Air Force Tech Sgt. Brandon Robinson and his two daughters attend the 2021 Technical Sergeant Promotion Party at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., July 1, 2021.
Friday, July 16, 2021
Critical Care
Airmen participate in a medical casualty care response exercise from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to a tactical forward operating base in East Africa, July 3, 2021.
Laboon Lines
Sailors handle mooring lines aboard the USS Laboon in Yorktown, Va., July 11, 2021, after returning from a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
Eisenhower Flyover
Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jets fly in formation over the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Atlantic Ocean, July 13, 2021.
San Antonio Military Medical Community Becomes 7th Medical 'Market'
July 16, 2021 | , DOD News
The San Antonio Military Health System became the San Antonio Market
today in a ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center — the seventh such
medical market in U.S. military medicine.
The San Antonio Market — such as other Military Health System markets— is a group of hospitals and clinics in a geographic area where Tricare partners, Veterans Affairs hospitals, other federal health care organizations, private-sector teaching hospitals, medical universities and other health care groups partner to share patients, staff, budgets and other functions to improve military readiness and to also help deliver and coordinate health services, according to a news release from BAMC.
The market comprises the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, led by Air Force Brig. Gen. Jeannine M. Ryder and Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, led by Army Col. (Dr.) Michael Wirt, and their subordinate units in the greater San Antonio community.
The San Antonio Market operates with a $1.02 billion budget and 11,000 staff members who take care of more than 253,000 Tricare beneficiaries who rely on the Defense Department for their health care.
"San Antonio has a special place for military medical professionals," said Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Ronald J. Place, director, Defense Health Agency, during a media roundtable prior to the ceremony that formalized the San Antonio market, today.
"We conduct a significant amount of training here for officers and enlisted personnel. It's home of the Center for the Intrepid — providing world-class care for amputees and burn patients," he said. "We have an innovative partnership with the city that allows us to be part of the emergency care network — allowing us to treat all members of the community when we are the closest hospital." And all of those programs will be sustained and strengthened, he added.
"Our goals in creating this market are to better serve our patients and more effectively use our resources throughout the San Antonio military community," Place said.
He said that means patients will have a standardized model for how they access care, which has one process for making appointments, getting referrals, using military pharmacies and getting imaging, for example. The market already has set up a centralized appointment line and a hotline for COVID-19 to provide patients with information on testing, care and vaccines.
The San Antonio Market will operate as one system, regardless of where the facilities are. "This is good for patients and providers," Place said. "Care is easier to access and understand for patients, and it offers our military staff more opportunities to see patients with complex medical conditions."
Place said the San Antonio Market is an important moment for military medicine, especially in the community. "The medical leaders at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center and our other clinics have been working together for many years, and their work made today possible," he noted. "Now we're taking it a step further. Today's ceremony cements that medical team into a single organization, serving military families throughout the area."
Since January 2020, the DHA has set up six other markets that comprise military treatment facilities in the National Capital area — Washington, D.C., southern Maryland and northern Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; coastal Mississippi — Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula; Central North Carolina in Fayetteville; Tidewater in coastal Virginia; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. San Antonio is the seventh, and San Diego is expected to be the eighth, military medical officials said.
Schooling With a Splash
A cadet completes the assault course during Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 13, 2021. The training is a six-week indoctrination program for new cadets.
Ordnance Ops
Marines download inert ordnance from an F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft aboard the USS America during flight operations in the Solomon Sea, July 13, 2021.
Sandbag Assistance
Airmen work with German first responders and community members to deliver sandbags in Binsfeld, Germany, July 14, 2021, to help prevent flooding.
Recruit Rappel
A Louisiana National Guard recruit rappels from a tower at Camp Minden in Minden, La., July 10, 2021.
March Out
Air Force cadets march out for field training at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 12, 2021.
Packing Pro
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ken Sachio Boctot packages diapers for the HappyBottoms charity organization during a community relations event in Kansas City, Mo., July 1, 2021. The event was part of Kansas City Navy Week, the first in-person Navy Week since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing sailors from different Navy units across the U.S. to conduct focused outreach with members of the community.
Food Delivery
An Arizona National Guardsman helps organize, prepare and deliver food donations for a food bank in Stanfield, Ariz., July 14, 2021. Arizona National Guardsmen continue to assist at vaccination sites, testing locations and food banks throughout Arizona.
Little Buddy
Navy Lt. Madeline Murphy, a physical therapist assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command San Diego Directorate for Clinical Support Services, feeds a mini horse used for therapy in the hospital’s courtyard in San Diego, July 14, 2021.
Sculpting Sailor
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tristan Ricamona sculpts a bite mold aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean, July 13, 2021.
Navy to Christen First John Lewis-Class Oiler
July 16, 2021
The Navy will christen its first-in-class John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), during a 9 a.m. PDT ceremony Saturday, July 17, in San Diego, California.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, will deliver the ceremonial principal address. Remarks will also be provided by Mr. James Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy; Vice Adm. Ross Myers, commander, Fleet Cyber Command and commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet; Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, commander, Military Sealift Command; and Mr. Marcus Tyner, nephew of the ship’s namesake. In a time-honored Navy tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Ms. Alfre Woodard Spencer, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.
“Tomorrow we christen the first John Lewis-class replenishment oiler,” said acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker. “Leaders like Representative Lewis taught us that diversity of backgrounds and experiences help contribute to the strength of our nation. There is no doubt that the future Sailors aboard this ship will be galvanized by Lewis’ legacy.”
The future USNS John Lewis is the first ship in its class and will be operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The ship is named in honor of the late politician and civil rights leader. John Lewis-class oilers will be named for other prominent civil rights leaders and activists.
The John Lewis-class ships are based on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships are part of the Navy's Combat Logistics Force.
In June 2016, the Navy awarded a $3.2 billion contract to General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego for the design and construction of the first six ships of the Future Fleet Replenishment Ship, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), with construction commencing in September 2018. The Navy plans to procure 20 ships of the new class.
Lewis passed July 17, 2020; the christening marks the one-year anniversary of his death.
Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information on the fFleet Replenishment Oilers can be found at: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2222909/fleet-replenishment-oilers-t-ao/
American Forces Travel Privileges Extended to Eligible Veterans
July 16, 2021
The Department of Defense announced today a policy change to the current shopping privileges on the American Forces Travel website. As directed by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Virginia S. Penrod in a memo signed April 12, 2021, the department will extend online access to the website to honorably discharged veterans of the uniformed services.
On average, customers save 35-40% compared to commercial travel pricing by using AFT. This includes discounted rates on hotels (up to 60%), airfare, rental cars, vacation packages, event tickets, and cruises.
“Sixteen million veterans will now be able to access the American Forces Travel website, joining the 10 million active duty, Guard and reserve service members, family members, DOD civilians, and other patrons who are already receiving the benefit,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Patricia “Patty” Montes Barron. “We are committed to providing quality-of-life programs to our military community, which includes our honorably discharged veterans.”
The change will not affect access for existing patrons, and the increased customer base will allow AFT to negotiate better prices for its customers.
AFT launched in 2019 as the only official joint service morale, welfare, and recreation leisure travel website exclusively for DOD patrons. In addition to improving access to DOD’s MWR benefits, every booking on American Forces Travel generates revenue to support critical quality-of-life programs for service members and families.
To access the exclusive military discount pricing on travel products, visit the American Forces Travel website. Proof of eligibility is required.
About Military Community and Family Policy
Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing and overseeing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our service members, their families and survivors be well and mission-ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These DOD services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world.
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