Air Force and Army medical officials last week formally christened the new Brooke Army Medical Center pediatric ward and intensive care unit on the grounds of Ft. Sam Houston, Tex., now a part of Joint Base San Antonio. These two pediatric services are primarily staffed by personnel from the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, also a part of the new joint base. Back in April, the services were moved from the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland to BAMC as part of BRAC 2005-mandated changes. “The staff haven’t missed a beat in providing the highest quality care to their patients since the April move,” said Maj. Gen. Tom Travis, 59th MW commander, during the Sept. 21 ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to the move, a new pediatric sedation unit has been established at BAMC. (Ft. Sam Houston report by Sue Campbell)
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes in the Middle East are flying with fresh modifications as the Air Force looks to make the plane more versatile amid America’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and a tenuous ceasefire in the U.S. air war against Iran.