Joint Base San Antonio > News > News - Year 2020

New AER program to offer $1,500 for out-of-pocket childcare costs
January 29, 2020 — Army Emergency Relief will begin providing up to $1,500 Feb. 1 to help cover childcare costs for Soldiers and families who move to a new duty station... MORE

Army Emergency Relief will start offering up to $1,500 on Feb. 1 as part of a program to offset costs that arise when there's no availability at on-post childcare facilities and more expensive civilian services are required.

Minimize risk of ACFT injury by training smart
January 29, 2020 — Is the new Army Combat Fitness Test stressing you out? There are all of these new exercises--dead lifts, power throws, hand release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, and the leg tuck. How do you build the needed core fitness strength? Is it possible to train for the ACFT without hurting yourself?... MORE

U.S. Army Advanced Individual Training students perform leg tucks during an Army Combat Fitness Test at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 28, 2019. Leg tucks are the fifth event in the ACFT as it is a test of upper body and core muscle endurance that requires Soldiers to complete as many repetitions as possible in two minutes.

JBSA-Randolph main gate closing Feb. 26
January 29, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Main Gate closes Feb. 26 for construction work, reopening in April... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Main Gate closes Feb. 26 for construction work, reopening April 1.

Want to vote? The Federal Voting Assistance Program can help
January 29, 2020 — Voting season is fast approaching, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program is ready to help service members and families exercise the right to vote... MORE

Voting season is fast approaching, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program is ready to help service members and families exercise the right to vote.

Area school superintendents, administrators tour JBSA-Lackland
January 28, 2020 — Area school superintendents and administrators got to see a military working dog demonstration and watch a basic military training graduation during a tour of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Jan. 23... MORE

Staff Sgt. Matthew Erfman, 802nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler (left) and Staff Sgt. Sean Tucker, 802nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler (right) conduct a demonstration with military working dog Tarzan before a group of area school superintendents and administrators at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Annex Jan. 23. The group of 15 school superintendents and administrators toured JBSA-Lackland at the invitation of JBSA leaders.

Air Force Chief of Staff offers optimistic update on AF’s evolution, future
January 28, 2020 — Creating a system that uses data, machine learning and state-of-the art software to seamlessly link “sensors to shooters” across all domains – air, land, sea, cyber and space – is among Goldfein’s highest priorities as the Air Force’s highest-ranking military officer... MORE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein during an appearance Jan. 27 at the Center for a New American Security, emphasized the importance of a strong presence in space and the need to harness data. Both, he said, are central to ensuring that the Air Force is able to meet and prevail against modern-day threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)

U.S. Space Force seeks civilians to join staff
January 28, 2020 — The U.S. Space Force, the new branch of the Armed Forces established Dec. 20, has begun advertising to fill civilian staff positions in its initial headquarters, called the Office of the Chief of Space Operations... MORE

he U.S. Space Force, the new branch of the Armed Forces established Dec. 20, has begun advertising to fill civilian staff positions in its initial headquarters, called the Office of the Chief of Space Operations. Advertisements for the first 35 positions were posted last week, with a second wave of positions to follow soon.

MICC employee recognized for volunteer efforts
January 28, 2020 — The Mission and Installation Contracting Command audit compliance officer from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, was named volunteer of the year for 2019 by DreamWeek during a ceremony Jan. 17 in San Antonio... MORE

Dr. Betty Harris receives the 2019 DreamWeek Volunteer of the Year award from Shokare Nakpodia during a ceremony Jan. 17 in San Antonio. Harris has volunteered more than 100 hours supporting the annual event during the past five years. Harris is an audit compliance officer with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Nakpodia is the founder of DreamWeek in San Antonio.

Coronavirus: What providers, patients should know
January 28, 2020 — With news of the contagious and potentially deadly illness known as novel coronavirus grabbing headlines worldwide, military health officials say that an informed, common sense approach minimizes the chances of getting sick... MORE

A dental assistant with the 319th Medical Group, demonstrates proper sanitary procedure by putting on a face mask at the medical treatment facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.

ARNORTH leader observes joint U.S.-Canadian Army training
January 28, 2020 — Maj. Gen. David Glaser, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) deputy commanding general, met with Major-General Stephen Cadden, Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre commander, and Col. David Gardner, Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group commander, to observe U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces exercising together Jan. 21 at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana... MORE

Maj. Gen. David Glaser, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) deputy commanding general, met with Major-General Stephen Cadden, Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre commander, and Col. David Gardner, Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group commander, to observe U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces exercising together Jan. 21 at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Tryouts begin for AETC Defender Challenge team selection
January 28, 2020 — Security Forces Airmen from across Air Education and Training Command have begun tryouts here in hopes of earning a spot on the command’s Defender Challenge team... MORE

Security Forces Airmen take part in the pull-up portion of a physical fitness test on the opening day of the Air Education and Training Command Defender Challenge team tryout at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Jan. 27, 2020. The five-day selection camp includes a physical fitness test, M-9 and M-4 weapons firing, the alpha warrior obstacle course, a ruck march and also includes a military working dog tryout as well.

Mid-season flu activity increase: How to keep healthy
January 27, 2020 — Influenza can affect anyone, from the everyday civilian to the active duty service member. Current trends show an increase in flu activity at the halfway point of the season... MORE

Seaman Kenny Liu, a Navy hospital corpsman assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's medical department, prepares a needle with a flu vaccination in the ship's hangar bay.

Maintaining our Maintainers: 12th MXG focuses on hiring for upcoming JBSA-Randolph missions
January 27, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force maintainer career field at JBSA-Randolph is a strictly civilian, fast-paced, 24/7 operation which includes aircraft mechanics, aircraft engine mechanics, avionic technicians, egress technicians, and many more positions. The need for maintainers is a direct result of the several new missions being assigned to JBSA-Randolph and the 12th MXG, including the arrival of the T-7 Red Hawk, in 2021. ... MORE

Seven Hallmark University College of Aeronautics graduates, and new hires for the 12th Maintenance Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, show off their new 12th MXG gear at their graduation ceremony Jan. 23, 2020. These hires were a direct result of the 12th MXG’s push for recruitment and new employees for the upcoming missions slated for JBSA-Randolph.

New Year, Better You
January 27, 2020 — With 2020 underway, many people have fitness goals they would like to accomplish this year and Claudia Holtz, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Health Promotions Manager, is here to help... MORE

DOD innovation units join forces to engage small business
January 27, 2020 — In the collaborative nature of innovation efforts in the Department of Defense, five agencies came together to present the first-ever Joint Small Business Innovation Research Open Topic for the first application period of 2020... MORE

Senior Airman Alzara Kimalova, Air Force Sustainment Center contract specialist, is walked through power-off procedures for C-130H aircraft through virtual reality technology at the Inaugural Pitch Day hosted by the Robins Spark Cell and AFSC Contracting located at Robins Air Force Base, Sept. 20, 2019, at the Advanced Technology and Training Center in Warner Robins, Georgia. The event is an initial prototype effort to assess the capabilities of current commercially available virtual reality training systems when used in a military environment, particularly within the 461st and 116th Air Control Wings at Robins.

AETC, AMC team up on VR solutions for modern C-130 training
January 27, 2020 — Headquarters Air Force, Air Mobility Command, and Air Education and Training Command have been working on a virtual-reality platform for maintenance training through Mass Virtual, a contractor that scans real-world objects to create virtual environments. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kenneth Renfrow, 19th Maintenance Group maintenance qualifications training instructor, uses a virtual reality headset

JBSA libraries joining global celebration with Harry Potter Book Night
January 24, 2020 — The publication of British author J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” more than 20 years ago sparked a literary and cultural phenomenon that had a huge impact on children and adults alike, introducing them to a magical world of wizards, witches and muggles... MORE

The publication of British author J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” more than 20 years ago sparked a literary and cultural phenomenon that had a huge impact on children and adults alike, introducing them to a magical world of wizards, witches and muggles.
That world will come to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston’s Sam Houston Community Center as the JBSA libraries join a global celebration from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 6.

U.S. Army Installation Management Command welcomes new commanding general
January 24, 2020 — Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram assumed command of U.S. Army Installation Management Command in an assumption of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 22. Gabram assumed command from Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire, who has served as acting commanding general since August 2019... MORE

Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram (left) assumes command of the Installation Management Command Jan. 22 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Air Force Cyber leaders visit LevelUp Code Works
January 24, 2020 — Air Force Cyber leaders visit LevelUp Code Works... MORE

Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh (left) Sixteenth Air Force/Air Forces Cyber Commander, accompanied by Command Chief Master Sgt. Summer Leifer (center), visit Col. Abel Carreiro (right), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, to take a first-hand look at LevelUp Code Works, the U.S. Air Force's arm that aims to deliver rapidly deployable software to support Air Force and Department of Defense missions located in downtown San Antonio. The partnership with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center enables develop, secure, deploy, and operate applications technology across the full range of Sixteenth Air Force missions.

Army updates Law of Land Warfare doctrine to increase guidance, clarity
January 23, 2020 — To help Soldiers to better understand the complex rules of war, the Army has released Field Manual 6-27, the Commander's Handbook on the Law of Land Warfare... MORE

Soldiers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assault an objective during a situational training exercise at an urban assault training village near Amman, Jordan, Sept. 2, 2019. In August, the Army released an updated version of its guide on the Law of Armed Conflict, Field Manual 6-27, the Commander's Handbook on the Law of Land Warfare. The publication helps guide U.S. troops comply with international and host nation laws. The manual also aids partner nations in gaining an understanding of U.S. military operations and regulations.