Looming government shutdown could present challenges for military servicemembers
As the government shutdown deadline approaches, there is growing concern about the financial uncertainty service members and their families could face, and it remains to be seen whether Congress can come to an agreement and avert this potential crisis.
Basic military training graduation at JBSA-Lackland: When a cadet becomes an airman
Itโs an early morning start at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Hundreds of families and friends gather from across the country to see their loved ones graduate from the United States Air Force basic military training.
Face masks required for employees, visitors at JBSA facilities regardless of vaccination status
As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge in Bexar County, Joint Base San Antonio is now requiring masks to be worn at all of its indoor federal facilities, regardless of vaccination status.
Anniversary marks day American evacuees from Wuhan, China arrived at JBSA- Lackland
SAN ANTONIO โ Editorโs note: This story is a look back at some of the biggest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Air Force via AP, File)One of the evacuees later became the first official COVID-19 patient in San Antonio and Texas. The first San Antonio infection increased the nationโs COVID-19 case count to 15, but no deaths were reported at the time. All were eventually medically cleared and on March 25, the last of the evacuees left San Antonio. AdThis Feb. 2, 2020, photo provided by the Department of Defense shows empty lodging facilities at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Skeletal remains found at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston identified
SAN ANTONIO โ Partial skeletal human remains found in late December at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston have been identified. Dental records and family members help identify the victim as Juan Santiago, according to JBSA officials. The victim lived in Massachusetts prior to moving to San Antonio in June 2020. The remains were found Dec. 27 near Salado Creek in the northeast part of the post by some people walking in the area. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is continuing its probe into Santiagoโs death.
Drill sergeant at Joint Base San Antonio shot, killed on New Yearโs Day along I-10, officials say
SAN ANTONIO โ A drill sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the JBSA. Sergeant Jessica Mitchell, a 68E Dental Specialist, was pronounced dead at University Hospital San Antonio at around 3 a.m. on Friday, according to the JBSA. San Antonio Police Department and the Armyโs Criminal Investigation Division are still investigating the situation. โWe are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchellโs family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time,โ said Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, the MEDCoE Commanding General.
Human remains found at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
SAN ANTONIO โ Human skeletal remains were found Sunday night at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, officials said. According to a news release, the remains were found near Salado Creek in the northeast part of the installation by some people who were walking in the area. The news release said there are no active missing person cases at JBSA and there is no danger to JBSA residents or the community. JBSA officials and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are coordinating with local law enforcement on the investigation.
First 7 Space Force enlistees graduate from Air Force basic training at JBSA-Lackland
SAN ANTONIO โ The first seven U.S. Space Force enlistees are set to graduate from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on Thursday. The seven enlistees will graduate days before the U.S. Space Force marks its first anniversary on Dec. 20. Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett will be a guest speaker at the ceremony. The Space Force is the first new military service since the U.S. Air Force was established in 1947. Senator John Cornyn sent a letter Barrett in support of selecting San Antonio as the U.S. Space Commandโs future headquarters.
2 service members found dead at JBSA identified by authorities
SAN ANTONIO โ Two service members who were found dead in two separate incidents at Joint Base San Antonio last week have been identified. JBSA officials said Army Spc. Details surrounding their deaths were not released, but JBSA officials said foul play is not suspected in the separate incidents. Gen. Caroline Miller, the commander of the 502d Air Base Wing and JBSA, said in a news release. He was assigned to the 59th Medical Wing, officials said.
Service member found dead at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
SAN ANTONIO โ A service member was found dead Wednesday at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, officials said. The service memberโs name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, a news release said. The incident is under investigation. No other information was released.
JBSA dining facilities closed to public for holiday dining
SAN ANTONIO โ The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled another Joint Base-San Antonio Thanksgiving tradition. Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, Department of Defense civilians, retirees and family members will not be able to dine or attend the Thanksgiving meal served across JBSA dining facilities, a news release said. This is the latest holiday tradition to affect JBSA. โMission Thanksgiving,โ a popular holiday program where San Antonio community members provide a home-cooked meal to soldiers in medical training at Fort Sam Houston, was canceled to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, โOperation Home Cookingโ and โOperation Family Feast,โ two similar Thanksgiving meal programs for Airmen in basic military training and technical training was called off due to COVID-19.
Two military hospitals in San Antonio participating in AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial
SAN ANTONIO โ Two military hospitals in San Antonio are participating in COVID-19 vaccine trials, and approximately 100 people are already taking part in the study. Peggy Smith is part of the team at BAMC that is participating in the COVID-19 vaccine trial under Operation Warp Speed. The AstraZeneca vaccine trial has an overall target enrollment of 30,000 participants. The vaccine trial kicked off in San Antonio on Nov. 5. You can also call the Brooke Army Medical Center (Site Code: BAMC) recruitment phone number at 253-924-9458 or email covidbamc@genevausa.org.
350 JBSA children receive donated backpacks, school supplies from Operation Homefront
SAN ANTONIO A total of 350 military children in San Antonio now have a brand new backpack for the start of the new school year. The giveaway was part of the Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade, which was held Saturday morning at the AT&T Centers parking lot. The donated backpacks were filled with essential school supplies and were given out to students in need of them. Operation Homefront has been donating backpacks to students since 2008. RELATED: San Antonio-area teachers share expectations for the upcoming school year
Shooting victim dropped off outside JBSA-Fort Sam Houston gate
SAN ANTONIO A shooting victim was dropped off outside a gate at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston on Thursday morning. According to a Fort Sam Houston official, a man suffering from a gunshot wound was dropped off outside the gate on George Beach Road by someone in a car around 9 a.m.Air Force Security Force members treated the man at the scene and was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center. A condition on the man wasnt immediately available. The driver of the vehicle immediately fled the area. The San Antonio Police Department is investigating.
JBSA air show canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
SAN ANTONIO โ The Joint Base San Antonio Air Show that was scheduled for November has been canceled due to COVID-19. Gen. Caroline Miller, commander, JBSA and 502d Air Base Wing. The next air show is scheduled for April 23-24, 2022, at JBSA-Randolph, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. This is the second big event in San Antonio that was scheduled for November and had to be canceled. The 11-day citywide bash, Fiesta, which had already been postponed in April, was canceled last week due to coronavirus concerns.
Soldier found dead at Fort Sam Houston identified; death under investigation, officials say
SAN ANTONIO The U.S. Army announced Tuesday that a soldier was found dead at Fort Sam Houston on Saturday, the soldier has been positively identified and his death is being investigated. Related: U.S. Army soldier found dead at Fort Sam Houston, officials sayThe Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs office said National Guardsman Sergeant Kelvonta K. Ellis, 22, from Westlake, Louisiana was found dead in his room at Fort Sam Houston on July 12. Ellis was part of Louisianas Army National Guards 39th Military Police Company, 139th Regional Support Group, the public affairs office said. According to officials, Ellis served five years in the Louisiana Army National Guard as a military police noncommissioned officer. Army officials say Ellis is survived by his mother.
U.S. Army soldier found dead at Fort Sam Houston, officials say
SAN ANTONIO โ The military is investigating the death of a soldier at Fort Sam Houston, according to Joint Base San Antonio public affairs division. โA U.S. Army Soldier was found dead on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston July 12,โ a statement from JBSA said. โThe service memberโs name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.โThe incident is under investigation by U.S. Airforce Security Forces and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. No other details were provided about the circumstances of the soldierโs death. KSAT will continue to update this story as details become available.
Joint Base San Antonio to discontinue โFor Official Business Onlyโ access to installations
SAN ANTONIO โ Joint Base San Antonio will discontinue โFor Official Business Onlyโ access to installations and change the Health Protection Condition to Bravo. All Department of Defense ID cardholders will have access to the installation and the ability to vouch for occupants in their vehicles. HPCON Bravo indicates a moderate disease threat and risk of exposure to personnel, and the public health emergency remains in effect on JBSA. Installation fitness centers will also open May 26 to uniformed military members only (Active Duty, Reserve and Guard members) with procedures and limiting numbers in place to better protect and lessen the spread. More details on the fitness centers can be found by clicking here.
JBSA-Lackland lab producing face shields for health care workers
SAN ANTONIO โ 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. Theyโve 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.
Air Force basic trainee at JBSA-Lackland tests positive for coronavirus
SAN ANTONIO โ A trainee in the Air Forceโs basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has tested positive for COVID-19, Air Force officials announced Wednesday. The trainee is the first to test positive for the novel coronavirus at basic military training, according to a news release. โWhile a positive COVID-19 discovery is not desirable, the good news is we planned for this and our preparations worked. During the restriction, traineesโ exposure to other populations is โextremely limited" and social distancing is enforced, according to the news release. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019.
Coronavirus safety measures at local military bases cause headaches for drivers
Coronavirus safety measures at local military bases cause headaches for driversPublished: March 23, 2020, 2:06 pmExtra safety measures being taken at local military bases in response to the coronavirus pandemic are adding up to a bit of a headache for drivers.
15 JBSA personnel test positive for coronavirus
SAN ANTONIO โ Updated Monday at 7 p.m.Joint Base San Antonio officials have announced two additional personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 15 confirmed cases. Updated Sunday at 5:32 p.m.Two additional personnel at Joint Base San Antonio have been infected by the novel coronavirus, bringing the total to 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases at JBSA. Updated Friday @ 4:24 p.m.:Three personnel at Joint Base San Antonio have tested positive for COVID-19 test results, bringing the total to seven confirmed cases on JBSA, officials said Friday. Previously:Three personnel at Joint Base San Antonio have received positive COVID-19 test results, officials said Thursday. Contact tracing is underway by public health officials, and all three people are in isolation at their homes.
CDC hosts news conference on novel coronavirus quarantine orders
SAN ANTONIO โ 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. โThis legal order is intended to protect the repatriated citizens, their families and the community,โ officials said in a news release. WATCH: City, regional public health partners discuss coronavirusJoint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the only Texas quarantine location.