JBSA-LACKLAND

More than 60 trainees from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland were guests of honor for a Thanksgiving feast Thursday at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Marbach Road.

A group of Air Force training instructors at JBSA-Lackland are celebrating their Hispanic Heritage this month in a subtle, yet powerful way.

A new section of Leon Creek Greenway trail is pushing the city’s trail network farther into the Southwest Side near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Brandon Rodriguez is a military training instructor for the 321st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland and has been serving for over a decade.

Keldon Johnson will tour the "Alamo Wing" at JBSA-Lackland.

First Lady Jill Biden to visit San Antonio this week.

Actor Channing Tatum paid a visit to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland last week to promote one of his upcoming films and learn about military working dogs.

This year, a modified version of Operation Home Cooking returned with fewer host families and trainees. Participants said they felt right at home with the host families who opened their doors for them.

A gate at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and a portion of West Military Drive are closed Monday due to a security incident.

To commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Joint Base San Antonio hosted simultaneous events at its installations at 7:46 a.m. on Friday.

Twenty privately owned horses were evacuated from the stables inside Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland due to massive flooding on Tuesday.

Although it’s still unclear if gunshots were actually fired outside of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland earlier this week, officials said as of Friday, the investigation is closed.

New protocols will go into effect starting with the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation at JBSA-Lackland scheduled for July 22.

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office will pay tribute to fallen deputies with a ceremony on Thursday morning.

SAN ANTONIO – The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland would be used to house unaccompanied migrant children. In a statement, John Kirby, the Pentagon’s press secretary, confirmed that the Department of Defense approved the request for JBSA-Lackland to be used. On Tuesday, Kirby hinted at the possibility of JBSA-Lackland and Fort Bliss being used in that capacity. “DoD will provide HHS officials access to these locations immediately to begin initial actions to prepare for receiving unaccompanied migrant children as soon as preparations are complete,” Kirby said. Also on KSAT:JBSA-Lackland asked to house unaccompanied migrant minors, Pentagon saysAdFreeman Coliseum may house migrant children if agreement is reached with federal government, Bexar County judge saysBiden taps VP Harris to lead response to border challenges

SAN ANTONIO – Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland may house migrant minors who are unaccompanied at the U.S.-Mexico border, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the Pentagon for the request, which the Department of Defense is reviewing, Kirby said. “What I can tell you is we have a request and those are the two sites that HHS just asked for support from,” Kirby said. Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding answers to the humanitarian situation at the border. The governor also demanded that the Biden Administration make clear what they are doing to prosecute human traffickers and address the surge in border crossings.

More than 30 defenders with the 433rd Security Forces Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing, returned to JBSA-Lackland on Sunday from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. These Reserve Citizen Airmen were mobilized to support ongoing United States Central Command operations, according to a news release. The 433rd Security Forces Squadron “trains unit members to meet wartime mission requirements while providing support assistance to its active duty counterparts,” as stated in a news release. The squadron also deploys security forces personnel, who provide Air Base defense, physical security, law enforcement and resource protection missions in any climate or location, officials say. : Military nonprofit helps soldiers, veterans turn stories into songs

SAN ANTONIO – The first batches of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine began arriving Monday at JBSA-Lackland. Lackland and Brooke Army Medical Center were among the first military installations in the country to receive the vaccine according to Air Force Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, Commander of the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland. ”We’re going to do everything possible to put shots in arms as quickly as possible,” DeGoes said Tuesday. The first shot was administered Monday to Maj. Andrew Gausepohl, an Air Force Doctor stationed at JBSA-Lackland. Like the rest of America, we hope that this is the beginning to kind of return to some normalcy.”Related Stories:

SAN ANTONIO – Seven U.S. Air Force basic trainees marched into history on Thursday during graduation ceremonies at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as the first enlisted members of the U.S. Space Force. “There’s lots of excitement ahead for these seven, and we couldn’t be more proud to have them on our team,” said Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of operations for the Space Force, following the graduation ceremony. The seven trainees will transfer to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to begin training for their new Space Force positions. “The training will include operating satellites like the Global Positioning System, as well as operating satellites protecting our country, missile warning satellites and operating radar stations around the globe,” Raymond said. San Antonio is among six finalists cities being considered for the location of the U.S. Space Command Headquarters.

SAN ANTONIO – Beginning Monday, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland will implement identification checks for everyone inside of a vehicle that is trying to enter the base. Officials believe this change will have several impacts, like extending wait times at the gate and increasing the number of vehicles having to turn around after not showing proper identification. As of now, JBSA is open for official business only. JBSA limits gate access, increases health protections after 13 positive cases on bases

SAN ANTONIO – A group of biomedical engineers at JBSA-Lackland changed up their daily routines in order to make face shields for health care workers who need them. They’ve now developed a way to 3-D print components of face shields that can be easily pieced together and shipped off to medical providers. The lab can produce 25 face shields every 10 hours. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.

SAN ANTONIO – In an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the U.S. Air Force plans a revised approach to how recruits enter the training pipeline at JBSA-Lackland. Air Force basic trainee at JBSA-Lackland tests positive for coronavirusUnder the plan, between 650 to 800 trainees will report for basic military training during the first two weeks and immediately enter into a 14-day restriction of movement protocol. Precautions include deep-cleaning dormitories, dining facilities and other infrastructure, in line with CDC guidance, as well as help reset the military training instructor cadre. Also, all trainee graduations will remain private and closed to the public, with Thursday graduation ceremonies being livestreamed on the USAF Basic Military Training Facebook page. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

SAN ANTONIO – The last of the quarantined evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship were released from their two-week, federally mandated quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on Wednesday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said. About 100 evacuees all ended their quarantine this week. Twenty people were released Monday, 75 were released on Tuesday and the remaining seven departed Wednesday morning, according to an HHS spokesperson. Fifteen of the quarantined evacuees tested positive for COVID-19 while in San Antonio, including one of the Wuhan evacuees, nine of the Diamond Princess evacuees and five of the Grand Princess evacuees. An HHS spokesperson said all have now been medically cleared and released from quarantine.

SAN ANTONIO – Joint Base San Antonio is ramping up safety precautions after more than a dozen employees tested positive for the novel coronavirus. JBSA said Sunday that gate access will be limited at Lackland, Randolph and Fort Sam Houston. 13 JBSA personnel test positive for coronavirusA total of 13 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at JBSA after officials said Sunday that two additional personnel tested positive for the virus. The first COVID-19 death in San Antonio was confirmed over the weekend. First COVID-19 death reported in San AntonioThe victim was a woman in her 80s who died at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Officials confirm 10 new cases of COVID-19 in Bexar County on Saturday, bringing the total to 39 CDC confirms three more Grand Princess evacuees at JBSA-Lackland test positive for coronavirusPassenger Steven Smith, goes through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Restless passengers on a coronavirus-struck cruise ship awaited their turn to disembark. (Michele Smith via AP) less Passenger Steven Smith, goes through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Area officials say most Bexar cases, 16, have been travel-related, nine have been contracted through community transmission and five are from close contact. Previously, the CDC said two passengers from the Grand Princess ship has contracted the virus.

Officials confirm 10 new causes of COVID-19 in Bexar County on Saturday, bringing the total to 39 CDC confirms three more Grand Princess evacuees at JBSA-Lackland test positive for coronavirusPassenger Steven Smith, goes through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Restless passengers on a coronavirus-struck cruise ship awaited their turn to disembark. (Michele Smith via AP) less Passenger Steven Smith, goes through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Area officials say most Bexar cases, 16, have been travel-related, nine have been contracted through community transmission and five are from close contact. Previously, the CDC said two passengers from the Grand Princess ship has contracted the virus.

Another cohort of cruise ship passengers arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on Tuesday night to be quarantined for the coronavirus. In total, 380 passengers from the Grand Princess are expected to be quarantined at the base, a CDC official confirmed Monday. The evacuees live in Texas or surrounding states, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg previously said. Over the weekend, San Antonio city officials learned that Joint Base San Antonio Lackland will again quarantine passengers. Those people were flown back into the country from Wuhan, China, where the virus first spread, and from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan.

The two new cases were confirmed as an evacuee from Wuhan, China, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. First coronavirus evacuees leave JBSA-Lackland after quarantine; 1 patient ‘treated and transferred’A total of 329 Americans were evacuated off the ship, which remains docked at a Japanese port, because they were at risk of contracting the virus. Messonnier said five evacuees transported to Travis tested positive, and another 11 passengers who tested positive are being treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s quarantine unit in Omaha. Thursday marked the end of the 14-day quarantine for the first group of coronavirus evacuees at Lackland from China. This week, local officials called for coronavirus evacuees to stay on a military base instead of being transported to local hospitals.

SAN ANTONIO – Thursday marked the end of the 14-day quarantine for the first group of coronavirus evacuees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland from China. The hospital sent out the following statement Thursday:We are pleased to announce the patient who tested positive for COVID-19 has been treated and transferred from Methodist Hospital | Texsan. JBSA-Lackland, Methodist Hospital Texsan, and the Texas Center for Infectious Disease are the only local facilities being used by the federal government in response to the outbreak. More Coronavirus Stories:From quarantined cruise ship to isolation at Lackland: SA native gives first-hand account of coronavirus evacuationCity, county officials join efforts to keep coronavirus evacuees at Lackland, away from local hospitalsSAQ: Why was JBSA-Lackland chosen to hold coronavirus evacuees? Department of Defense extends JBSA-Lackland quarantine zone availability to mid-MarchWhat we know about the coronavirus, cruise ship evacuees at Lackland

That group is still under quarantine.One person from the first influx of evacuees at Lackland was diagnosed with the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. From local politics and culture to national news that hits close to home, San Antonio Current has been keeping San Antonio informed for years. Its never been more important to support local news sources. If quality journalism is important to you, please consider a donation to San Antonio Current. Every reader contribution is valuable and so appreciated, and goes directly to support our coverage of critical issues and neighborhood culture.

A “very slow” process has brought a local couple once quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship back to San Antonio, but they haven’t made it home. Feds: 7 cruise ship passengers that landed at Lackland tested positive for coronavirus, sent to NebraskaThe number of Americans evacuated from Japan. Don and his wife, Natty, were evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. For the departing Americans, the evacuation cut short a 14-day quarantine that began aboard the cruise ship Feb. 5. The Department of Defense said JBSA-Lackland’s coronavirus quarantine zone will remain available to patients through mid-March.

SAN ANTONIO – Are you worried about the coronavirus? Following Thursday’s announcement that one of the people being held in quarantine at JBSA-Lackland has tested positive for the deadly disease, we decided to have a medical expert answer your questions. Coronavirus case confirmed in San Antonio, CDC saysDr. Bryan Alsip, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for University Health System, answers your questions about the coronavirus.

CDC confirms person at JBSA-Lackland infected with CoronavirusPublished: February 13, 2020, 9:26 amOfficials from the Centers for Disease Control and the City of San Antonio announced Thursday that a case of the novel coronavirus has been confirmed in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO – As Americans who have been potentially exposed to the 2019 novel coronavirus land in San Antonio on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a news conference with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This week, planes carrying U.S. citizens in Wuhan China are set to arrive at bases in three states: California, Texas and Nebraska. The passengers will remain at the bases after a federal quarantine order was issued. “This legal order is intended to protect the repatriated citizens, their families and the community,” officials said in a news release. WATCH: City, regional public health partners discuss coronavirusJoint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the only Texas quarantine location.

The passengers will be met by a team of CDC personnel to assess their health when they arrive. CDC staff will conduct risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler, including temperature checks and observing for respiratory symptoms, officials said. Some passengers being evacuated from China to the U.S. in response to the coronavirus outbreak in that country will be housed at JBSA-Lackland. CDC officials will work with the state and local public health departments to transport any passenger exhibiting symptoms to a hospital for further evaluation. The virus has infected more than 20,000 people across 26 countries and territories and killed more than 420, but the majority of cases -- currently an estimated 78% -- are coming from Hubei province in China, officials said.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said the Trump administration gave his office no advance notice of plans to quarantine up to 250 people at JBSA-Lackland to ensure they don't have the coronavirus. "They provided no notice at all," said Castro, a Democrat whose district includes the air base. "In fact, me and my office only read about it in press reports, along with other Texans and San Antonians. From local politics and culture to national news that hits close to home, San Antonio Current has been keeping San Antonio informed for years. If quality journalism is important to you, please consider a donation to San Antonio Current.

SAN ANTONIO - The 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has the mission of operating the Military Working Dogs Program for the Air Force. "So, when you look at dog training from a dog training perspective, there are two modalities that we train. The handler students train for about 11 weeks and the military working dog students train for about six months. He said it is not just about the training, but also building a bond with the military working dogs. The military working dog is now retired and lives with Kassebaum's family, he said.

SAN ANTONIO - Leadership at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland conceded Thursday they did not know the full extent of mold problems inside dorm rooms on base until pictures of the problems appeared on social media sites such as Facebook last week. Gen. Laura Lenderman, 502nd Air Base Wing & JBSA Commander. Officials gave area media a tour of some of the dorm rooms, showing the mold removal process, which included carpet and its padding being ripped off the floor. Since base leadership first publicly acknowledged the presence of mold last week, criticism has mounted over how they have handled the health hazard. The 502nd Air Base Wing has activated a website to address mold concerns.

"About three-quarters of permanent party dorms have been inspected with 16 percent evidencing mold presence. Gen. Laura Lenderman, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base-San Antonio commander, said in a statement. Courtesy: 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs OfficeLenderman said inspectors will also walk through other dorms rooms used to house technical training members for a second time. "For building 1215, 502d Civil Engineering professionals are working 28 rooms impacted by mold with an estimated completion date of Aug. 8," Lenderman said. In response to the mold discovery, about 200 airmen and technical training residents are now being relocated.