Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Airmen briefing visitors outside a buildingUSECAF, CMSAF visit AETC bases, observe COVID-19 mitigation efforts
                        
                        
                        While performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright listen to Master Sgt. Brandon Long, 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 military training instructor, as he briefs on the physical-training procedures used by basic military trainees at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 22, 2020. Manasco and Wright met with Second Air Force leaders to learn more about how the numbered air force is fighting through the COVID-19 response with force health protection measures in place throughout basic and technical training in line with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        individuals stand in a flying training squadron hallwayUSECAF, CMSAF visit AETC to see adjusted training operations in response to COVID-19
                        
                        
                        While performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco, along with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, speaks to members of the 559th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 22, 2020. The Air Force senior leaders met with 559th FTS pilot-instructor students and staff to learn more about how the unit trains instructor pilots during the COVID-19 response with force health protection measures in place in line with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sean Worrell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        individuals walking a sidewalkUSECAF, CMSAF visit AETC to see adjusted training operations in response to COVID-19
                        
                        
                        While performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco, along with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, listen as Col. Rebecca Blackwell, 559th Medical Group commander, briefs during a tour at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 22, 2020. Manasco and Wright met with AETC leaders to learn more about how the command is fighting through the COVID-19 response with force health protection measures in place throughout basic and technical training in line with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        people view dorm room with bunk bedsUSECAF, CMSAF visit AETC bases, observe COVID-19 mitigation efforts
                        
                        
                        While performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco, along with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, tour the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 living quarters inside Erwin Manor at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April. 22, 2020. Manasco and Wright met with Second Air Force leaders to learn more about how the numbered air force is fighting through the COVID-19 response with force health protection measures in place throughout basic and technical training in line with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

USecAF, CMSAF visit AETC to see adjusted training operations in response to COVID-19Published April 24, 2020
                    
                    By Dan Hawkins
                    
                    
                    Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFNS) --**While performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force**Shon Manasco**, along with **Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright**, observed the ongoing, critical operations at multiple training locations here and at **Keesler Air Force Base**, Mississippi, April 22.The visits allowed senior leaders the opportunity to see first-hand how**Air Education and Training Command** has adjusted operations to mitigate and minimize **COVID-19** impacts to the basic, technical and flying training pipelines, all of which have been deemed mission essential.“We simply can’t accomplish our mission without the dedicated training and medical experts across the AETC enterprise,” Manasco said. “Across every aspect of our training pipeline, we are seeing Airmen innovate and find new ways of executing the mission to recruit, train and educate exceptional Airmen and space professionals while balancing their health and safety.”
The traveling party maintained a small footprint and adhered to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Defense Department**social-distancing guidelines** to ensure protection of their health and those around them. Upon arrival at Keesler AFB, Manasco and Wright met with Second Air Force leadership to learn more about how the numbered air force is fighting through the COVID-19 response with force health protection measures in place throughout basic and technical training.**Maj. Gen. Nina Armagno**, director of Space Programs for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, accompanied Manasco and Wright during the visit. “At any given time, there are 30,000 air and space professionals in our various pipelines and in order to maintain a trained force, we must continue to bring in new recruits and train them,” Armagno said. “Protection measures put in place proactively have reduced potential COVID-19 exposure to all of our trainees and instructors.”
The senior leaders observed BMT proof-of-concept operations at Keesler AFB, and also how the**37th Training Wing** at **Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland** handles BMT COVID-19 restriction of movement on arrival, as well as quarantine, person-under-investigation and isolation operations.“The BMT proof of concept allows the command flexibility to make necessary adjustments to the training production pipeline as needed during contingencies,” Manasco said. “As one of a number of options for dispersing basic military training under a range of contingencies and in the current COVID-19 situation, Keesler (AFB) presented the most favorable option.”
After observing new recruits in basic military training, the service’s senior enlisted leader was impressed with the agility of training and perseverance from the soon-to-be Airmen.
“As it always is, seeing the commitment in person of America’s sons and daughters as they transition from civilian life to becoming Airmen is inspiring,” Wright said. “To each and every one of them, we want to say thank you for your dedication to our country and for stepping up to defend her even during these truly uncertain times.”
Manasco and Wright also visited a technical-training classroom and experienced the virtual capstone lab for cyber transport training. This allowed the leaders to see how technical training is adapting its curriculum and technology to be more agile in training delivery.  
For their final stop, the team visited with instructor-pilot students and staff from the 559th Flying Training Squadron at JBSA-Randolph where they learned about the use of virtual reality and the future of pilot training, as well as changes during COVID-19 operations.
Throughout the day, Manasco seized the opportunity to thank all first responders, medical professionals, and trainee health teams in the 81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB and Reid Clinic at JBSA-Lackland for standing ready during the coronavirus response.
“To say we’re proud of every single Airman and space professional standing directly on the front lines of this COVID-19 fight would be an understatement,” Manasco said. “The courage with which our Airmen have responded in the face of this unknown enemy has been second-to-none.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Under Secretary of the Air Force 



USecAF 



Shon Manasco 



Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force 



Kaleth O. Wright 



CMSAF 



basic military training 



BMT 



Keesler Air Force Base 



Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland 



Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil