photo by monica yoas virtual behavioral health care...

FORT SAM HOUSTON

OCTOBER 14, 2016VOL. 58, NO. 41

A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON

DOD Safe Helpline877-995-5247

JBSA Sexual Assault Hotline 808-SARC (7272)

JBSA Domestic Abuse Hotline 367-1213

JBSA Duty Chaplain 221-9363

JBSAHOTLINES

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PAGE 6

JBSA PROUD WEEK PAGE 14

JOINT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PAGE 8

The 201st Military Intelligence Battalion cased its colors for the last time Sept. 22. Story and more photos on page 4.

Photo by Monica Yoas

Virtual behavioral health careoffered through video chatBy Brigitte BarreraRegional Health Command-Central

Many Soldiers throughout the Army have been on more than one deployment during their career. The stressors of being away from home and family, in addition to the change in living conditions and mission require-

A patient meets with his medical provider via the web as part of the Virtual Health program offered by the Army.

Courtesy photoSee TELEHEALTH, P10

201st MilitaryIntelligenceBattalion casescolors, ends mission

NEWS LEADER OCTOBER 14, 2016

FORT SAM HOUSTON

A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – FORT SAM HOUSTON

Editorial Staff

502nd Air Base Wing/JBSA Commander

Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle

502nd ABW/JBSA Public Affairs Director

Todd G. White

502nd ABW/JBSAPublic Affairs Chief

Bill Gaines

Writer/EditorSteve Elliott

Layout ArtistJoe Funtanilla

News Leader office:3170 Stanley Road

Building 2750JBSA-Fort Sam Houston

TX 78234210-221-1031 DSN 471-1031

News Leader Advertisements:EN CommunitiesP.O. Box 2171

San Antonio, TX 78297210-250-2052

News Leader email:usaf.jbsa.502-abw.mbx.

[email protected]

This Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the News Leader are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government or Department of Defense. It is published weekly by the 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office, 3170 Stanley Road, building 2750, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234; 210-221-2030, DSN 471-2030. Printed circulation is 10,000. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, reli-gion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the viola-tion is corrected. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the 502nd ABW/JBSA Public Affairs Chief. The News Lead-er is published by EN Communities, 301 Ave. E, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210-250-2052, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. government, under exclusive written contract with the 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office. The civilian printer is responsible for commercial adver-tising. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Air Force. Stories and photos for publica-tion consideration may be e-mailed to [email protected] by close of business Thursday.

DOD announces new-hire probationary periodBy Terri Moon CronkDOD News, Defense Media Activity

The probationary peri-od for many new civilian employees hired by the Department of Defense, or DOD, on or after Nov. 26, 2015, has changed from one year to two years, the acting deputy assistant secretary of de-fense for civilian person-nel policy said.

Julie Blanks con-firmed the change to the statute governing the probationary period in a memorandum to human resources direc-tors Sept. 27.

The new law took effect Nov. 26, 2015, as part of the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, said DOD spokesman Eric Pahon.

The new probationary period affects employees who are appointed to permanent positions in the competitive ser-vice, and anyone who

received career DOD appointments in the Senior Executive Service on or after Nov. 26, 2015, Blanks’ memo noted.

The change doesn’t apply to employees ap-pointed prior to that date or those appointed in excepted service, the spokesman said.

“DOD appointees serving a probation-ary period who were appointed before Nov. 26, 2015, are not af-fected by the new law and will continue to complete a one-year probationary period,” Pahon said. “The one-year supervisory pro-bationary period … is not affected by the new two-year probation-ary period. However, those employees who are newly appointed to a supervisory position who are required to serve both a superviso-ry probationary period and a probationary pe-riod … will serve both

concurrently.”The law also allows

DOD and its military departments to “ex-ercise their discretion to extend a covered employee’s probation-ary period past the new two-year requirement,” Blanks’ memo read, and added DOD policy for that provision is being developed.

Probationary terms can vary when an em-ployee is appointed to a new position outside his or her current agency, officials said. These include:

-- An employee trans-ferring from another agency who has already completed a probation-ary period under an initial appointment in the competitive service, having attained full ap-peal rights to the Merit Systems Protection Board, does not have to serve another pro-bationary period under this authority.

-- An employee trans-

ferring from another agency who receives a career appointment in the SES in the DOD on or after Nov. 26, 2015, must serve a two-year probationary period.

-- An employee transferring from another agency who has not completed a probationary period and is appointed to a position in DOD may be required to complete a new probationary period. Credit for prior federal civilian service toward completion of a probationary period may apply in accor-dance with applicable federal regulation.

The reason for the change in the law stems from the in-creasingly complex nature of much of the work performed by DOD employees, Pahon explained. One year often does not allow sufficient time for a supervisor to form con-clusions regarding the

performance of a new employee, he pointed out.

For example, su-pervisors might not have adequate time to observe employees if the new hires must spend much of the first year in training before beginning work, often rotate through various offices within the first year of employment, or because occupations are project-based and new employees don’t have an opportunity to demonstrate all the skills associated with their positions, he said.

“Regardless of the reason, the longer pro-bationary period offers employees a greater opportunity to showcase their talents and for supervisors to properly assess their capabili-ties,” Pahon added.

Affected employ-ees are encouraged to speak with their super-visors or human re-sources contact, he said.

Army needs female NCOs to transfer to combat arms MOSsBy Meghan PortilloNCO Journal

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey has asked female noncom-missioned officers to consider transferring into combat arms military oc-cupational specialties.

More than 100 wom-en have volunteered to join the ranks as

combat arms Soldiers, but these Soldiers also need female leaders. Dailey said he hopes fe-male NCOs will answer the call and rise to the challenge.

“These young women have demonstrated the drive and desire to take on some of the most challenging assignments the Army offers,” Dailey

wrote in a memo to the force Aug. 1. “As young Soldiers do, they will look for leadership and mentorship from their superiors. Unfortu-nately, we have not had a sufficient number of serving female Soldiers and NCOs volunteer to transfer into these men-torship and leadership roles.”

In April, the Depart-ment of Defense opened the remaining combat-arms MOSs to women, including all positions in 19-series armor and 11-series infantry.

Dailey said he per-Photo by Meghan Portillo

Pvt. Kaleena Gaeth was one of 16 women in a class of 75 Soldiers who graduated June 3 from Advanced Individual Training as 13B cannon crewmembers at Fort Sill, Okla.See MOS, P10

OCTOBER 14, 2016 NEWS LEADER PAGE 3

News BriefsREAL ID Act Actions Delayed until JanuaryImplementation of the Real ID Act of 2005 has been delayed for Air Force installations until Jan. 10, 2017. The delay applies to identification from the following states or territories: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Northern Mariana Islands, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and the Virgin Islands. NOTE: State ID cards from American Samoa, Minneso-ta, Missouri, and Washington are still invalid. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Act estab-lished minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibited federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards.

FSHISD Seeks To Fill Board Of Trustees Vacancy

The Fort Sam Houston Independent School District is soliciting nominees for a vacancy on the Board of Trustees to serve until September 2017 and may interview again for a two-year term. Po-sition must be filled by either an active duty service member or civilian living on or employed by Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Board members must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen and Texas resident, registered voter and must not be a convicted felon. Trustees take an oath and receive no compensation and serve as advocate for public education. Board members make decisions on a wide variety of issues and are respon-sible for approving district goals and pri-orities, overseeing their implementation and monitoring result. Two informational sessions are scheduled at building 2797 on Stanley road from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday or 9-10 p.m. Thursday. Those interested must submit resumes by 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 to the School Liaison Office in building 2797. Call 221-2214 or 2418 for more information.

Federal Employees Health Benefits Fair

All federal employees and retirees

See NEWS BRIEFS, P6

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio participates in first local bioscience research database websiteBy Flisa StevensonNaval Medical Research Unit San Antonio Public Affairs

The Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, or NAMRU-SA,at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is one of the 11 original participat-ing research organiza-tions included in the San Antonio Bioscience Research Database at http://www.sabioscience research.org, which is dedicated to catalogu-ing bioscience research projects in San Antonio.

The San Antonio Medical Foundation, or SAMF, launched the new website Sept. 28 as a means to increase col-laborative efforts among local research institu-tions and their national and international peers.

The San Antonio Bioscience Research Database website lists some 585 bioscience research projects now underway at 11 public, private and military

organizations here in the San Antonio area. The website, facilitated by the SAMF with a steering committee rep-resenting the research entities, can be updated by each participating institution or company through a password-protected system.

The database sorts projects through seven categories, 10 focus areas and by research organization.

Projects listed typi-cally include informa-tion provided by the research organiza-tion about the subject matter, status of the project, funding source, principal investiga-tors and other data as available.

“This website is a significant accomplish-ment and provides a unique platform to foster diverse collabo-ration, partnership, and synergy, between mili-tary researchers and industry and academic research groups,” said

Navy Capt. Montcalm-Smith, NAMRU-SA com-manding officer.

Navy Medicine has a strong biomedical re-search presence in San Antonio and NAMRU-SA has been onboard since the beginning concept and offered continuous input to the steering committee during the development of the website.

NAMRU-SA is repre-

senting military relevant research along with Brooke Army Medical Center and the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Sur-gical Center at JBSA-Lackland as the other two original participat-ing military research organizations.

San Antonio has a robust research commu-nity with a global reach and areas of expertise,

including military rel-evant research that has been developed in San Antonio.

“We want NAMRU-SA’s participation in this website to show-case the Navy’s re-search capabilities and lead to more connec-tions with San Antonio-based scientists and researchers looking to collaborate here,” Montcalm-Smith said.

Courtesy screenshot The Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio organization page on the new San Antonio Bioscience Research Database at http://www.sabioscienceresearch.org.

Combat medic instructor remembered with METC classroom dedicationBy Lisa BraunMETC Public Affairs

“He was a gift to us,” said Mario Ramon during a classroom dedication ceremony on the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for a fellow Department of Combat Medic Training, or DCMT, instructor who passed away Sept. 1.

EMT3 Room 340 was dedicated Sept. 29 as the Joseph B. “JB” Slye classroom. A plaque

now hangs on the wall outside the classroom door to honor this out-standing teacher and his incredible ability to help Soldier Medics reach success.

Ramon and others talked about how Slye was a man of many talents, liked to talk and loved to make people laugh. He was, accord-ing to many who knew him, larger than life. But most of all, the 56-year-old father and husband was passionate about teaching Soldier

Medics, and always went above and beyond to help others.

The latter was evident in his role as a vol-unteer firefighter for the Medina, Ohio, Fire Department. He retired at the rank of captain before moving to San Antonio to begin his new role at DCMT as an emergency medical technician, or EMT, instructor.

Slye had taught thou-sands of medics since coming to DCMT in 2004. He frequently vol-

unteered to tutor those having difficulty passing the National Registry of

EMTs certifying exami-nation, a requirement needed to graduate.

Joseph “JB” Slye, an emergency medical tech-nician, or EMT, instructor at the Department of Combat Medic Training and retired volunteer firefighter for the Medina (Ohio) Fire Department, passed away Sept. 1. His EMT classroom was dedicated with his name Sept. 29.

Courtesy photo


201st Military Intelligence Battalion cases colorsBy Monica Yoas470th Military Intelligence Brigade Public Affairs

The 201st Military Intelligence Battalion “Black Knights” held their casing of the colors ceremony at the McArthur Parade Field at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Sept. 22, representing the end of their interrogation mission.

“We do what we do, when we do it, for the person to our left and our right. It’s really that simple and it’s really that profound,” said Lt. Col. David Violand, 201st MIB com-mander. “In the intelligence world, success remains very much defined by the ability of one human being to convince another human being to com-mit to action. In an increasingly

complex world, our efforts to retain an edge rely most heav-ily on the human dimensions of our efforts. War is – by nature – an indelibly human affair. We must continuously strive to be master practitioners of all aspects of our craft in this profession.”

Previous leaders of the 201st were also present at the cer-emony, which was celebrated that evening with a dining out.

The 201st Military Intelligence Battalion was originally activated Oct. 3, 1982, at Fort Monmouth, N.J. and assumed control of both the 17th Military Intelligence Company at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the 166th MI Company at Vint Hill Farms Station, Va. The unit became subordinate to the 513th MI Brigade at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

The 201st MI Battalion was

actively engaged in virtually ev-ery major military contingency between 1992 and 2004. The battalion inactivated on Oct. 15, 2004, at Fort Gordon, Ga.

The 201st MI Battalion was re-activated at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 16, 2005, as the Army’s first interrogation battal-ion, supporting the Joint Inter-rogation and Debriefing Center.

From 2010 to 2011, and most recently from 2012 to 2013, the battalion deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Both year-long rotations pro-vided intelligence and debrief-ing support to the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, or CJITF, 435 with its mission to drive counterinsurgency from the Afghanistan battle space. The unit earned a Meritori-ous Unit Citation for each deployment.

Photo by Monica Yoas 201st Military Intelligence Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Davis (right) joins Lt. Col. David Violand (left), 201st Military Intelligence Battalion commander, in casing the battalion’s colors.


JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTONNATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle (second from left), 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander (second from left), is joined by (from left) Sparky the Fire Dog; Paula Brown, 502nd Security Forces and Logistics Support Group budget analyst/resource advisor; Scout the National Night Out Mascot; McGruff the Crime Dog; and Capt. Julie Roloson, 502nd Security Forces Squadron operations officer, during the National Night Out celebration Oct. 4.

Photos by Olivia Mendoza Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston housing residents check out some of the activities offered during the National Night Out celebration at the Lincoln Family Housing headquarters at 2739 Dickman Drive at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 4. Activities included prize giveaways, a display from the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, San Antonio Police Department motorcycle display, displays by JBSA Fire Emergency Services stationed at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, weapons and vehicle displays from the 502nd Security Forces Squadron and music by the 323rd Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own.”

Children take part in games during the National Night Out celebration at the Lincoln Family Housing headquarters at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 4. All JBSA locations hosted events rais-ing awareness for crime prevention and neighborhood safety through commu-nity involvement.


News Briefsare invited to attend the 2016 Federal Employees Health Benefits Fair. Rep-resentatives will be present to discuss different insurance options available to employees for the upcoming year. FEHB open season is from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12. The first fair is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Military & Fam-ily Readiness Center at 2010 Stanley Road, building 2797 on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. The second is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall at 3551 Roger Brooke Drive. For more information, call 808-0205, 221-9638 or 221-2934. Information is also available at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp.

Domestic Violence Awareness Run/Walk

A “Break The Silence, Stop The Violence” Domestic Violence Awareness 5K Run/Walk takes place at the Community Aquatic Center, 3548 Williams Way on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 22, with registration at 7:45 a.m. and start time of 8:30 a.m. Show awareness of domestic violence by wearing a purple top. There will also be a collection for new baby clothes, white towels, white twin sheets, new socks and new underwear for women and children of all ages. For more information, call 808-6469, 292-5967 or 652-6308.

FHISD Financial Accountability Rating Public Meeting

The Fort Sam Houston Independent School Districts hosts a meeting at 11 a.m. Nov. 3 at the Professional Develop-ment Center, 1908 Winans Road at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, to discuss the FSHISD’s rating of “A” for superior achievement on the state’s financial accountability system.

Education FairThe Military & Family

Readiness Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, 3060 Stanley Road, building 2797, hosts an education fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14. Meet with college representatives, U.S. Army Medical Department and ROTC recruiters. Another information session will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall.

Continued from P3Soldiers, families benefit from $4.6 billion in MICC contract support throughout countryBy Daniel P. ElkinsMICC Public Affairs

More than 32,000 contract actions valued at $4.6 billion were executed in support of Soldiers and their families by Mission and Installation Contracting Command acquisition members from through-out the country during fiscal year 2016.

Contracts executed through the final hours of the fiscal year, which came to a close Sept. 30, support Army commands, installations and activities across the Army.

The command also administered the Army’s largest Government Purchase Card Program, managing more than 585,000 transactions from more than 12,000 cardholder accounts for fiscal 2016 valued at an additional estimated $741 million.

“Each and every day, a dedicated team of MICC contracting profes-sionals and support staff deliver sound, innova-tive solutions to our Army,” said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Gabbert, MICC commanding general at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. “Our people have a profound impact on Soldiers and their families as well as combatant commanders. What is accomplished throughout the year and particularly in the final months and days leading up to the end of the fiscal year is nothing short of remarkable.”

FY2016 also marked the second consecutive year the command met all five of its small-business

socioeconomic goals. Contracts to small

businesses across America accounted for approximately $2.1 bil-lion of MICC contract actions awarded. The MICC Small Business Programs workforce consists of specialists around the country who provide aid, advice and counsel to small busi-nesses. They conduct outreach events to inform industry repre-sentatives of installation requirements to ensure their maximum oppor-tunity to compete for Army contracts while preserving transparency in government acquisi-tions.

Dollars awarded to small-business contrac-tors help support the achievement of annual government-wide goals required by the Small Business Act. As a subordinate command

to the Army Contracting Command, the MICC’s small business efforts contribute not only to goals by higher head-quarters but also to the Army’s overall objective.

“Small business specialists across the MICC exhibit a thorough understanding of small business statutes and regulations. The applica-tion of successful small business initiatives is demonstrated through their coordinated re-views of acquisitions with program manag-ers and the contracting office at their respective installations,” said Mary Birdsong, the assistant director for the ACC Office of Small Business Programs at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. “This teamwork enhances the Army Small Business Program and supports the Army warfighter mission.”

Birdsong said notable in achieving our goals this year were set-aside awards to a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business to provide Soldier For Life Transition Assis-tance Program services valued at more than $60 million; a historically underutilized business zone small business for paving at Fort Stewart, Ga., valued at nearly $33 million; and a small business for test and support services at Fort Hood, Texas, valued at approximately $90 million.

Mark Massie, the as-sistant director of small business programs for the MICC at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, monitors each small business category throughout the fiscal year to ensure contracts are awarded in each category includ-ing small disadvantaged

business, service-dis-abled veteran-owned small business, woman-owned small business, and historically under-utilized business zone small business.

This fiscal year marks a slight decline of ap-proximately $600 million in spending as Army leaders continue to operate with constrained budgets. In fiscal 2015, the MICC executed more than 36,000 contract actions valued at more than $5.2 billion across the Army, including $2.25 billion to Ameri-can small businesses.

The MICC is made up of about 1,500 military and civilian mem-bers assigned to three contracting support brigades and a field directorate office located throughout the United States who are respon-sible for contracting for Soldiers.

Photo by Daniel P. Elkins Members of the 412th Contracting Support Brigade at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are one of three brigades and a field directorate office across the country making up the Mission and Installation Contracting Command that together executed more than 32,000 contract actions during fiscal 2016 in support of Soldiers and their families.


Water conservation at Joint Base San Antonio

Although two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is water, less than one percent of that water is currently available for our use, ac-cording to the Federal Energy Management Program.

As the U.S. population increases, so does our water use and our need to conserve water. In San Antonio and surrounding areas, water has become a valuable commodity due to the growing population.

To help conserve water from the Edwards Aquifer, Joint Base San Antonio, or JBSA, has conscientiously been involved in the reduc-tion of water pumped from the Edwards Aquifer by initiating water conserva-tion efforts throughout the base and utilizing effective water management tech-nologies.

Water conservation efforts such as water ef-ficient landscaping, wa-terless urinals, low-flow water fixtures, purchasing recycled water for irrigation and cooling and adhering to the JBSA Water Conservation Plan’s other best management prac-tices has contributed to JBSA’s Water Conservation Program.

Even though the current rain fall levels are above stage restrictions at 678 feet in the San Antonio area, water usage from the Edwards Aquifer is always a hot topic. As a federal installation, JBSA com-plies fully with all imposed drought restrictions and cooperates with the State of Texas and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to insure compliance with all regulations.

Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water. This stretches our supplies farther and pro-

tects endangered species in the Edwards Aquifer.

The following are some simple water conservation tips that everyone in the JBSA community can follow to help preserve our pre-cious water supply:

• Verify that your facility is leak-free. If you have a leaky faucet or pipe, report it to the facility manager for correction. A faucet drip-ping at the rate of one drop per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year.

• Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes. Dispose of tis-sues, insects and other such items in a trash receptacle rather than in the toilet.

• Take shorter showers.• Turn off the water

while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth while waiting for the water to get hot for face washing or shaving.

• Try to wash full loads when doing laundry and properly set the water level for the size of the load.

• Store drinking water in a refrigerator rather than letting the tap water run to get a cool drink of water.

• Report if the toilet handle sticks in the flush position.

• Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end.

• Run full loads in the dishwasher.

• Don’t water the side-walks, driveway, or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs.

For any questions or comments about energy conservation, call the JBSA Base Energy Managers at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 671-1537 and at JBSA-Randolph and Lackland, 671-0252.

(Source: 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron)


Joint emergency department sets the toneBy Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

“Trauma team to the trauma room; trauma team to the trauma room,” were the words uttered over the public address system at the San Antonio Military Medical Center’s Emergency Department at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Words letting medics know of a patient’s impending arrival. In less than 15 minutes, a team of Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and con-tractors donned their medical attire in preparation to save a life.

One person in an emergency department can’t save lives alone, according to Col. (Dr.) Mark Antonacci, an emer-gency physician with the 959th Medical Group and chief of the SAMMC Emergency Department, it’s a team effort.

“To me, it’s the satisfac-tion of working together as a team. That’s what it’s all about saving lives and help-ing those in need,” Antonacci said.

The SAMMC Emergency Department, with its integrat-ed medical staff of Air Force and Army personnel, treats roughly 200 patients a day.

In 2015, the department treated more than 82,000 patients and its patient load has been steadily increasing every year since the Brooke Army Medical Center and the then Wilford Hall Medical Center (now the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center) emergency departments con-solidated in 2010.

In addition to the trauma patients, the department evaluates and treats patients with a broad range of medical conditions. Some are minor; others are life-threatening. As the department sees more patients, the staff faces more critical and complex cases.

Consequently, the emergen-cy department is continually working to improve efficiency and safely streamline pro-

cesses to better meet rising demands, Antonacci said.

“The tempo is always high speed and you are always kept on your toes,” said Staff Sgt. Amanda Orvis, a 959th MDG medical technician and NCO in charge of operations at the emergency department.

“Saving a life is a feeling unlike anything else. Know-ing that you not only saved a life but also helped make the family members’ lives better, it’s an unexplainable feeling,” Orvis said.

As the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the Department of Defense, the medical facil-ity is equipped and staffed to provide care for patients suffering from major trau-matic injuries such as falls,

motor vehicle collisions or gunshot wounds. The facility is capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury – from prevention through rehabilitation.

Serving 20 counties in the Texas region, Level 1 treatment at the emergency department is unmatched by any other facility in the DOD. By agreement with the city of San Antonio, access to trauma care is available to local citizens.

“We are the first line of care for the majority of the community. Setting the stan-dard for what care is going to be like throughout the rest of their stay is the emergency department’s goal,” Orvis said.

Photos by Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin IinumaSan Antonio Military Medical Center Emergency Department staff treat a patient Sept. 14 at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The emergency department serves 20 counties in the Texas region and treats roughly 200 patients a day.

Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Kjell Ballard, an emergency room resident, asks a patient to make the OK sign to check mobility of the fingers Sept. 14 at the San Antonio Military Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.


Medical physicist helps patients fight back against cancer

By Jeremy GerlachJBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

With a master’s degree in physics, it comes as no surprise that Maj. David Winter, 59th Medical Wing medical physicist, has spent his entire career in motion.

At the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, or WHASC, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Winter is in charge of operating a diverse array of imaging machinery that detects and combats cancer in patients.

His duties throughout his 10 years in medical physics, how-ever, are continuously changing as his career field continues to develop and he bounces across the globe to locations like Neth-erlands and Japan for different assignments.

“There’s no such thing as a typical day for a medical physicist,” Winter said. “One day, I might be here at JBSA-Lackland in front of a computer, analyzing a dose calculation for a patient who just had a CT scan and the next day I might be performing a different test in Italy.”

The biggest challenge for Winter wasn’t being stationed in foreign countries, but working with technology that changes constantly, he said.

He has had to adapt to work with methods of care across a wide spectrum, ranging from nuclear medicine and radia-tion therapy to more advanced techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging.

To complicate things, the Air Force is typically one of the first organizations in the world to encounter new technology in the imaging field, making

specialists like Winter first to put them to practice.

“We work on the edge of the sword,” Winter said. “We’re testing equipment that hasn’t been tested anywhere else in the Air Force and that leaves us in a position where we are the ones creating and defining the testing standard.”

For Winter, the stakes of op-erating these complex machines couldn’t be higher.

Most devices used for imag-ing and therapy rely on ionizing radiation delivery, which carries an inherent risk of injuring the patient if the device malfunc-tions or is used improperly. As a result, specialists like Winter are responsible for more than just pushing buttons on a X-Ray or MRI machine.

They’re tasked with learn-ing the ins-and-outs of every device in the imaging depart-ment, whether it’s a non-ionizing imaging device like magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasounds, or a radia-tion-oriented machine that uses computer tomography, mam-mography and radiography.

“Medical physicists ensure everything is safe,” Winter noted. “What we do ensures that our equipment is ready to go, whenever we need it.”

These machines aren’t used to identify just cancer or other harmful diseases, as radiation can also be used to combat these ailments.

For Winter, it’s a case of

fighting fire with fire.“Our diagnostic process relies

on equipment that could, in theory, be dangerous to our pa-tients,” he noted. “With therapy, however, we’re actually using these techniques to kill cancer without killing the patient.”

Once cancer has been local-ized to a specific part of a patient’s anatomy, the imaging department targets the area with a machine called a linear

accelerator. It delivers extreme amounts of radiation to the area to kill the cancer.

Winter’s calibration of the device ensures the process isn’t harmful to the patient.

Preventing malfunctions, in turn, prevents future treatments from harming the patient as well. For example, false impres-sions – or readings – of cancer could be devastating to the diagnostic process.

“In order to treat our patients, we have to know, fundamentally, what’s wrong with them,” Winter explained. “Without that service, care would grind to a halt.”

With a nonexistent margin for error, medical physicists are a constantly in demand at medical installations across the Air Force, he said.

Medical imaging sites across the world need constant evalu-ation and care - but not every site has a specialist like Win-ter on location. So, he travels abroad to provide support to different bases.

Even with worldwide demand

for his services, Winter remains a crucial cog at JBSA-Lackland. His imaging department at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center has 15 active-duty personnel and 10 civilian workers responsible for treating thousands of patients each year.

“We are a small, but mighty field,” Winter explained. “My job gives me an opportunity to affect patient care in a way that many people don’t even know is necessary and I take a great deal of pride in that. As a medical physicist, I know that everything I do has a real and positive impact on our patients, even if it is behind the scenes.”

Despite being in a continu-ously changing career field, Winter said his love for the science behind the machines has remained a constant.

“The medical field always intrigued me,” Winter said. “This is an opportunity for me to use my passion for the subject of physics in a real and practical way to take care of patients.”

Maj. David Winter, 59th Medical Wing radiology subspecialty flight command-er, evaluates an X-ray’s high and low contrast detectability at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland June 16.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma Maj. David Winter, 59th Medical Wing radiology subspecialty flight commander, records fluoroscopic radiation output rates and evaluates an X-ray machine’s dose accuracy at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at JBSA-Lackland June 16.


ment can be a lot for many Soldiers to handle – both physically and mentally.

In an effort to help, Regional Health Command-Central, or RHC-C, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is increasing access and quality of mental health services through a virtual health program, formerly re-ferred to telehealth.

Telebehavioral health, or TBH, is expanding mental health care for active duty Soldiers and their families by using video chat, or telecon-ferencing, in a clinical setting at RHC-C hospi-tals and clinics.

TBH is being utilized to support provider workload along with supporting clinics that may not have the ability to hire a specialist.

If military health facilities do not have an

appointment available within a reasonable time frame, the patient will be asked if they would like to participate in TBH. If a patient needs to see a mental health provider with a specialization and one is not available at the military treatment facil-ity, or MTF, the patient may also be referred to this program.

TBH is also being used to support over-flow for walk-in hours at MTFs. Patients are able to request a tele-conferencing visit rather than a face-to-face visit with a provider. Priority is given to active duty military.

The TBH appoint-ment is held in a room adapted for teleconfer-encing at the designated MTF where the patient made the appointment or another MTF de-pending on individual circumstances. TBH appointments are only conducted at a MTF for the safety of the patient.

The TBH providers include 25 psychologists and psychiatrists based in San Antonio. Some of the remote provid-ers have specializations. For instance, there is a child psychologist, child psychiatrist and aero-medical psychologist.

Remote providers have full privileges and are able to write prescriptions. These providers are also held to the same standards, policies, and procedures as providers at the MTFs.

Remote providers attempt to handle all areas of a patients care. If they are unable to perform a psychologi-cal exam due to being limited by the video conferencing, the MTF technicians perform the assessment and the provider interprets the results. All medical records and notes made can be easily accessed by both the remote provider and MTF; as well by any military

health provider through the military’s universal record keeping system.

Patients are able to rate their satisfaction with the TBH appoint-ments. According to Dr. Bruce Crow, clinical psychologist and director of the Warrior Resiliency Program, there have been no implications that TBH is less effective than face-to-face visits and patients have most often reported a very satisfied rating.

Administering men-tal health care through teleconferencing creates a unique atmosphere because “talking to a screen is somehow less intense or intimidating than talking face-to-face,” Crow said.

Certain fears of seek-ing mental health care are also diminished. “With TBH, there is a significant decrease in the possibility of run-ning into your mental health provider in the community,” says Crow.

Crow also explained

differences in the length of care for Soldiers ver-sus civilians.

“Soldiers normally spend less time in therapy and are not able to complete thera-py due to deployments, training, PCS and other duty requirements,” he said.

TBH makes it possible and efficient for Soldiers to prioritize and address their mental health care while maintaining duty obligations. A Soldier can be anywhere in the world and still continue their therapy with their trusted provider, ac-cording to Crow.

“There have been cases where Soldiers have requested and been able to finish treatment with a spe-cific provider.”

TBH is developing and expanding. An app being developed will monitor and record health details such as “sleep patterns, mood, and journaling.” This app will be able to se-

curely transfer informa-tion from a patient’s phone to the medical record for the provider to view.

This technology will enhance the care of the patient, record keeping, and symptom manage-ment. The app will be used in TBH and face-to-face mental health care.

TBH is just a small part of the Telehealth initiative. The initiative is about utilizing com-munication and medical technology to provide top quality general and specialty medical care to service members and their families anywhere in the world.

The Army has been making plans for TBH since 1999 and started the program with teleconsultations for deployed troops in 2004, says TBH project manager Chuck Lappan. TBH programs are developing quickly and will revolutionize Army medicine.

TELEHEALTHfrom P1

sonally supports the move to remove all gender-based restric-tions, and is glad to see anyone who is quali-fied, male or female, serve the Army in any capacity.

As it has done in the past when integrating women into an MOS, the Army is taking a “leaders first” approach. Placing female leaders in those MOSs before inte-grating new Soldiers has been made a priority, but finding those leaders

has been a challenge. Dailey is asking more fe-male NCOs to make the change to combat arms because there are still not enough female men-tors for the new recruits.

“We need leaders to help shape the next generation of combat

Soldiers,” Dailey said. “I know we already have female Soldiers with the drive and ability to be successful in ground combat arms forma-tions. If you think you have what it takes, I am personally asking you to consider transferring to

combat arms.”Dailey noted that it

will not be easy. Soldiers are required to pass MOS-specific High Physi-cal Demands Tests, for which men and women are graded on the same scale.

“The standards have

and always will be very rigorous,” he said. “You will be challenged both mentally and physically. If you are interested in taking on this challenge and leading our Soldiers into the future, please talk to your career counselor today.”

MOS from P2


By Jeremy GerlachJBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

Five years after a federal investigation into sexual assault cases at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in 2011, Air Force officials strides toward protecting survi-vors of such crimes, said Staff Sgt. Derek Gwin, Air Force Legal Operations Agency spe-cial victims paralegal.

Gwin is part of a four-person team at the JBSA Special Victims Counsel office, a program provid-ing legal representation to survivors of sexual assault and other crimes specified under Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, all at no monetary cost to service members.

The JBSA Special Victims Counsel, or SVC, based at JBSA-Lackland, supports all three JBSA installations, as well as Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. Since the office’s chain of command is not tied to JBSA-Lackland and operates independently through AFLOA, which runs out of Joint Base Andrews, Washington,D.C., Gwin said the SVC’s structure allows the office to support sur-vivors first, rather than command interests.

“We represent our clients’ interests to command, not the other way around,” Gwin said. “We are here to protect survivors.”

SVC has been careful-ly monitoring changes to the advocacy process for survivors of sexual as-sault during the past five years. During that time, Congress has changed several rules related to the court martial and criminal prosecution

process, especially con-cerning evidence stan-dards, appellate rights and victims’ rights, Gwin said.

“Historically, when this legal process was first started, there were a lot of unanswered questions that turned into legal fights that our predecessors had to fight on behalf of survivors,” Gwin noted. “There was also more demand for SVC at-torneys than the SVCs could keep up with.”

The JBSA SVC office, for example, is one of many across the Air Force that have expand-ed to meet this increas-ing demand for special-

ized, SVC attorneys.“Things have been

changing,” Gwin noted. “Congress is putting in more safeguards for survivors of sexual as-sault, they are adding more personnel to SVCs, and they are taking the problem of sexual as-sault seriously.”

While the JBSA SVC office includes two attor-neys and one paralegal, along with one attorney stationed at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, this office is just one fragment of the Air Force-wide Special Victims Counsel Division, which includes 43 attorneys, 25 parale-gals and five supervising attorneys in total.

Combined with the resources of the larger AFLOA chain, the smaller JBSA-Lackland office actually has a big reach, Gwin noted.

“There’s nowhere in the world we can’t get to for our clients,” Gwin said. “The Air Force has similar SVCs stationed around the globe.”

While many people might assume SVC at-torneys only represent survivors of sexual as-sault during the court martial process, SVC legal representation actually extends beyond the courtroom, said Capt. Phillip Padden, AFLOA special victims’ attorney.

“A sexual assault can often have secondary impacts, beyond the ini-tial crime itself,” Padden said. “It can affect the survivor professionally, as well as personally, so we also examine how these assaults can affect an entire career.”

Assisting the pros-ecution during a court martial often places significant demands for survivors of sexual as-sault in terms of time, resources, and mental and emotional energy, Padden explained.

“Commanders want Airmen to do the job, but it’s hard for Airmen to do the job if their mind is on the legal issues that they are going through, espe-cially in supporting the criminal prosecution of

a sexual assault case,” Padden said. “We help them take that off their plate – we help Airmen thrive, still, despite hav-ing suffered through this ordeal.”

So, representatives at the JBSA SVC office work to inform com-manders and supervi-sors about the toll the legal process can take on a client’s duties and professional responsibili-ties. The JBSA SVC also works to help clients to understand what their rights and protections are, and make sure that other involved parties – such as command, in-vestigators and defense attorneys – continue to respect those rights.

“We don’t want people

Special Victims Counsel puts survivors of assault first

See COUNSEL, P13

Courtesy graphic


Career Technical TrainingFriday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Soldiers

for Life, building 2263, room 101. Service members will receive guid-ance with selecting an accredited technical training schools and review technical fields during this two-day training. Registration required, call 221-1213.

Screamfree MarriageFriday, Oct. 21, 28, 11 a.m. to 1

p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. This three-part workshop offers an opportunity to challenge previous notions about what marriage should be and how to appreciate all that

is right now and what will be in the future. Learning to stay calm in the face of common marital conflicts is the key to creating and enjoying deep, lifelong connections. Call 221-2418.

Organizational Point Of Contact VMIS

Mondays, 1-4 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Unit and Agency Organiza-tional Points of Contact, or OPOCs, will receive training with the Volunteer Management Information System, or VMIS. Open to all regis-tered OPOCs. Call 221-2705.

Volunteer Management Information System

Mondays, 1-4 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, build-ing 2797. Volunteers will receive hands-on training with the Volunteer Management Information System,

or VMIS. Open to all registered volunteers. Call 221-2705.

Helping Us Grow Securely Playgroup

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, Middle School Teen Center, building 2515. A playgroup for infants and toddlers; open to parents and their children. Registration is not required. Call 221-2418.

Post-Deployment ResiliencyWednesdays, 1-3 p.m., Military

& Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Service members scheduled to deploy, go on temporary duty lon-ger than 30 days or go on a remote assignment are required to attend this briefing. Registration required by calling 221-2418.

Car Seat 101Monday, 1-3 p.m., Military &

Family Readiness Center, building

THE GATE

2797. Review the basics of car seat installation and make sure your child is seated properly within their car seat. This class is required before attending the Safety Seat Clinic. Call 221-2418.

Accessing Higher EducationTuesday-Wednesday and Oct. 24-

26, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Education Center, building 2268. Bachelor’s degree may attend an accelerated two-day workshop where service members will review education requirements that support their per-sonal goals. Registration is required, call 221-1213.

Family Readiness Group Leadership Academy

Tuesday-Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. This two-part training provides commands with a better under-standing of their FRGs, how to utilize their volunteers, in addition to their roles and responsibilities to the families. Call 221-2418.

Army FAP Unit TrainingWednesday, 9-11 a.m. and

1-3 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Mandated Unit Family Advocacy Training in accordance with Army Regulation 608-18) regarding domestic and child abuse identi-fication, reporting and prevention. Other topics covered include the Lautenberg amendment, restricted/unrestricted reporting and transitional compensation program. Seating is limited. Call 221-2418.

Interviews, Dress For SuccessWednesday, 9-11 a.m., Military

& Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Discover ways to make a connection and standout. Take pride in your appearance and follow expected guidelines of what to wear and be prepared for your interview. Call 221-2418.

Mandatory Sponsorship Application Training

Wednesday, 2-3 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, build-ing 2797. Mandatory training for military sponsors; review the roles and responsibilities of a sponsor and receive helpful resources. The Electronic Sponsorship Application & Training (eSAT),

http://apps.militaryonesource.mil/ESAT, provides registration, training certificates, sponsorship duty checklist, newcomer needs assessment, welcome packet, and other resources. Call 221-2705.

Coffee Talk EFMP Support Group

Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. This Ex-ceptional Family Member Program support group meets monthly for a casual dialogue to share helpful resources. Call 221-2705.

Safety Seat ClinicThursday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Fire

Station, building 3830. Make sure your child is safe while traveling on the road by ensuring restraints are properly installed. Child and vehicle must be present; parents will be seen by appointment only. Prerequisite is Car Seat 101. Call 221-2418.

Pre-Deployment ResiliencyThursday and Oct. 27, 9-11 a.m.,

Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. This training draws heavily on the experiences of service members in order to prepare for the realities and challenges commonly encountered prior to and during a deployment. Call 221-2418.

Newcomer’s Orientation, Spouse Information Fair

Oct. 21, 8 a.m. to noon, Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. This in-processing orientation is mandatory for all military and civilian personnel newly assigned to Joint Base San Antonio. All manda-tory patrons must be seated by 7:50 a.m.; service members should coordinate with their unit personnel coordinator or commander support element prior to attending. In conjunction with orientation; vendors and supporting agencies will be on site at 10:30 a.m. for the Spouse Information Fair. Call 221-2705.

Super Heroes Howl DownOct. 21, 5:30-8 p.m., Military &

Family Readiness Center, building 2797. The Exceptional Family Mem-ber Program is hosting a Halloween party featuring a haunted house, trick or treating, movies, crafts and more. EFMP families may register for the sensory-friendly pre-party from 4:30-5:30 p.m. After 5:30 p.m.,

doors open to all Joint Base San Antonio families. Call 221-2705.

Military Retiree Appreciation DayOct. 22, 8 a.m. to noon, at the

Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall. Retirees will have access to multiple services and health information, including flu shots, ID card services, eye glasses, walk-in mammograms, health benefits and appointment information, veteran benefits and services and more. For more information, call 221-9004.

Pre-Separation CounselingOct. 25, 9 a.m. to noon,

Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Airmen, Sailors and Marines planning to separate from the federal service must attend a mandatory counseling. Begin the process 18 months prior to separa-tion date. Call 221-2705.

Budgeting for the HolidaysOct. 25, 9-11 a.m., Military &

Family Readiness Center, building 2797. Planning in advance for the holidays can help reduce stress and overspending. Discover ways to help keep holiday spending under control. Call 221-2705.

Trauma In The UnitOct. 25, 1-4 p.m., Military & Fam-

ily Readiness Center, building 2797. Provides information and guidance to leaders on how to help service members, families and units to understand and respond when trau-matic events occur. Call 221-2418

Citizenship, Immigration Assistance

Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to noon, Ceremony 2 p.m., Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797 Meet with a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service officer for as-sistance with applications. Eligible patrons will take the oath of alle-giance at a naturalization ceremony at 2 p.m. Call 221-2705.

Boots to BusinessOct. 25-26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Soldier for Life, building 2263. A two-day entrepreneurial education workshop hosted by the Small Business Administration, or SBA. Discuss the opportunities and chal-lenges of business ownership, review steps for evaluating business con-cepts, information on SBA resources available and more. Call 221-1213.

CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITYAT REGIONAL HEALTHCOMMAND-CENTRAL

Photo by Erin PerezMaj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Jr. (center), commanding general of Regional Health Command- Central, passes the RHC-C colors to incoming Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha A. Gavia (left) in a change of responsibility ceremony at the AMEDD Museum Amphitheater Oct. 7 as outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Jayme Johnson (right) looks on. Gavia comes to RHC-C from Regional Health Command-Pacific. Johnson’s new position is with U.S. Army Medical Command.


JBSA medical clinics offer breast cancer screeningsBy Robert GoetzJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society, but early treatment equals a better prognosis.

Medical clinics at three Joint Base San Antonio locations are emphasizing the importance of mam-mograms in detecting the early stages of breast cancer with walk-in screenings during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Walk-in mammograms will be offered at JBSA-Lackland’s Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center Radiology Department mammog-raphy clinic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 and at JBSA-Randolph’s 359th Medical Group from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1-3:30 p.m. every Friday during October as long as a pro-vider submits an order.

The Brooke Army Medical Center mammog-raphy section at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston holds a screening mammogram walk-in day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, open to all TRICARE beneficiaries due for a routine screen-ing mammogram with no appointment necessary.

Call 916-4229, option 1, or 916-3736, option 1 for more information.

“The main message for women during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to know your breasts,” said Capt. Victoria Wu, 359th Medical Operations Squadron physician as-sistant. “If there are any changes, ask a provider to evaluate and discuss the proper screenings with you.”

The Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center Radiology Department mammog-raphy clinic recom-mends annual screen-ings beginning at age 45, while the Air Force uses a national guideline known as the Health-care Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS, Wu said.

“The guideline encour-ages women over the age of 52 to do annual mammograms due to the increased prevalence of breast cancer with age,” she said. “However, women should continue to have the option of screening beginning at age 40 or at least have a conversation with a provider about screening at age 40.”

Although health care practitioners encourage women to know how their breasts look and feel, self-exams do not

take the place of regular imaging, Wu said.

“Screening tests can find breast cancer in its early stages before apparent symptoms ap-pear,” she said.

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, Wu said.

“Lumps that are painless and hard with irregular borders are more likely to be cancer, but masses that are soft, round and tender can also be breast cancer,” she said.

According to the ACS, other possible symptoms

of breast cancer include skin irritation or dim-pling; breast or nipple pain; unilateral nipple retraction, or turning inward or outward; red-ness, scaliness or thick-ening of the nipple or breast skin; and nipple discharge other than breast milk.

The highest risk factor for breast cancer is age, Wu said.

“Most invasive breast cancers, those that have spread, are found in women age 55 and older,” she said.

Women who have

close blood relatives with breast cancer have a higher risk of the dis-ease, but Wu noted most women – eight in 10 – who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease, according to the ACS.

“Overall, less than 15 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease,” she said.

However, having a first-degree relative – mother, sister or daugh-ter – with breast cancer nearly doubles a woman’s risk.

Certain breast cancer risk factors are related to personal behaviors, Wu said. These include drinking alcohol – having more than one alcoholic drink a day – and being overweight or obese after menopause.

“After menopause, fat tissue makes more estro-gen, which increases a woman’s chance of breast cancer,” she said.

Women who have not had children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk over-all, Wu said.

“Having many preg-nancies and becoming pregnant at an early age reduces breast cancer risk overall,” she said.

It is important for women to be knowledge-able about breast cancer and realize screening exams find cancers be-fore they start to cause symptoms, leading to early treatment and bet-ter outcomes, Wu said.

“When women educate themselves, they empow-er themselves to make informed decisions,” she said.

Part of the education process is having conver-sations with a provider.

“We want to be ac-cessible to our patients and give them the most up-to-date information,” Wu said.

Courtesy graphic

to get swept up in the process,” Padden added. “We work to be as ac-cessible and helpful as possible.”

Accessing the SVC legal team typically starts with a referral from an outside agency, though potential clients can self-refer, too. After

being referred to the SVC, clients will need to answer a few eligibility questions to determine if the alleged crime falls under Article 120.

While this article initially had a nar-row scope, it has been expanded over the past several years to entitle more victims of sexual assault to legal repre-

sentation, Gwin said.“Even if you aren’t

sure whether your situ-ation falls under Article 120, no one should ever be deterred from coming here and asking,” Gwin added.

As more and more of JBSA’s population learns about the SVC, Padden expects improved results – not just for clients, but

for their entire units and command chain, too.

“The work we do can result in better outcomes in the military justice system,” Padden added. “Our work ultimately helps commanders too, because it aids in keep-ing good order and dis-cipline – which is what commanders want in the first place.”

Individuals who have suffered a sexual assault can call the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator hotline at 808-7272 to file either a restricted or unre-stricted report. Other referring agencies that allow survivors to file restricted reports – which provide a con-fidential option for

clients – include law enforcement, the JBSA Chaplain’s Office, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673) local hospital emer-gency rooms at SAMMC and Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital.

Potential clients can reach the JBSA SVC office at 671-4748.

COUNSEL from P11


Members from a number of Joint Base San Antonio mission partners at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston came together Oct. 3-7 as part of a post-wide cleanup, designated JBSA Proud Week by Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander. JBSA units and mission partners set aside time to clean up and beautify the areas around where they work.

JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON COMES TOGETHER FOR PROUD WEEK

MICC logistics management special-ist Rick Newman pulls weeds Oct. 4 in front of the Long Barracks at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.

Photo by Ryan MattoxPhoto by Ryan Mattox Judy Bland and Carolyn Johnson, Mission and Installation Contracting Command paralegals, pull weeds Oct. 4 in front of the Long Barracks at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. They and other MICC members spent time pulling weeds, dusting windows, and doors around the Long Barracks as part of a post-wide cleanup.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Cantillas

(left), Navy Medicine Education and

Training Command, holds a bag as Petty

Officer 2nd Class Chris Peters places

trash in it during a cleanup outside of NMETC’s office building at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston

Oct. 6.

Photo byPetty Officer 1st Class

Jacquelyn D. Childs


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6 x 4.75 AD

6 x 4.75 AD

photo by monica yoas virtual behavioral health care...

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