Joint Base San Antonio > News

Calling inspires lasting legacy of service in Air Force for chaplain at 149th Fighter Wing
May 27, 2021 — "Sometimes, when you volunteer, it's not about the pay; it's about what drives you from the soul." That statement pretty much sums up retired U.S. Air Force chaplain Col. Paula Payne's life mantra. Yes, she is retired. No, she is not done serving her country. Payne's life of service began in 1981 at St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, where she was working as a secondary and adult education teacher... MORE

Woman in military uniform behind podium.

Air Force releases updated fitness test score breakdown
May 27, 2021 — Without the waist measurement as a scored component, push-ups and sit-ups will increase from 10 to 20 points each, while the 1.5-mile run will remain at 60 points. Scoring will fall into five-year age groups, as opposed to the previous 10... MORE

Physical fitness testing will resume July 1, 2021. Several changes have been made to the test to include increasing scoring for push-ups and sit-ups from 10 to 20 points each, five-year age groups and the waist measurement no longer being required. The Air Force has also worked on alternative strength and cardiovascular testing exercise options with plans to announce them in the coming weeks.

Army South hosts U.S. Army-Peruvian Army Staff Talks
May 27, 2021 — During the Sixth Annual U.S.-Peruvian Army Staff Talks held virtually May 20, the U.S. Army and the Army of Peru strengthened the relationship between the two nations by agreeing to future military-to-military training opportunities. ... MORE

Two men, one U.S. Army, one Peruvian army, sitting at a table talking.

BAMC military health experts encourage COVID-19 vaccines for teens
May 27, 2021 — With the recent authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for youth ages 12 to 15, Air Force Col. Heather Yun, Brooke Army Medical Center’s Deputy Commander of Medical Services, is now encouraging other parents to consider the vaccine for their adolescents as well... MORE

960th CW hosts Mental Health and Resiliency Fair at JBSA
May 26, 2021 — The 960th Cyberspace Wing kicked off National Mental Health Awareness Month by inviting service members, civilians and their families to its inaugural Mental Health and Resiliency Fair at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland May 1 with more than 800 attendees both in-person and virtually... MORE

Maj. Joya Gamara, 854th Combat Operations Squadron chief of combat plans division, speaks with Christina Avalos, 960th Cyberspace Wing psychological health volunteer, and Christyn Mundy, 960th CW psychological health intern, during the Mental Health and Resiliency Fair, May 1, 2021, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Samantha Mathison)

Senate committee considers Frank Kendall’s nomination as 26th Air Force secretary
May 26, 2021 — Frank Kendall told the Senate Armed Services Committee May 25 that if he is confirmed as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force he will continue reshaping the Air and Space forces to confront near-peer adversaries such as China, nurture the Space Force’s successful evolution and ensure that Airmen, Guardians and their families are well served... MORE

DLIELC mobile training team support to Southeast Asia moves forward
May 26, 2021 — The Defense Language Institute English Language Center re-engaged its support of the Indo-Pacific strategy in early April 2021 by deploying Mobile Training Teams to the Vietnam Ministry of National Defense Center for Student Management and Advanced Officer Training (Unit 871) in Hanoi, and the Royal Thai Military Academies and Language Institutes in Bangkok, Thailand... MORE

DLIELC instructor Phil Reed shown in scenic photo in Hanoi, Vietnam.

TRICARE beneficiaries ages 12 and older now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
May 26, 2021 — On May 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded its emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine. This means children ages 12-15 are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination... MORE

Service member administers COVID-19 vaccine to teen from car

Four JBSA members among 2021 AETC Outstanding Airmen of Year
May 26, 2021 — Four members of Joint Base San Antonio are among the 2021 Air Education and Training Command Outstanding Airmen of the Year. These awards recognize the important contributions, significant accomplishments and the highest qualities of leadership exhibited by enlisted, officer, and civilian members representing a cross-section of career fields... MORE

Graphic image of 2021 AETC Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

AFCEC initiative targets infrastructure readiness, disaster recovery
May 26, 2021 — In less than six months, natural disasters shut down two major bases and bottlenecked critical training and mission operations for months. Initially, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Facility Engineering Directorate managed both of these recoveries and rebuild projects through separate program management offices. ... MORE

Hurricane Florence brought tropical storm conditions to North Carolina and South Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018. This satellite image was captured by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association satellite on Sept. 12, 2018.

Command chief ‘beyond humbled’ to serve with Warhawk family
May 26, 2021 — Just over 26 years ago, an 18-year-old from Berlin, Massachusetts, experienced equal parts of shock and awe when he first stepped onto Lackland Air Force Base to begin his Air Force journey. Now the command chief for the 37th Training Wing, Chief Master Sgt. Michael Morgan is well over his shock, but the awe is still there... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Morgan sits in a helicopter at the IAAFA hangar May 10, 2021.

502d ABW civilian forums aim to achieve deliberate development
May 25, 2021 — The 502d Air Base Wing is hosting forums aimed at deliberate development of the roughly 5,000-member civilian workforce, the next of which is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. June 9 at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Training Center Auditorium, 2432 Carswell Avenue at JBSA-Lackland... MORE

502nd LRS traffic managers provide safe, reliable transportation for BMT graduates during COVID-19
May 25, 2021 — Despite the challenges brought about by COVID-19, the 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Deployment and Distribution Flight at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is helping to provide safe and reliable transportation for Basic Military Training graduates transitioning to their technical school locations... MORE

Airman prepare to load a commercial aircraft.

TRADOC hosts first People First Symposium at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
May 25, 2021 — The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command conducted its first People First Symposium at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 17-20... MORE

Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio visits Nimitz Middle School Junior Cadets
May 25, 2021 — To forge relationships with young students in Military City USA, leadership of Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio and members of the Central Texas Chapter of the National Naval Officers Association visited Nimitz Middle School May 20... MORE

JBSA’s Exceptional Family Member Program provides support, builds resilience
May 24, 2021 — When Lt. Cmdr. Liezl Nicholas arrived at Joint Base San Antonio with her family, she was unsure where to start looking for resources for her special needs son until she contacted a coordinator at one of JBSA's Exceptional Family Member Program-Family Support offices... MORE

A family walking away holding hands in a park.

AETC COVID-19 oral history with 59th Medical Wing
May 24, 2021 — In episode 50 of "The Air Force Starts Here," we look back at how the COVID-19 pandemic changed Air Force training. Gary Boyd, Air Education and Training Command historian, speaks with Maj. Gen. John J. DeGoes, the former 59th Medical Wing commander, who has been credited by Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, AETC commander, as a pivotal leader in fighting the pandemic. ... MORE

802nd CES Environmental Assets Branch helping preserve history at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
May 22, 2021 — May is Historic Preservation Month and the 802nd Civil Engineer Squadron’s Environmental Assets branch is involved in the preservation of several historic resources throughout Joint Base San Antonio... MORE

In their own words: 12th FTW members continue vaccine push
May 21, 2021 — Members of the 12th Flying Training Wing are continuing vaccinations, doing their part to eradicate the COVID-19 virus... MORE

12th FTW members get COVID-19 Vaccinations

DOD seeing encouraging COVID-19 vaccination rates
May 21, 2021 — As of May 20, the Defense Department has administered over 3.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to eligible DOD personnel, with 58% of active duty members having had at least one dose and 44% fully vaccinated, DOD health leaders said... MORE

A sailor in personal protective gear handles a test kit at a drive-through COVID-19 test site.