Attention! If you live in the TRICARE West Region, or in a state or ZIP code moving to the West Region and you pay an enrollment fee or premium by recurring credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer, you must set up payment information with TriWest before Dec. 31, 2024. If you don’t take action, you’ll risk getting disenrolled. Learn more.

News & Gallery

Articles

Courtesy photo of Stephanie Essomba after graduating basic military training with her mother and sister. (Courtesy photo)

April 14, 2023

59MDW: An Airman who wants to make a difference through international relations

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — It was a beautiful, breezy afternoon with the sun high in the sky. Stephanie Essomba was about 15 years old in Yaoundé, Cameroon in Central Africa, walking in the city with her mother. The roadside was bustling with restaurants and traffic from nearby businesses and embassies when a car she’d never seen before drove past them. The license plate was different. It had a flag hanging on the front. Essomba asked her mom “Why is that car so different?” and she responded “It’s a diplomat’s car.” In that moment, the desire to become “that person” was triggered. Airman 1st Class Stephanie Essomba, a dental laboratory technician at the 59th Dental Support Squadron, began learning about policy processes, decision making and the impact those policies could have on people’s lives and fell in love with it.

Image of an Airman posing for a photo.

Feb. 7, 2023

From the battlefield to the football field: Air Force surgeon’s skills knows no bounds

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — On January 2nd, when many football fans were watching the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Lt. Col. Valerie Sams, an Air Force surgeon, was on call at UC Health’s University of Cincinnati Medical Center not knowing what she was about to face.

Airman 1st Class Samantha Sim, 59th Surgical Operations Squadron ophthalmic technician, administers numbing drops to a patient at the Ophthalmology Clinic in Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Jan. 19, 2023. The 59th SGC tests and treats to prevent vision loss, promote a better quality of life and support a worldwide qualified force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

Feb. 6, 2023

Warrior Medic Highlight - A1C Samantha Sim

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Airman 1st Class Samantha Sim, 59th Surgical Operations Squadron ophthalmic technician, was nominated to be the first Top Eye of October 2022 at the Ophthalmology clinic in Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 4, 2022. The Ophthalmology clinic started having Airman's Time on the first Friday of every month where they recognize one outstanding individual nominated as the Top Eye.

Maj. Hannah Valdes-Chenoweth, 959th Surgical Operations Squadron obstetrician and gynecologist, conducts an ultrasound in the Women’s Health Clinic at Wilford Hall Surgical Ambulatory Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Feb. 2, 2023. The Women’s Health Clinic offers annual exams, full-scope gynecology services, obstetric services to include prenatal and postpartum care and a walk-in contraception clinic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

Feb. 3, 2023

Warrior Medic Highlight - Maj. Hannah Valdes-Chenoweth

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The 59th Medical Wing highlighted Maj. Hannah Valdes-Chenoweth, 959th Surgical Operations Squadron obstetrician and gynecologist, in honor of National Woman Physician Day. Valdes-Chenoweth took over as medical director in the Women’s Health Clinic at Wilford Hall Surgical Ambulatory Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas in August 2022.

The San Antonio Market has launched a text messaging service to keep TRICARE beneficiaries informed about their local military healthcare system.

Feb. 3, 2023

New text service offers military healthcare updates, information

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The San Antonio Market has launched a text messaging service to keep TRICARE beneficiaries informed about their local military healthcare system.

Jan. 25, 2023

59MDW: Another step closer to your New Year's resolution

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Senior Airman Jacob Hollins, physical therapy technician, and Senior Airman Gabrielle Rose, orthotics technician, assigned to the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron, offer advice on ways to achieve being more active for one's New Year's resolution at the Physical Therapy Clinic in Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Jan. 18, 2023. Even in a person's spare time there are ways to promote a healthy lifestyle. (U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

U.S. Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Dominick Vitale, Brooke Army Medical Center critical care/trauma surgeon, stands inside a C-17 Globemaster III with wife Megan O’Toole and son Antonio Vitale after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 9, 2022. Vitale and members of a Critical Care Air Transport Team were on the first aircraft to land and evacuate the severely injured following the Aug. 26, 2021 suicide bombing near Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan. (DoD courtesy photo)

Jan. 19, 2023

A ‘not-so-routine’ operation

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, (Jan. 19, 2023) — Aug. 26, 2021 was a terrible day of bloodshed and destruction near Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, when a suicide bomber killed an estimated 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. That same day, shortly after the bombing, U.S. Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Dominick Vitale, Brooke Army Medical Center critical care/trauma surgeon, and the remaining members of the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) were on the first aircraft to land and evacuate the severely injured to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Vitale and the entire crew, dubbed ‘MOOSE 98,’ received the Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device for their actions during a ‘not-so-routine’ operation.

Capt. (Dr.) Robert Brooks, left, and Maj. (Dr.) Kent Miller, right, allergy and immunology fellows, pose for a photo with their 2022 Fellows in Training Bowl trophy in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 22, 2022.

Jan. 11, 2023

Air Force Fellows bring home 18th Win in National ACAAI Competition

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium’s Allergy and Immunology fellowship program won this year’s Allergy/Immunology Fellows in Training Bowl held by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Louisville, Kentucky, November 22, 2022.

Jan. 10, 2023

959th Medical Group Airmen at BAMC receive distinguished awards

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Several 959th Airmen assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center were recognized recently for their selfless service, professionalism, and clinical expertise, both at home and overseas.

The importance of the annual flu campaign is to support the mission, reduce the overall impact of contagious respiratory illnesses and protect patients from preventable diseases allowing a ready and fit force.

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.

Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!