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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

COVID-19 sparks changes to Army Combat Fitness Test
June 17, 2020 — The Army Combat Fitness Test will be the force's test of record Oct. 1, but the Army's top enlisted soldier says troops will have more time to train for and pass the six-event test — without fear of it negatively impacting their careers... 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.

Final changes to Air Force song announced
June 16, 2020 — All stanzas of the Air Force song have been updated to better capture and represent the valor and heritage of the 73-year-old service while also recognizing the diversity and contributions of today’s Total Force regardless of gender... MORE

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.

DOD unveils women, peace, security strategy
June 15, 2020 — DOD has published the Women, Peace and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan as part of a national effort to promote the safety, equality and meaningful contributions of women around the world, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said... MORE

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

EFMP support doesn’t skip a beat despite social distancing measures
June 12, 2020 — The novel coronavirus pandemic forced the modification of three Exceptional Family Member Program workshops at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph early this year, but the virus has not stopped the delivery of services from the Department of Defense program that supports military families with special medical and educational needs... MORE

NAMRU-SA scientist selected for top Navy science award
June 12, 2020 — Work on biomedical projects, from developing an antivenom to dental research, has earned a Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio researcher an award for being one of the top scientists in the Navy... MORE

Dr. Yoon Hwang, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio Maxillofacial Injury and Disease Department research scientist.

Feedback Fridays
June 12, 2020 — If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil 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.

‘Thank You’
June 12, 2020 — When I think back over the last two years, I am filled with gratitude for the women and men of the 502d Air Base Wing, our mission partners and the greater San Antonio community... MORE