Work has commenced on the new headquarters building for the 502nd Air Base Wing at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. The 25,733-square-foot building will have a 5.5-acre footprint on the Army base, which is now part of JB San Antonio, along with Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases. The 502nd ABW is charged with overseeing installation support for those three facilities under the new joint basing scheme. The ground-breaking ceremony for the $7.4 million construction project was held July 14. Wing officials are expected to take up residence in the new energy-efficient and environmentally friendly headquarters building in July 2011. JB San Antonio is the Defense Department’s largest single installation. (San Antonio report by Steve Elliott)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.