formed during World War II to mobilize the nation’s civilian aviation resources for national defense service. As America’s Air Force auxiliary, CAP is comprised of 60,000 members to carry out three primary missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and Cadet programs... MORE

This iconic 1943 CAP recruitment poster was designed by V. Clayton Kenney of Cleveland, himself a member of Squadron 511-3 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Source: U.S. Office of War Information, National Archives.

Airmen test limits at Ranger Assessment Course
November 30, 2018 — Imagine signing up to be starved, sleep deprived and trying to fight for survival during a 19-day combat leadership course in the mosquito-, rattlesnake- and wild boar-infested hilly terrain north of San Antonio with 28 other Airmen. This was the scenario for 29 Airmen who took part in the Ranger Assessment Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Oct. 29 – Nov. 16. Upon successful completion of RAC, the Airmen would have a chance to enroll in the coveted, yet even more grueling, Army Ranger Course... MORE

Airmen from different career fields challenge themselves in the Ranger Assessment course which is a combat leadership course which can lead to attending Army Ranger School. The 29 Airmen who began the course came from six major commands and represented security forces, tactical air control party, airfield management and battlefield Airmen specialties. The RAC instructors provide this stress-oriented battle school for airmen to develop better leadership and command tools under the mental, emotional and physical strain. They push the students to improve their resiliency and coping mechanisms.

Program creates pathway to success for departing military members
November 30, 2018 — An act signed into law seven years ago by President Barack Obama continues to provide a pathway to success in the civilian sector for retiring and separating military members... MORE

The Transition Assistance Program is available to service members at military and family readiness centers throughout the Department of Defense, which offer classes and one-on-one counseling in conjunction with the program. For Army members, the program is called Soldier for Life – TAP.

Commentary: Military traditions instill pride, connection with past
November 30, 2018 — I’ve seen more than my share of military traditions over the past 20 years. Countless times, I’ve sung service songs, watched the Honor Guard place the colors, and stood at attention during Reveille and Retreat. While I’ve always admired the dignity and honor of these traditions, they became somewhat routine over the years. I didn’t truly appreciate their purpose until my father passed away. ... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center staff practice the rendering of flag honors for fallen heroes in July 2018. No matter the branch, war or length of service, BAMC salutes every veteran and first responder who dies in the hospital with a flag ceremony by an Honor Guard.

Texas, Washington ANG members participate in international exercise
November 29, 2018 — Brazil kicked off its multinational air combat exercise CRUZEX VII Nov. 18 and invited participation from U.S. and six other partner nations. Guardsmen from the Texas and Washington Air National Guard joined the two-week long exercise and lent support by providing fighter and tanker aircraft as well as personnel from multiple Air Force job specialties... MORE

Col. Raul Rosario (center), commander of the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, participates in an international press panel which included representatives from seven other countries for CRUZEX2018 at Natal Air Force Base, Nov. 19. Approximately 100 international media representatives joined the press conference, hosted by the Brazilian Air Force, to learn about the goals and expectations of the air exercise. The 149th FW commander expressed his gratitude to the host country and for the opportunity to work together as equals to promote peace and safety.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston holiday chapel worship services
November 29, 2018 — The 502nd Force Support Group Religious Support Office has released the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston holiday chapel worship services schedule... MORE

Deadline approaching to opt in to Blended Retirement System
November 29, 2018 — Service members have just one month left to make a decision about opting in to the blended retirement system, Jeri Busch, the Defense Department’s director of military compensation policy, said in Washington, D.C, Nov. 28... MORE

Service members have just one month left to make a decision about opting in to the blended retirement system, Jeri Busch, the Defense Department’s director of military compensation policy.