A flu outbreak has sickened nearly 160 Air Force recruits in basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, officials confirmed this week. The surge comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made annual flu vaccinations optional for military personnel.
The outbreak is centered in the base’s basic military training wing, where new recruits live in close quarters with shared dining and sleeping arrangements. Air Force officials described it as a localized influenza outbreak and said medical teams have implemented mitigation measures including isolation, antiviral medications like Tamiflu and monitoring of close contacts.
In response, commanders at Lackland reinstated the flu vaccine requirement for new trainees, securing an exception to the Pentagon’s broader policy change. Vaccination rates among recruits had dropped sharply to about 40 percent after the mandate ended, according to reports.
Hegseth announced the policy shift in April, calling mandatory flu shots “overly broad and not rational.” He emphasized personal choice for service members, stating those who want the vaccine should get it but it would no longer be required across the force.
Lackland serves as the primary hub for Air Force basic training, graduating approximately 35,000 airmen each year. The 7½-week program involves intense physical training, classroom instruction and close living conditions that can facilitate the spread of respiratory illnesses.
A separate trainee death occurred Tuesday at the base after a medical emergency, but officials said the cause is under investigation and have not linked it to the flu outbreak. The Air Force is conducting a comprehensive medical review.
The situation has drawn attention as the military balances health protocols with service member autonomy. Public health experts note that crowded training environments remain vulnerable to outbreaks when vaccination rates decline.
No widespread impact beyond the training wing has been reported, and officials say they continue to monitor the situation closely to protect readiness.
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