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Air Force Recruiting Service releases Aim High mobile app
June 18, 2020 — To help better communicate, inform and inspire new recruits and with embedded tools to guide them into the right Total Force career path, the Air Force Recruiting Service’s Innovation team launched the “Aim High” mobile phone application June 15. ... MORE

AFRS Innovators prepare for a briefing on the Aim High mobile application

JBSA transitions to HPCON BRAVO+
June 18, 2020 — With confirmed COVID cases and symptoms increasing across the nation and Department of Defense, Joint Base San Antonio will transition to HPCON BRAVO+... MORE

AETC Innovators invited to attend virtual summit June 25
June 18, 2020 — In an effort to fuel collaboration amongst Air Education and Training Command innovators, a virtual innovation summit will be held at 10 a.m. June 25... MORE

Event graphic for AETC Innovation Summit June 25

433rd Airlift Wing aircrew doubles-down on missions
June 18, 2020 — In mid-April, while en route from Texas to Norway, a 433rd Airlift Wing C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft and its crew were informed they were going have a small change of plans... MORE

A C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, assigned to the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, taxies the runway at Royal Norwegian Air Force Bardufoss Air Station, Norway, May 26th, 2020.

Converting active duty retirement to AFR, ANG retirement
June 17, 2020 — Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members who have completed 20 years of total active federal military service, or TAFMS, are eligible for immediate pay and benefits upon retirement. ... MORE

Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members who have completed 20 years of total active federal military service (TAFMS) are eligible for immediate pay and benefits upon retirement. However, for AFR or ANG members who further their careers in a traditional status and possibly accept a higher grade, these service members have the option to convert their active duty retirement to an AF Reserve retirement (applies to both AFR and ANG) in accordance with Title 10 USC 12731.

Army South Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion welcomes new commander
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Army South’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion welcomed Lt. Col. Mark A. Katz and virtually bid farewell to Lt. Col. Heather Clevenger during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 16... MORE

Operation Warp Speed accelerates COVID-19 vaccine development
June 17, 2020 — The national effort to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, called "Operation Warp Speed," will hasten the delivery of that vaccine by conducting steps concurrently that normally would be conducted sequentially, senior administration officials said... MORE

A service member presses a hypodermic needle into a small glass vial.

SECDEF visits BMT, sees how citizens become Airmen during COVID-19
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a first-hand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen June 16... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Snow, 323rd Training Squadron military training instructor, briefs U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper during his tour of the 323rd Training Squadron's Airman Training Complex June 16, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Esper met with AETC leaders to see firsthand how Basic Military Training is fighting through COVID-19 with health protection measures in place and adapting operations to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance. The visit also allowed him to witness how a citizen becomes an Airman during COVID-19.

Army North holds virtual Army birthday ceremony
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) held a virtual recogition ceremony for the U.S. Army's 245th Birthday at the Quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 12... MORE

Commentary: Transforming the Civilian Defender Program
June 16, 2020 — U.S. Air Force leadership declared 2020 as the Year of Integrated Base Defense, or IBD, focusing on how every Air and Space Professional fits into a layered defensive network. IBD is greater in scope than any single career field. It requires active participation between all Air Force Specialty Codes and ranks to operate as a cohesive fighting force... MORE

Security Forces Initiated an effort to improve retention, recruiting, training, and professional development of civilian defenders. Photos and accomplishments of the program in CY2020.

Warrior Transition Battalion prepares to take on new ‘SRU’ designation
June 16, 2020 — On Nov. 5, 2019, the Army announced the restructuring of its Warrior Care and Transition Program and formally recognized itself as the Army Recovery Care Program. The Warrior Transition Battalions would soon restructure and re-designate as Soldier Recovery Units... MORE

Army Lt. Col. Andrea Castillon, Warrior Transition Battalion commander (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Camacho (right) put the finishing touches on a tree dedicated to all who previously and currently served in the unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 12. The WTB will be renamed as the Soldier Recovery Unit June 23, 2020.

Air Force Recruiting Service classic association with Reserve now operational
June 16, 2020 — Air Force Recruiting Service continues to forge ahead with Total Force recruiting. The order to form a classic associate partnership with AFRS and Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service is now signed and published with an effective date of June 14, 2020. The partnership will bolster effectiveness and combine strategies... MORE

Gen. David. L. Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, talks to a group of total force recruiters during the Bluegreen Vacations 500 NASCAR race in Phoenix last year.

DLIELC international students receive generosity, support during COVID-19
June 16, 2020 — When Dan Vega, American Members of International Goodwill to Others, or AMIGO, program manager sent out a notice to all AMIGO sponsors for help with providing masks for international students at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, he received several generous responses to help... MORE

Master Sgt. Jeanett Vielman displays one of the handmade masks she donated for the students at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston consolidates transition assistance services
June 15, 2020 — When the Army closed the Soldier and Family Assistance Center, located on the Brooke Army Medical Center campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Sept. 30, 2019, the vacant space was perfect for merging all the installation’s Transition Assistance Program services in one, convenient location... MORE

Soldiers assist personnel moving into the new, consolidated Transition Assistance Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 10, 2020. The plan for the center is to merge Army ideas with other

Wounded Warrior recalls dark days, bright recovery
June 15, 2020 — Bernard Lawson, wounded while serving as an Army chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear technical escort Soldier at Johnston Atoll, overcame major nerve damage injuries with the help from other wounded warriors and is now the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center's emergency manager... MORE

Then, Army Staff Sgt. Bernard Lawson working with a team of CBRN specialist to establish the first patient decontamination team at Brooke Army Medical Center on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, circa 2003. Lawson was at BAMC recovering from major nerve damage to his right side after a routine response call to VX gas at Johnston Atoll, a former chemical, weapons storage and demilitarization site. Through hard work and help from others, like Wounded Warriors, he continues to recover and is currently the emergency manager for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Airman Heritage Museum welcomes BMT trainees
June 15, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force Heritage Museum at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland began welcoming basic military training flights on June 1. The purpose of the visit is to familiarize trainees with the historical roots of the Air Force and what it means to earn the title Airman... MORE

Photo of basic military training trainees at exhibits the Airman Heritage Museum.

JBSA, 502d ABW holds change of command
June 13, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio and the 502d Air Base Wing welcomed Brig. Gen. Caroline M. Miller as the new commander and bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston June 12... MORE

Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, the Air Education and Training Command commander, passes the 502d Air Base Wing colors to Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, the newest commander of the wing and Joint Base San Antonio during a modified ceremony June 12 at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

T-7A Red Hawk achieves another design goal
June 12, 2020 — The Air Force is a step closer to finalizing the design for its 4th and 5th Generation Advanced Pilot Trainer, the T-7A Red Hawk. Boeing and the U.S. Air Force recently conducted both the Aircraft Critical Design Review and overall System CDR during a 3-day summit culminating 18 months of development work on the program, in which Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph also participated. ... MORE

The Air Force’s all-new advanced trainer aircraft, the T-X, has officially been named the T-7A Red Hawk.

Prioritizing sleep vital as Airmen adjust to new normal
June 12, 2020 — Continued lack of sleep can be detrimental to an Airman’s job performance, their ability to fight off infections, and their overall readiness and wellbeing... MORE

Sleep is a vital component to overall health and readiness. There are several things Airmen can do to improve their sleep habits, including setting an alarm for bed, avoiding screens that emit disruptive blue light, and avoiding caffeine several hours before bedtime.

Military, civilian collaboration vital to establishing 5G at JBSA
June 12, 2020 — An announcement was made by the Department of Defense June 3 that will bring enormous advantages, as well as responsibilities, to San Antonio and the region. Joint Base San Antonio is one of 12 select installations where the department will experiment and test fifth-generation, or 5G, communications technology... MORE