Joint Base San Antonio > News

After a lifetime of service, retirement can wait
May 19, 2020 — Army Col. April Critelli is one of the thousands of men and women who have served in peacetime and combat, to retire in quiet anonymity, a hero. And when the nation called for healthcare professionals to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Critelli came out of retirement and was the first retired reserve volunteer recall officer to be placed on active duty orders and assigned to duty. ... MORE

U.S. Army Col. April Critelli, physician assistant, prepares to end her work day at the McWethy Troop Medical Clinic at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 13. Critelli is the first medical Soldier to return to active duty from retirement during the COVID-19 crisis.

Flying units still delivering during pandemic
May 18, 2020 — Since March 1, the 68th and the 356th Airlift Squadrons have supported the COVID-19 crisis in New York and continued to train aircrew members here... MORE

Aircrew members in the 433rd Airlift Wing prepare a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, for a flight to carry a team of medical technicians mobilized to respond to the COVID-19 crisis April 5, 2020.

JBSA Legal News for Soldiers: Do gift and fundraising rules still apply during a pandemic?
May 18, 2020 — Regardless of our circumstances, the basic ethics rules governing federal employees continue to apply, including the rules on accepting gifts and fundraising... MORE

Air Force English language beta test advances despite COVID-19
May 18, 2020 — The 37th Training Wing began a beta test in March for an Air Force version of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center Army Echo Company program which has been in existence since 1975... MORE

Air Force Echo Flight trainees attend their distance learning classes in the 737th Training Support Squadron learning lab, although separated physically from their classmates to due to COVID-19.

Air Force photo contest launches July 1
May 18, 2020 — After a short delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Air Force Photo Contest starts July 1. This year's theme is "We Are Family."... MORE

Graphic to illustrate the 2020 Air Force Photo Contest

First Airmen graduate BMT proof of concept at Keesler Air Force Base
May 18, 2020 — Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies... MORE

Military training instructors lead graduating Airmen onto the drill pad during the basic military training graduation ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 15, 2020. Nearly 60 Airmen from the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 completed the six-week basic military training course. Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies. The flight was the first to graduate BMT at Keesler since 1968. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

IAAFA adapts during COVID-19, continues international PME
May 18, 2020 — In March 2020, when the nation started shelter-in-place orders due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, the Inter-American Air Forces Academy coordinated for all of their international students to return to their home countries. IAAFA got back up and running with distance learning courses and IAAFA’s Alpha Class of 2020 graduated May 15 via a virtual graduation ceremony... MORE

The Inter-American Air Forces Academy commandant, Col. Issac Davidson, celebrates graduates of the 2020 Alpha Cycle during IAAFA's virtual graduation ceremony, May 15. (Courtesy Photo)

Volunteers serve food to new BMT recruits
May 17, 2020 — Meals Operating on Wheels began serving food to Basic Military Training trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 30 to feed Airmen who are quarantined in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

BAMC staff cheers for healthcare heroes
May 17, 2020 — To honor Florence Nightingale’s birthday, Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care staff stood, with room for appropriate social distancing, along the elevated covered walkway that leads from the BAMC parking garage to the hospital and cheered for the staff as they made their way into work May 12... MORE

Staff members from the Brooke Army Medical Center’s critical care department line the walkway to greet and cheer on BAMC staff members as they come to work May 12. The critical care department chose the date – which is both the end of Nurses Week and Florence Nightingale’s birthday – to celebrate all the BAMC staff who work to ensure high quality care for patients.

559th Medical Operations Squadron team provides resilience support at COVID-19 epicenter
May 15, 2020 — With more than 2,000 service members deployed to New York City over the last several months, a team from the 59th Medical Wing is one of those providing mental health support to those assisting healthcare workers throughout the region. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie Roserie, social worker, 59th Medical Group, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, boards a van at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, April 28, 2020. Roserie is a part of a six-member team that will provide behavioral health and support services to the service men and women that are provide care and medical services to COIVD-19 patients. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, is providing military support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in need. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aimee Nordin)

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence recognizes its centennial
May 15, 2020 — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, trains the world’s premier military medical force: Army Medicine. There are many important dates in the school’s history, but May 15, 1920, is acknowledged as the date the Army formally approved the establishment of the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where MEDCoE traces its origins... MORE

The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, trains the world’s premier military medical force: Army Medicine. There are many important dates in the school’s history, but May 15, 1920, is acknowledged as the date the Army formally approved the establishment of the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where MEDCoE traces its origins.

Electromagnetic Pulse Defense teams continue building resiliency
May 15, 2020 — The San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio electromagnetic defense partnership has made great strides since its inception just over a year ago, and they continue building resiliency against harmful electromagnetic pulses during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio-Electromagnetic Defense Initiative member Lt. Col. Eddie K. “Thumper” Stamper teleconferences with leadership from the FBI InfraGard National Disaster Resiliency Council May 11, 2020.

West Point cadets brief Army South deputy commanding general
May 15, 2020 — During this year’s Projects Day at the U.S. Military Academy April 30, the Department of Foreign Languages virtually hosted U.S. Army South’s Deputy Commanding General-Interoperability General-de-Brigadia Alcides V. Faria Jr... MORE

U.S. Army South’s Deputy Commanding General-Interoperability General-de-Brigadia Alcides V. Faria Jr.

Feedback Fridays
May 15, 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.

Air Force equipped to protect patients and providers
May 14, 2020 — Even as the U.S. health system faces a shortage of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Air Force Medical Service is equipped to protect patients and providers... MORE

National Police Week parade at JBSA-Randolph honors first responders
May 14, 2020 — Members of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s housing community stood outside their homes, cheered and waved as sirens wailed and a procession of security forces, medical and fire department vehicles, along with percussionists from the Air Force Band of the West, paraded past them on the morning of May 13... MORE

The lead vehicle of the procession during the National Police Week parade drives down C Street at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 13, 2020. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the 902nd Security Forces Squadron invited other first responders to join them in parading through base housing so the community could show their appreciation.

Team votes in new AFIMSC tagline: ‘Your Success is Our Mission’
May 14, 2020 — The tagline represents the reason for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center's existence: the center was formed to centrally plan, build, maintain, improve and enhance the infrastructure and related support programs the Air Force -- and now the Space Force too -- has always relied on from the installation and mission support community to successfully execute the mission... MORE

Shield of Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Mental Health Awareness Month: Resiliency and Wellness
May 14, 2020 — May is Mental Health Awareness month and this year it comes during a time of uncertainty and physical distancing that can be hard on everyone. Mental health plays a huge role as a priority for the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, or AFW2, which sprung the creation of the Wellness and Resiliency Program, or WAR. ... MORE

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. (Image by Kortinae Lozano)

Air Force Thunderbirds honor San Antonio in Operation America Strong flyover
May 14, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds conducted flyovers May 13 over San Antonio and Austin as a salute to frontline healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel, while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Don’t have a shocking experience at home, office
May 14, 2020 — When using electrical appliances extension cords, light bulbs and other equipment, safety tips should be encompassed in household rules and daily behavior expectations for members of the family... MORE

When using electrical appliances extension cords, light bulbs and other equipment, safety tips should be encompassed in household rules and daily behavior expectations for members of the family.