News United States Air Force
 SecAF takes closer look at JBSA missionsPublished Nov. 8, 2022
                        
                        By Capt. Scarlett Trujillo
                        
                        
                        Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --**
                The Secretary of the Air Force stands alongside Basic Military Training leaders at graduation.Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, center, stands in formation with Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, center right, commander of Air Education and Training Command, Col. Jeffrey Pixley, left, 737th Training Group commander, Chief Master Sgt. Erik Thompson, center right, AETC command chief, and Chief Master Sgt. Dan Anderson, right, 737th Training Group senior enlisted leader, at the start of a U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 3, 2022. Kendall served as the presiding official during this BMT graduation, where he welcomed 570 of the newest Airmen to the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert)
            
            
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**Frank Kendall** visited **Joint Base San Antonio** to meet with leaders across **Air Education and Training Command**, **Air Force Personnel Center**, **Air Force Installation Management Support Command** and **Sixteenth Air Force** Nov. 4 and 5.

Joint Base San Antonio is not only the largest joint base but is also the “Gateway to the Air Force” and home to the Air Force’s Basic Military Training, which hosts graduations every week, generating the force the Air Force requires.

Kendall, as presiding official, celebrated the graduation of 570 of the Air Force’s newest Airmen and provided the oath of enlistment.

“You may notice that these Airmen are no longer the same people you knew seven-and-a-half weeks ago,” Kendall said. “I remember that transformation in my own son when he completed basic training shortly before deploying to Iraq. It was hard to believe that so much had changed, and changed for the better, in such a short time.”

Kendall, alongside AETC senior leaders, also had the opportunity to chat with graduates, family members and military training instructors about the roles each played in shaping the future of the Air Force.Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks with Airmen and their families.Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, right, speaks with Airman Basic Sarah Blakley, 324th Training Squadron, Flight 725, and recent Basic Military Training graduate, following a BMT graduation at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 3, 2022. Kendall served as the presiding official during this BMT graduation, where he welcomed 570 of the newest Airmen to the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert)
            
            
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    Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall presents a coin to an Airman.Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall presents a challenge coin to Tech. Sgt. Jesse Sills, Air Force Recruiting Service military programs key advisor, at Air Education and Training Command headquarters, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Nov. 4, 2022. While at JBSA, Kendall met AETC Airmen and leaders across Air Force Recruiting Service, Air University, Nineteenth Air Force and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Mallard)
            
            
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    Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall receives a briefing on pilot training simulator use.Lt. Col. Robert Buckley, Detachment 24 instructor, gives Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall a tour of the pilot training simulator at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Nov. 4, 2022. Kendall visited Detachment 24 to discuss the innovations of the pilot training program as part of his tour of JBSA and his immersion of Air Education and Training Command programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Mallard)
            
            
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 “You are now a part of our decisive advantage in this strategic competition. Our enemies are deterred by the professional, disciplined, valued, empowered and well-equipped joint force of men and women committed to the ideas of liberty and democracy,” he said.

From the first steps of active-duty service for enlisted Airmen to the professional military education and training of every Airman, Kendall was treated to a closer look at AETC’s wide-ranging mission set.

“Every day our Air Force leaders are challenging the force to pursue developments in training, technology and cultural norms, in order to ready the Department of Defense for high-end competition,” said **Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson**, commander of AETC. “At AETC, we clearly understand how vital education and training is to every Airman’s career. From continuous and iterative military training and education to our unique special warfare capabilities, we pride ourselves in keeping the heartbeat of innovation and advancement alive and well in every facet of the enterprise.”LR 



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