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Feedback Fridays
November 6, 2020 — If you have a question or concern, please send an email to jbsapublicaffairs@gmail.com using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.” Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available... MORE

Feedback Fridays is a weekly forum that aims to connect the 502d Air Base Wing with members of the Joint Base San Antonio community. Questions are collected during commander’s calls, town hall meetings and throughout the week.

Call for Innovation Rodeo ideas nears Dec. 1 deadline
November 6, 2020 — With less than a month to go in their annual call-for-topics campaign, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is still looking for innovative ideas with potential to change the Air Force... MORE

Maj. Jacque Vasta presents her idea for a child care app to senior leaders during the 2020 Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Innovation Rodeo, Feb. 7, 2020, in San Antonio.

ARNORTH kicks off Exercise Fuerzas Amigas
November 5, 2020 — Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commanding general U. S. Army North (Fifth Army), and Command Sgt. Maj. Phil K. Barretto, ARNORTH senior enlisted leader, conducted a video teleconference Nov. 2 with Lt. Gen. Celestino Ávila Astudillo, Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, Military Region II commander, to kick off Exercise Fuerzas Amigas... MORE

Fuerzas Amigas is an annual Theater Security Cooperation exercise, focused on disaster response to foster and build a military-to-military partnership between U.S. Army North and the Mexican military.

BAMC combat medic earns U.S. citizenship
November 5, 2020 — For most people, waking up as an American citizen is just a given – a circumstance of birth. For one Soldier at Brooke Army Medical Center, the right to be an American took more than a decade to earn... MORE

Spec. Diego Timoteo (right), an Army Combat Medic at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, checks an incoming patient at BAMC’s drive-through COVID-19 testing area. Timoteo, a native of Brazil, recently earned his American citizenship.

Developmental Special Duty assignment positions Airman for growth
November 5, 2020 — When Tech. Sgt. William Gabel was given a developmental special duty assignment, it was an opportunity for him to step away from his career in maintenance, broaden his leadership experiences and see the Air Force from a different perspective... MORE

Tech. Sgt. William Gabel is the flight chief of the 382nd Training Squadron, 59th Training Group. He arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in August 2017.

New monthly premiums for TRICARE Young Adult Plans in 2021
November 5, 2020 — Beginning on Jan. 1, 2021, premiums for TRICARE Young Adult, or TYA, coverage will increase. TYA Select will increase by 12.7 percent and TYA Prime by 22 percent. These changes reflect the increase in TYA program costs for calendar year 2021... MORE

Thoughtful millennial African American woman in glasses look at laptop screen pondering

59th MDW COVID-19 drive-thru closures for November holidays
November 5, 2020 — The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland COVID-19 drive-thru site, located on the ground floor (basement level) of the parking garage of Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center -- found by following the blue cones on Wilford Hall Loop -- will be closed in observance of November holidays and family days... MORE

The San Antonio Military Health System is adjusting its COVID-19 drive-thru screening and testing hours of operation over Labor Day weekend.

39th FTS Cobras take over San Antonio skies
November 5, 2020 — The 39th Flying Training Squadron Reserve Citizen Airmen took command of San Antonio military airspace to execute a training and readiness exercise called "Cobras in the Clouds" Oct. 29 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph... MORE

Airmen encouraged to update vRED, SOES information
November 5, 2020 — Air and Space professionals are encouraged to consistently review and update their virtual Record of Emergency Data, or vRED, and their Servicemembers’ Online Election System, or SOES. Members are required to review their information annually, before deploying and any time they experience a major life event, such as marriage or divorce, permanent change of station, or the birth of a child... MORE

Airmen are reminded to review such items as their virtual record of emergency data, or vRed, and personal information in the Virtual Military Personnel Flight at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil.

'Real Talk: Race and Diversity in the Air Force' airs Nov. 13 at 5 p.m.
November 5, 2020 — Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Education and Training Command, hosts the fourth episode of "Real Talk: Race and Diversity in the Air Force" Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. on AETC’s Facebook page. This episode will focus on diversity within Air Force Special Warfare careers... MORE

Image of Real Talk slate with details on episode 4.

Blue Rope of the Year extols rewards of MTI career
November 4, 2020 — When 20-year-old Holly Vaught walked into an Air Force recruiter’s office in the summer of 2003, she was by her own account, emotionally lost with $2 and a half tank of gas to her name. She admitted... MORE

Master Sgt. Holly Vaught is the 2020 Blue Rope of the Year.

688th Cyberspace Wing opens The Oasis Room in support of Airmen resilience
November 4, 2020 — Members of the 688th Cyberspace Wing came together to celebrate the opening of their new resiliency room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Col. Steven Anderson, 688th CW commander, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Oct. 13. ... MORE

Col. Steven Anderson, 688th Cyberspace Wing commander, and Capt. Amy O’Connell, 688th Cyberspace Wing chaplain, cut the ribbon during a ceremony for the opening of The Oasis resilience room at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Oct.13. The resiliency room is stocked with books, a massage chair, a television, games and offers free resources for 688th Cyberspace Wing Airmen.

New tool aims to enable commanders to track, prevent high-risk behaviors
November 4, 2020 — Active duty command teams now have a new tool to help give them more visibility on Soldiers who exhibit high-risk behaviors, as part of the Army’s effort in placing greater emphasis on its people... MORE

The Army's new Commander's Risk Reduction Toolkit

New spectrum strategy reveals DOD's plan to master airwaves
November 4, 2020 — The "2020 Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy" not only lays out how the military will guarantee its continued and unfettered access to the spectrum, but also shows how the military plans to master that spectrum while on the battlefield... MORE

A signal support system specialist prepares the radio system used to allow soldiers and airmen to keep in constant communications with one another during a mission.

AETC commander outlines Strategic Action Plan focus area updates
November 4, 2020 — In announcing the updates to Air Education and Training Command’s Strategic Action Plan, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, the commander of AETC and the force development commander for the Air Force, reaffirmed the First Command’s priorities, which remain fourfold: Advance force development, Enhance lethality and readiness, Transform learning, and Cultivate an environment of excellence... MORE

Final AETC strategic action plan Nov. 11, 2020

Air Force updates travel screening process for EFMP families
November 4, 2020 — Medical clearance is required for all Exceptional Family Member Program families preparing to PCS, and for those members selected for an overseas assignment. ... MORE

ARSOUTH, multinational planners prepare for PANAMAX with Planning in Crisis event
November 4, 2020 — On the road leading up to PANAMAX, the major capstone training exercise for U.S. Army South, military officers from Brazil, Colombia and Peru arrived to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to take part in the Multinational Forces South Planning in Crisis event Oct. 26-30... MORE

Military officers from Brazil, Colombia and Peru conduct mission analysis as part of the Planning in Crisis exercise Oct. 28 hosted by U.S. Army South and held at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 26-30. The exercise allowed partner nations from the Western Hemisphere to plan and develop an operation order with component commands in preparation for the U.S. Southern Command PANAMAX exercise.

Improvements to Soldier movement ensure MEDCoE training continues
November 3, 2020 — U.S. Army Soldiers continue to train at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, despite the added challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. How they arrive and later depart, however, has changed. ... MORE

A Soldier has his temperature checked after arriving at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field Annex from Fort Jackson, Mississippi, on a chartered flight. Checking for symptoms is one of the many preventive measures in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

San Antonio Military Health System seeks volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine trial
November 3, 2020 — Two San Antonio Military Health System facilities are seeking volunteers from among the military beneficiary population to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial... MORE

Marcy Edwards, a Military Health System beneficiary, signs up for Operation Warp Speed Nov. 2. Operation Warp Speed is a national initiative to accelerate the development, production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Join Nov. 4 Chat with TRICARE About Open Season
November 3, 2020 — The TRICARE Open Season is almost here. Do you have questions about your health plan options? Not sure if you need to take action? Here’s your chance to plan ahead and get your questions answered. Join TRICARE on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Central Time. The live Q&A session is on the TRICARE Facebook page... MORE