Articles

June 22, 2020

Commentary: pouring from an empty cup

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia — Air Force medics are on the front lines against COVID-19, and maintaining their mental well-being is critical to keeping them in the fight. One of the biggest risks for providers is burnout, or compassion fatigue.

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.

June 2, 2020

Commentary: Unrest in America

Commentary by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein.

May 29, 2020

59th MDW to begin phased reopening 1 June

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas —  With an abundance of caution, the 59th Medical Wing will begin a phased reopening of primary and surgical care starting June 1.  Please be advised that aspects of the following plan may change based on this evolving situation. The safety and well-being of our beneficiaries and staff remains our top priority. Emergency ServicesLackland’s Urgent

May 21, 2020

New trauma training program prepares surgical team for deployment

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 20, 2020) -- Brooke Army Medical Center is conducting the first of its kind pre-deployment trauma readiness training exercise for the 555th Forward Surgical Team from May 18 to June 6.The new Strategic Trauma Readiness Center of San Antonio, or STaRC, will use a combination of didactic and

May 15, 2020

59th MDW team provides resilience support at U.S.’s COVID-19 epicenter

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas — With over 2,000 service members deployed to New York City over the last several weeks, a team from the 59th Medical Wing is one of those providing mental health support to those assisting healthcare workers throughout the region.Interspersed at hospitals throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts to augment hospital staffs,

May 7, 2020

CSAF visits BMT, thanks JBSA team for ‘fighting through’ COVID-19 response

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, along with Chief Master Sgt. Manny Pineiro, the service’s first sergeant special duty manager, visited here May 7, seeing first-hand how basic military training has adapted operations to fight through the COVID-19 environment. Basic military training, in addition to technical and flying training, have been deemed mission essential and vital to readiness.

May 5, 2020

Redefining 'normal' mental health care still means delivering quality patient care

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas  — Mental Health Technicians (4Cs) in Air Education and Training Command are redefining what “normal” is during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still delivering quality patient care in various different methods and providing Disaster Mental Health services when requested.

May 4, 2020

#RiseUp Mental Health, Resiliency at JBSA

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Members of the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC) Mental Health Clinic and 737th Training Group Military Training Consult Service (MTCS) mental health team spent their Monday motivating others with words of encouragement for base personnel and community members as part of a mental health and resiliency effort during the COVID-19 pandemic at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, May 4.

April 30, 2020

Communication barriers due to COVID protocols

Having some time on my hands during my 2-week quarantine, I was able to reflect on my recent experience of being hospitalized in Paris. As you can imagine, the language barrier between myself and my medical team made my stay long and difficult. No one wanted to use the Google Translate app pulled up on my phone so we spent 10 minutes trying to charade our way into the word "contraindications". With the help of my medical background, I was fortunate enough to piece together enough information before leaving the hospital exhausted from the exchange.