Joint Base San Antonio > News > News - Year 2020

149th Fighter Wing maintenance team makes face masks for Guard members
April 16, 2020 — When guidance came out that personnel on base should wear face coverings when within 6 feet of each other, one Air National Guard member with a personal 3D printer figured he could help. ... MORE

Staff Sgt. Paul Renker, 149th Maintenance Squadron hydraulics technician, wears a mask he made on his personal 3D printer for people in his unit who might need one after initial guidance came out about use and wear for Air Force personnel.

Cyber Airmen lead volunteerism during COVID-19 pandemic
April 15, 2020 — Airmen from JBSA-Lackland came together overnight on April 7 to volunteer for charge of quarters duties in support of Airmen across the base whose lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Steven Anderson, 688th Cyberspace Wing commander, Chief Master Sgt. Israel Jaeger, 688th Cyberspace Wing Command Chief, Capt. Nathan Spradley, 502nd Air Base Wing, Master Sgt. Stephanie Russ, 323rd Training Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Owen, 67th Operations Support Squadron, volunteer for charge of quarters duty in support of Basic Military Training Airmen overnight Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas. CQ duties include intake, tracking and reporting, wellness checks, meal and personal item delivery, and arranging transport upon release. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Israel Jaeger)

JBSA kids can reserve Month of the Military Child brat patches online with the Exchange
April 15, 2020 — During April, the Month of the Military Child, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is saluting the nation’s youngest heroes. The Exchange has partnered with Vanguard to create a free, limited-edition collectible iron-on patch celebrating military children who make Warfighters’ mission and focus possible. ... MORE

ARNORTH CG visits New York, New Jersey field medical sites
April 15, 2020 — Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general of U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, recently visited field medical sites at the Javits New York Medical Station in New York City and the Edison Field Medical Site in Edison, New Jersey, to view medical operations... MORE

Army Col. Kimberlee Aiello (right), 44th Medical Brigade commanding officer, gives Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general of U.S. Army North, a tour of the Javits New York Medical Station, April 12, 2020.

Preventing domestic violence during COVID-19 pandemic
April 15, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in global stay-at-home directives. This can place additional stress on family relationships and can make existing negative situations worse. Keeping military members and their families safe is a critical priority during these challenging times... MORE

Growth in DOD telework capability may outlive coronavirus pandemic
April 14, 2020 — The Department of Defense has greatly expanded its telework capability to keep business on track during the fight against coronavirus. Some of those enhancements may continue once the threat recedes, DOD's chief information officer said... MORE

Airmen must resist complacency, adhere to social distancing guidelines
April 14, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. One-in-five cases in the U.S. requiring hospitalization are people between the ages of 20 and 44. One-third of Department of Defense cases are in intensive care units. All Airmen are vulnerable, and overcoming this threat requires our entire Air Force to work together... MORE

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. One-in-five cases in the U.S. requiring hospitalization are people between the ages of 20 and 44. One-third of Department of Defense cases are in intensive care units. All Airmen are vulnerable, and overcoming this threat requires our entire Air Force working together. Airmen must do everything possible to protect themselves, others in their local community, and their Wingmen. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

New incentive fee plan gives residents, commanders stronger role in housing programs
April 14, 2020 — The Air Force is negotiating with privatized housing owners on a Performance Incentive Fee plan aimed at improving customer service and strengthening the role of installation commanders in privatized housing program quality... MORE

Photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the front side of two houses in the Dover Family Housing community absorb sunlight to generate electricity May 11, 2018, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Electricity generated by PV panels is transmitted to the electrical grid, not the individual house or houses. Occupants will not see a reduction in their electricity bill. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Manage pandemic stress with things you love, even video games and binge watching shows
April 14, 2020 — Whether living alone or with others, it is important to participate in creative activities and uphold good habits that relieve stress and maintain health. Eating well and getting plenty of sleep and exercise is important. Connecting frequently with friends and family members using electronic devices helps reduce anxiety. Military One Source provides more suggestions on ways to manage this crisis... MORE

Air Force Salutes campaign to honor those working the front lines
April 14, 2020 — The Air Force is promoting a campaign to recognize those on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Air Force Salutes is a way Airmen can honor someone in their community who doesn’t wear the Air Force uniform but still embodies the Air Force core value of service before self. ... MORE

Get MyPers access anywhere, anytime, from any device
April 14, 2020 — The Air Force Personnel Center has expanded the capabilities of myPers to be accessed anywhere, anytime and from any device... MORE

The Air Force Personnel Center has expanded the capabilities of myPers to be accessed anywhere, anytime, and from any device.

METC mission vital to force readiness, COVID-19 response
April 14, 2020 — While military and civilian healthcare workers around the globe do their part in the fight against COVID-19, the Medical Education and Training Campus, or METC, is preparing the future enlisted medical force to provide critical support to these frontline providers... MORE

Students and instructors in the Medical Education and Training Respiratory Therapist program practice safe distancing and wear face coverings while training with mechanical ventilators.

BEAR Base lends a paw to Joint Base San Antonio camp
April 14, 2020 — With a quick gesture from the gloved hand of a cloth, face-covered Airmen on the ramp, the air brakes squeal and hiss as the growls grow to a roar. A hint of diesel drifts on the breeze as the flatbed trucks march forward -- another truck is loaded, and more construction and maintenance supplies roll out to help the U.S. Air Force’s cubs – the Airmen at Basic Military Training in San Antonio. ... MORE

Staff Sgt. Enrique Flores, a container control officer from the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group, discusses the arrival of BEAR Base personnel to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 9, 2020. Flores is on a team of 635th MMG Airmen who are tracking the personnel and 1.2 million pounds of cargo support from Holloman Air Force Base. These expert Airmen and this vital equipment will help ensure that the Air Force’s basic training pipeline will endure throughout the COVID-19 response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Rosine)

National Guard chief: More Guard members to be called up
April 13, 2020 — More than 28,000 National Guard members are on duty as part of COVID-19 response efforts, and that number is expected to grow, the Guard’s top general says... MORE

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen collect nasal swabs

Lackland, Randolph Exchanges offer curbside pick up
April 13, 2020 — The Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph now offer Curbside Pick Up at the main store locations... MORE

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph now offer Curbside Pick Up at the main store locations.

AAFES supports ARNORTH, service members with mobile store at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
April 13, 2020 — To provide necessities for service members and personnel who are supporting operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service opened a Mobile Field Exchange store at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 6. ... MORE

A customer purchases items inside the Mobile Field Exchange trailer at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Brooke Army Medical Center dials in virtual healthcare to combat COVID-19
April 13, 2020 — Deb Deja’s follow-up visit with her provider at Brooke Army Medical Center was fast approaching when COVID-19 hit the news and the city. With a citywide stay-home order in place but pressing questions for her doctor, Deja became concerned by the thought of holding off on the appointment until a later date. ... MORE

Curbside pharmacy services garner praise from beneficiaries
April 13, 2020 — To help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the San Antonio Military Health System has implemented curbside drop-off and pick-up pharmacy services at many of its locations... MORE

Jose Dominguez, pharmacy technician at the Fort Sam Houston Community pharmacy, collects a patient’s prescription.

Newlyweds graduate Basic Military Training together
April 11, 2020 — Due to safety precautions established in response to COVID-19 family members have not been able attend the graduation of their loved one from Basic Military Training for a number of weeks. That didn’t stop one couple from seeing each other at their BMT graduation March 26... MORE

Newlyweds Austin Matthew Howard and Amanda Elizabeth Howard graduate Basic Military Training together March 26. (Courtesy Photo )

DOD ramps up COVID-19 response efforts from coast to coast
April 11, 2020 — The coronavirus pandemic is slowing down a lot of things, but not the Defense Department’s medical apparatus, which is now operating from coast to coast to bring its medical expertise and capacity to bear on the medical crisis around the nation... MORE