Articles

March 15, 2024

59th MDW DEIA Committee Marks One-Year Milestone in Inclusion Efforts

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Lackland, Texas — Amidst the changing tides of social consciousness and policy directives, Col. Aquilla Highsmith-Tyler stands at the forefront of the 59th Medical Wing’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. With unwavering dedication, she leads a charge to transform the military landscape into one that values every individual's unique identity and experiences. Inspired by President Joe Biden's Executive Order 14035, Highsmith-Tyler and her team aim to cultivate a workplace where mutual respect and understanding reign supreme. Through education and awareness initiatives, they seek to dismantle barriers that hinder inclusivity and diversity within the organization, believing that embracing differences will only strengthen their mission capabilities and elevate patient care standards.

Jan. 14, 2024

Operation AGILE Medic, communication is key

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CAMP BULLIS, Texas — During the first week of December 2023, the Air Force, Army and Marines collaborated in Operation AGILE Medic at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, providing medics with real-world experience in austere environments transporting patients and implementing hands-on Medic-X training. Throughout the joint exercise, medics were faced with unexpected scenarios, where they had to communicate between the Expeditionary Medical Support unit to the En Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS) team to Air Evacuation and, or, Critical Care Air Transport team, and vice versa.

Sept. 13, 2023

Mission of compassion: surgeons restore sight and forge connections in Panama

Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama — Panamax Alpha 2023, an annual ophthalmology Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE), is aimed to enhance the surgical skills and operational readiness of team members by immersing them in a range of prevalent chronic eye conditions in the region. In July 2023, 32 TriService military members traveled to the Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega where the team conducted rapid preliminary screenings for 300 patients within just three days, followed by a remarkable total of 291 surgeries over the subsequent eight days, leaving an impact through nearly 750 clinic appointments.

Jan. 4, 2023

59th Medical Wing: Our team, our fight against the Flu

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The Allergy and Immunizations Clinic along with 43 medic volunteers came together during the 59th Medical Wing’s annual flu campaign in the atrium of Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, from October to November 2022. Their teamwork resulted in more than 93% of the wing being vaccinated.

Oct. 5, 2021

Medical readiness training through the pandemic

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CAMP BULLIS, Texas — The 59th Medical Readiness Training Center continues to provide the highest level of training for medics across the Air Force Medical Service prior to deployment as well as ensuring skills remain current.

June 17, 2020

SECDEF witnesses transformation, protection of citizens becoming Airmen at BMT during COVID-19

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a first-hand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen here June 16, 2020. Esper, accompanied on the visit by the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramón Colón-López, observed how the 37th Training Wing, with the support of a tri-wing partnership with the 502nd Air Base Wing and 59th Medical Wing, has protected Airmen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 8, 2020

BMT adapts during COVID-19: adds masks, shortens pipeline

JOINT BASE SAN ANOTNIO-LACKLAND, Texas — To prioritize safety and continue providing ready Airmen to fuel tomorrow’s Air Force, BMT is moving to a 7.5-week training pipeline. There’s no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges that require adaptability. The 7.5-week training program is one of many measures implemented at BMT to limit the spread of COVID-19. BMT leadership team is also working to procure face masks that we can provide to our staff and trainees. In the meantime, we are using CDC guidelines for staff and trainees to fashion their own cloth face covering.