Joint Base San Antonio > News > News - Year 2020

Airmen urged to maintain healthy dental habits during COVID-19 pandemic
April 27, 2020 — In March, the U.S. Air Force began deferring routine and non-urgent dental care to slow the spread of COVID-19. In alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association and Department of Defense policies, most dental care has been deferred, with the exception of emergencies, cases considered medically necessary, and care for deploying and deployed personnel... MORE

Tips for maintaining healthy dental habits during COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Basic Officer Leader Training Course students conquer tactical dispersion
April 27, 2020 — Students in the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence Basic Officer Leader Training Course conquered tactical dispersion and socially distant enabled training in a field training environment at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis April 14... MORE

Basic Officer Leadership Course student practices providing Tactical Combat Casualty Ca

JBSA ground transportation adapts to fight COVID-19
April 27, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio installations have begun segregating buses by health status to contain the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that the JBSA community stays healthy. As of March 21, all buses on any of the bases will be labeled either green, yellow, or red, to denote who can and cannot ride in which vehicles. ... MORE

DOD plans for resumption of normal operations after pandemic
April 27, 2020 — Defense Department planners are working on how to resume normal military operations following the coronavirus pandemic, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said... MORE

Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, holds a news conference on COVID-19 efforts at the Pentagon, April 24, 2020.

Registration opens for Virtual Military Spouse Symposium
April 27, 2020 — Military spouses can learn about the federal job search, how to make a career change, polishing their resumes and much more at the fourth annual Virtual Military Spouse Symposium. The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program will host the symposium April 29-30. ... MORE

Military spouses can learn about the federal job search, how to make a career change, polishing their resumes and much more at the fourth annual Virtual Military Spouse Symposium, April 29-30, 2020.

Watch LIVE: AETC Airmen and Family Wellness Town Hall, Apr. 27, 5:30 pm CST
April 26, 2020 — Air Education and Training Command will host an Airmen and Family Wellness Town Hall live on the command's Facebook page Monday, Apr. 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. CST... MORE

graphic announcing town hall with AETC shield and white letters

Drill sergeants don PPE to receive new trainees at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
April 26, 2020 — More than 150 recent graduates of Basic Combat Training, or BCT, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, were transported in a contracted commercial airplane April 24 to begin training at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, as part of the Army's efforts restrict community contact with the trainees between duty stations due to COVID-19 concerns... MORE

Army laboratory tests for the best homemade face covering materials
April 25, 2020 — Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, and many governors are recommending that people wear face coverings when out in public and unable to maintain proper social distancing, the Combat Capabilities Development Command, or CCDC, Chemical Biological Center is using its more than 100 years of experience designing chemical and biological agent protective masks to determine the best material to use for making a homemade mask... MORE

Scientists at the Combat Capabilities Development Command, or CCDC, Chemical Biological Center have tested more than 50 common household fabrics to determine the filtration efficiency of each.

Four-legged friends can help military shoppers win $3,000 in Exchange gift cards
April 25, 2020 — Pets make great companions for those long weeks spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This May, they’ll even fetch 10 lucky military shoppers a combined $3,000 in Army & Air Force Exchange Service gift cards, without having to set paw outside the house... MORE

Army Chief of Staff, Sgt. Maj. of Army visit JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
April 24, 2020 — Military personnel assigned and augmenting units at Joint Base San Antonio showcased an array of capabilities around the installation to Gen. James McConville, the 40th and current U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Michael A. Grinston, as they visited Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 23... MORE

JBSA ASAP adjusting to COVID-19 with virtual programs
April 24, 2020 — Through technology and social platforms, the Joint Base San Antonio Army Substance Abuse Program, or ASAP, is adjusting to the circumstances brought on by COVID-19 in providing access to programs and services that promote the well-being of active-duty and installation community members... MORE

433rd Airlift Wing deploys more Reserve Citizen Airmen to New York area
April 24, 2020 — The 433rd Airlift Wing has deployed more Reserve Citizen Airmen to the New York City area to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic response... MORE

Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen take a moment during preparations to deploy to New York area to help battle COVID-19 April, 22, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

DOD allows remote extension of ID cards
April 24, 2020 — !s your military ID card expiring, but with social distancing and various stay-at-home orders in effect, you aren't sure whether you'll be able to renew it? The Department of Defense has changed the process to allow service members and civilians to temporarily extend the life of their cards as the nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Feedback Fridays
April 24, 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

DOD starts tiered COVID-19 testing process to ensure safety
April 23, 2020 — The Defense Department is moving to a tiered COVID-19 testing program to protect service members and ensure they can continue to do the nation's business, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 22... MORE

A sailor in protective gear takes a Marine’s temperature.

USECAF, CMSAF visit AETC to see adjusted training operations in response to COVID-19
April 23, 2020 — While performing duties as Under Secretary of the Air Force, Shon Manasco, along with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, visited with Airmen at multiple training locations at Joint Base San Antonio and at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, April 22, 2020. The purpose of the visit was to see first-hand how Air Education and Training Command has adjusted operations to mitigate and minimize COVID-19 impacts to the basic, technical and flying training pipelines, all of which have been deemed mission essential... MORE

Airmen briefing visitors outside a building

More than 770 Air Force Reservists called up to provide medical support
April 23, 2020 — More than 150 additional Air Force Reserve medical specialists were mobilized in the latest Air Force Reserve call-up in support of COVID-19 relief efforts with most Reservists set to assist medical staff in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut... MORE

Want to transfer into the Space Force? Application period opens May 1
April 23, 2020 — The U.S. Space Force announced recently the opportunity for U.S. Air Force active duty members to volunteer to officially transfer into the new service begins May 1... MORE

Army Basic Combat Training resumes after pause, nearly 1,000 recruits ship this week
April 23, 2020 — The Army has resumed shipping recruits to basic combat training following a two-week pause to enact necessary COVID-19 mitigation efforts. More than 950 future Soldiers will begin pouring into initial training centers this week... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Jessy Kingrey directs troops to unload duffel bags after they arrived here from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

JBSA receives $9M in state grant funding for electrical upgrades
April 23, 2020 — Through a state grant, Joint Base San Antonio is slated for $9 million in upgrades to bolster physical security for its electrical infrastructure and replace overhead transmission lines with underground lines at one of its installations... MORE