Joint Base San Antonio > News > News - Year 2018

DOD looking into the impact of fitness trackers on service member safety
January 30, 2018 — Department of Defense officials are studying security issues raised by physical conditioning trackers that also can be used to track service members' whereabouts, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters Jan. 29... MORE

The Department of Defense urges service members and DOD civilians with wearable electronic devices to use the strictest privacy setting. Officials made the suggestion after publication of a "heat map" showing concentration of U.S military personnel overseas.

Brooke Army Medical Center re-verified as Level I Trauma Center
January 30, 2018 — Brooke Army Medical Center has again been verified as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons for its dedication to providing top-quality care for critically injured patients... MORE

A trauma team examines a patient in the emergency department at Brooke Army Medical Center. BAMC has again been verified as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons.

DOD, VA Release Online Tool to Help Vets With Discharge Upgrade Process
January 30, 2018 — A joint initiative between the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments has yielded a web-based tool that will provide customized guidance to veterans who desire to upgrade or change the conditions of their military discharge... MORE

Retiring from the military can be a difficult time but if Soldiers stick to the Army's guidelines, they can have a smooth transition into the civilian world.

Leadership in the Social Media Age
January 29, 2018 — Is social media prone to misuse or abuse? The unfortunate answer to this question is, "Yes." Using the internet and social media brings risk to individuals, businesses, and other public organizations... MORE

Social media is a powerful tool that allows noncommissioned officers to extend their leadership influence. This includes teaching Soldiers how to exploit its advantages while upholding Army values.

Basura Bash looks to clean out waterways around JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
January 29, 2018 — The Basura Bash is a one-day, all-volunteer event to clean the San Antonio Watershed. Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston will be hosting an event from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 17 at the Salado Creek Park... MORE

The Basura Bash is a one-day, all-volunteer event to clean the San Antonio Watershed. Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston will be hosting an event from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 17 at the Salado Creek Park.

Redesigned Army Uniforms site provides guidance for Soldiers on combat, service, PT uniforms
January 29, 2018 — The U.S. Army's uniforms are ubiquitous around the globe for what they represent: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and professional courage... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) support a Department of the Army Retirement Ceremony at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Oct. 26, 2017. 42 Soldiers from across the Army retired with a collective total of over 1,000 years of service.

Sisters serve, train together in different services at METC
January 29, 2018 — When Airman 1st Class Gisella Panchana graduates from the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 30, she will go through conflicting emotions about the occasion... MORE

Sisters and service members, Navy Seaman Michelle Panchana (left) and Air Force Airman 1st Class Gisella Panchana (right) were students together at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston from August 2017 to January 2018. Airman Panchana graduated from the METC Radiology Program Jan. 30, while Seaman Panchana is scheduled to complete the METC Pharmacy Program in April.

Wilford Hall audiology clinic works to maintain, restore hearing
January 29, 2018 — As the largest clinic of its kind in the Air Force, the 59th Medical Wing audiology clinic offers hearing tests, balance testing and hearing aid screenings and can alleviate and restore hearing related issues... MORE

Army North’s Task Force-51 gains new commander
January 29, 2018 — Maj. Gen. John F. King assumed command U.S. Army North’s Task Force-51 from Maj. Gen. Brian C. Harris during a change of command ceremony officiated by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) at the quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 26... MORE

Maj. Gen. John F. King (left) takes the Task Force-51 colors from Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army), during a change of command ceremony at the historic quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 26. King assumes command of TF-51 from Maj. Gen. Brian C. Harris. TF-51 is Army North’s contingency command post and conducts a Defense Support of Civil Authority, homeland defense and theater security cooperation in order to promote the defense and security of the United States.

Airman finds solution to unsolvable problem
January 26, 2018 — When Airmen at the 363rd Intelligence and Surveillance Squadron discovered an issue with the three dimensional functionality on computer workstations vital to target analysts, one of their own highly-skilled Airmen found a solution and prevented $100,000 in equipment from becoming useless... MORE

Airman 1st Class Nathaniel, a cyber systems operations apprentice, researched and automated a fix action to establish 3D functionality in 36 IS’s newly purchased KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) switches.

Cole Junior ROTC earns highest score on accreditation inspection
January 26, 2018 — The Robert G. Cole High School Junior ROTC cadets have earned the highest score ever on their recent accreditation inspection... MORE

The Robert G. Cole High School Junior ROTC cadets have earned the highest score ever on their recent accreditation inspection. The cadets scored 199 points out of a possible 200, earning them an unprecedented 99.5 percent.

U.S. Army South welcomes new command sergeant major
January 26, 2018 — Command Sgt. Maj. William Rinehart took over for outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Olvera at a U.S. Army South change of responsibility ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Mark Stammer, Army South commanding general,at the Martin Luther King field in front of the Army South headquarters building at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 5... MORE

Maj. Gen. Mark Stammer (middle), commander, U.S. Army South, passes the colors to the new incoming Army South Command Sgt. Maj. William Rinehart (left), as outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Olvera (right) looks on at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 5.

Offsite conference brings new chapter for Army South
January 25, 2018 — Maj. Gen. Mark R. Stammer, U.S. Army South commanding general, is trying to enlighten, invigorate and empower his leaders and addressed them during the annual Army South Offsite Conference at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 18-19... MORE

Lt. Col. Lucas Yoho, U.S. Army South future operations planner, gives a presentation during the annual Army South Offsite Conference, held at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 19.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston prepares for Command Cyber Readiness Inspection
January 25, 2018 — From Feb. 26 to March 9, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, an inspection team from the Defense Information Systems Agency, or (DISA), will conduct a Command Cyber Readiness Inspection, or CCRI, of all network systems for the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston area of responsibility... MORE

The main focus of the inspection will be on the Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network, known as the NIPRNet, and the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, or SIPRNet, and supporting traditional security practices

Exposed ladders at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston must be identified, made safe
January 24, 2018 — Many buildings at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston were built in another era, some more than a century old. A large number of these buildings have exposed ladders on the outside. This is a problem from several perspectives... MORE

Exercise at JBSA-Randolph tests Air Force members’ combat readiness
January 24, 2018 — More than 40 Air Force members from across Joint Base San Antonio came to JBSA-Randolph’s Camp Talon Jan. 18 for evaluation of the skills that prepare them for deployment. ... MORE

Operational Readiness Exercise/Ability to Survive and Operate

Application window open for 2018 USO Service Member of the Year Award
January 24, 2018 — Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 2018 United Service Organizations Service Member of the Year Award... MORE

Air Force officials are currently accepting nominations for the 2018 United Service Organizations Service Member of the Year Award. Nominations are due to the Air Force’s Personnel Center by April 4.

Advance assignment notification enhancement prompts commander, Airmen career discussions
January 24, 2018 — Commanders will now receive seven-day advance notification of assignments for their Airmen as the Air Force’s Personnel Center takes steps toward a more transparent and interactive assignment system... MORE

Col. Andrea Themely (left), 80th Flying Training Wing commander, talks to Lt. Col. Jason Colborn Dec. 20, 2017, about the opportunity he will have as the first detachment commander of a new unit called Pilot Training Next. The initiative, led by Air Education and Training Command Commander Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, will rely on different technologies to make a more efficient pathway for the Air Force to train and create pilots. Colborn was hand-picked for the position and will take leadership of the Austin, Texas-based detachment.

Socially acceptable: Know what to post, what not to share
January 24, 2018 — While social media is great for telling the Air Force story, keeping personnel informed and staying in touch with family and friends, it is especially important for Airmen and their families to limit personal and certain work information when posting things online... MORE

Colds and Flu: I'm sick, what should I do?
January 24, 2018 — It's that time of year, when colds and influenza spread across the country, bringing discomfort to many. And the flu is peaking earlier this year than usual, with widespread cases reported in every state across the continental U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... MORE

Airman 1st Class Abby Roetzel, 359th Medical Group, Immunization Clinic, independent vaccine technician, immunizes Airman 1st Class Danny Tjhin, July 29, 2015, at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Technicians are trained to administer required/recommended immunizations per the Department of Defense (DoD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) guidelines and to maintain/track accurate records of immunizations provided.