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Army Secretary: More deployments, stronger presence for Pacific
January 15, 2020 — Later this year, Soldiers will initiate five-month extended rotations to countries like Thailand, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said at the Brookings Institution Jan. 10... MORE

Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy speaks with Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow in the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution, during a speaking engagement in Washington, D.C., Jan. 10.

First Chief of Space Operations sworn in at White House event
January 15, 2020 — Vice President Mike Pence swore in Gen. John W. Raymond as the highest-ranking military leader of the newly created U.S. Space Force Jan. 14 at a White House ceremony that recognized the arrival of the nation’s newest, separate branch of the military... MORE

Air Force moving to comply with new certification requirements for Security Cooperation Workforce
January 14, 2020 — The Defense Security Cooperation Agency developed the requirements in response to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which directed the Defense Department to establish a Defense Security Cooperation Workforce Development Program... MORE

The Air Force is moving aggressively to comply with new certification requirements for military and civilian Airmen assigned to positions in the Security Cooperation Workforce.

Operational height waivers focus of latest "The Air Force Starts Here" podcast
January 14, 2020 — The 23rd episode of "The Air Force Starts Here," Air Education and Training Command's podcast series, focuses on flying training and was released Jan. 14. ... MORE

"The Air Force Starts Here" is Air Education and Training Command's professional development podcast. The professional development podcasts are designed to help communicate and inform Total Force Airmen across the globe on relevant, timely topics related to the recruiting, training, education and development fields and can be listened to on the government network on the AETC website, or via mobile application as well as on Apple Podcasts (iTunes). For Android or Google mobile users, the podcast can be found on their favorite third-party podcast phone application. (U.S. Air Force graphic / 1st Lt. Robert Guest)

Air Force surgeon general speaks to JBSA medics
January 14, 2020 — U.S. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy A. Hogg spoke to medics during a Jan. 9 visit to Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Dorothy A. Hogg speaks to doctors, nurses and technicians Jan. 9, 2020 during a visit to Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Airmen from BAMC and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center gathered for a town hall to hear Hogg’s perspective on the future of military medicine and ask questions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Katherine Spessa//Released)

National Stalking Awareness Month draws attention to unique crime
January 14, 2020 — January 2020 marks the 16th Annual Stalking Awareness Month, and the Violence Prevention Integrators are encouraging all members of our community to heighten our awareness of this negative, and potentially dangerous, aspect of interpersonal violence... MORE

Stalking is a unique crime, and preventing it calls for focused safety planning, thorough investigations, and implementation of policies/procedures to ensure an effective response.

I-WEPTAC 2020 registration opens
January 14, 2020 — Registration for the fourth annual Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference opened Jan. 7... MORE

Registration for the fourth annual Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference opened Jan. 7

BASHing bird strikes aim of JBSA-Randolph program
January 13, 2020 — A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft, but the term is often expanded to cover other wildlife strikes, such as bats or ground animals. ... MORE

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence welcomes new commander
January 13, 2020 — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, conducted a change of command ceremony Jan. 10, where Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent relinquished command to Maj. Gen. Dennis P. LeMaster... MORE

(From left) Maj. Gen. Dennis P. LeMaster, Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey and Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent salute the national colors during the playing of the national anthem during the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 10.

Air Force beta-tests adaptive learning platform in basic military training
January 13, 2020 — Air Education and Training Command’s emphasis on the use of technology to aggressively and cost-effectively modernize education and training took another step forward here with the issuance of personal tablets to two in-processing flights at Basic Military Training... MORE

U.S. Air Force basic military training trainees are issued personal computers during in-processing as part of a pilot test under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement partnership at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Dec. 11, 2019. The computers replace all hard copy textbooks BMT trainees currently use with the intent to help BMT assess learning outcomes, value and return on investment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong)

U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) celebrates 77 years
January 13, 2020 — It was 77 years ago when Fifth Army officially activated, Jan. 5, 1943, at Oujda, French Morocco. In 2004, with its rich, vibrant history that originated during the ongoing battles of World War II, Fifth Army became U.S. Army North... MORE

Spc. Dazhir Walker, 323d U.S. Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own;” Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and senior commander, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Noles; and Army North Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, senior enlisted leader, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, cut a cake to celebrate Fifth Army’s 77th birthday at the Military & Family Readiness Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 10.

Feedback Fridays
January 13, 2020 — 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. ... MORE

Smoke alarms: a fire safety success story
January 10, 2020 — The fire safety success story of the past quarter century has been smoke detectors. The battery-powered smoke detector has reduced home fire deaths by half since its introduction on to the market... MORE

According to the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, an estimated 94 percent of homes in the United States have at least one smoke detector in the home. The death rate has been 40-50 percent less than the rate for homes without smoke detectors.

Pilot Training Next’s third class underway at JBSA-Randolph
January 10, 2020 — Pilot Training Next begins the New Year with the start of the third iteration at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Jan. 8... MORE

Pilot Training Next begins the New Year with the start of the third iteration at Joint Base San Antonio - Randolph, Texas Jan. 8.

AFIMSC announces 2020 Innovation Rodeo finalists
January 10, 2020 — Eight finalists for the 2020 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo were selected out of 143 submissions and nearly 2,000 online votes to compete for a share of $1 million in funding and resources to implement their ideas. One finalist is from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland... MORE

AFIMSC announced finalists for the 2020 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo on Jan. 9.

Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new version of SSN scam
January 10, 2020 — Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new variations of tax-related scams. In the latest twist on a scam related to Social Security numbers, scammers claim to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s SSN... MORE

In the latest twist on a scam related to Social Security numbers, scammers claim to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s SSN. It’s yet another attempt by con artists to frighten people into returning “robocall” voicemails.

Mutual aid agreements provide essential support for JBSA, local fire emergency services
January 10, 2020 — Joint Base San Antonio Fire Emergency Services currently consists of eight fires stations and 220 personnel who respond to more than 4,000 emergencies annually. While this may seem adequate, JBSA’s stations are located so far apart that sometimes assistance is needed more quickly that their JBSA reinforcements can arrive... MORE

A firefighter from Joint Base San Antonio assesses fire movement and terrain at JBSA-Camp Bullis Aug. 19, 2019.

Retirement nears for ‘best of friends’ who devoted 80 years to mission
January 9, 2020 — Retired senior NCOs Tony Williams and Marilyn Cunningham first crossed paths when they were instructors at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, nearly 30 years ago. At 2 p.m. Jan. 31 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Kendrick Club, Cunningham and Williams will be honored at a ceremony marking their second retirement – this time from civil service after long, rewarding military careers... MORE

Marilyn Cunningham and her husband, Tony Williams, Air Education and Training Command Directorate of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection acquisition program managers, pose for a photo in Williams’ workspace Dec. 23, 2019, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. At 2 p.m. Jan. 31 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Kendrick Club, Cunningham and Williams will be honored at a ceremony marking their second retirement – this time from civil service after long, rewarding military careers.

CSAF visits JBSA-Lackland on Standing Watch tour
January 9, 2020 — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein met with Airmen from the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Jan. 4 and visited other Air Force bases with Airmen who stand watch 24-7-365 to show appreciation for their efforts, sacrifice and to recognize and increase awareness of this vital mission... MORE

Joint Base San Antonio skies a "no-drone" zone
January 9, 2020 — Personal drone operation is prohibited at all Joint Base San Antonio locations... MORE

Drone technologies have advanced to the point where they are safe and affordable to own and will likely find their way into many homes over the holidays. These systems can be a lot of fun for people of all ages and appear to be here to stay. But before you fly, there are some important things to know about operating drones, also known as small unmanned aircraft systems, or SUAS, at 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio locations.