Military families who receive PCS orders to Fort Sam Houston (part of Joint Base San Antonio since 2005) often feel both excitement and nervousness if they haven’t lived on or near a sprawling and highly active military installation.
If you’re like most, your new day-to-day routine will take some getting used to, but it’s comforting to know that many military families absolutely love JBSA and the San Antonio metropolitan area and regularly request to return.
Photo from Brooke Army Medical Center Facebook Page
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Background Information
First-timers, here’s some background knowledge: JBSA encompasses several bases, including Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, and Camp Bullis. It's one of the largest joint base operations in the Department of Defense.
JBSA is like a small city with about 200,000 military and civilian personnel, students, contractors, and families. This multi-service installation has a well-earned reputation for being family-friendly but maintains a busy ops tempo.
Fort Sam Houston is located northeast of San Antonio, Texas, between I-35 and the Harry Wurzbach Parkway. It’s southeast of the San Antonio International Airport and about ten minutes from downtown.
If they don’t live on one of the JBSA bases, servicemembers and their families often choose to live about twenty minutes away in Cibolo Schertz, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Live Oak.
Photo from The Fort Sam Houston Museum
Fort Sam Houston’s History and Current Status
Fort Sam Houston’s original mission in the mid-1880s was to maintain peace along the U.S. and Mexican borders. Later, it became a meeting point for Col. Leonard Wood and Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. In 1916, it supported Brig. Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing’s efforts against Pancho Villa.
The base is filled with historical monuments and buildings essential to the U.S.’s westward expansion and defense. History buffs should make a point to visit the museum within the Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle.
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is now a major military medical training and operations hub. You’ve probably heard of the central tenants, one of the most prestigious military hospitals, Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). It provides outstanding healthcare for servicemembers and their families.
Fort Sam Houston is also the world's largest and most important military medical training facility. It includes the Army Medical Command, the Army Medical Department Center and School, and the U.S. Army North and South command headquarters.
Photo From Hunt Military Community
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Housing Options
There are numerous housing options both on and off base at JBSA. Hunt Military Communities manages the on-base housing neighborhoods, which feature renovated homes with two to five bedrooms, modern amenities, and community centers.
Off-base living is popular, too, especially in Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City, and New Braunfels. Home prices can range from $250k to over $500k, depending on the neighborhood and school district. Rental homes run $1800 to $3500 per month.
Schools that Serve Fort Sam Houston
Military families love that they can choose between on and off-base locations for school options.
Fort Sam Houston Independent School District (ISD) teaches military kids living on Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis. Active duty military parents assigned to Fort Sam Houston but not living on base can also apply for their children to attend the district as transfer students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
The nearby off-base public school options rank favorably, especially in districts like Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, New Braunfels, Comal, and Northeast ISD. Many families also attend private schools in the area.
If you need more help researching your school choices, contact the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston School Liaison Office (SLO). Or start your own search with these resources:
- School Digger (school ratings)
- Military Child Education Coalition
- Private School Review
- Texas Education Agency (homeschool)
- San Antonio Charter School Reviews
Photo by Herson Rodriguez on Unsplash
Exploring San Antonio
One of the biggest perks of Fort Sam Houston is its location in the heart of San Antonio. This vibrant city has a distinctive culture blending Spanish colonial influences with a modern flair. Make sure you visit each one of these destinations at least once.
River Walk. San Antonio’s iconic River Walk is a must-see. This picturesque walkway along the San Antonio River is lined with restaurants and shops and winds through downtown. It is especially festive during the holidays.
The Alamo. This 18th-century Spanish mission, preserved as a museum, is another top attraction for residents and visitors.
San Antonio Zoo and Doseum Children’s Museum. Both are family-friendly favorites and the perfect places to spend the day wandering and exploring.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Don’t forget to check ITT for discounted tickets to this crowd-favorite amusement park!
Outdoor adventures. Outdoor enthusiasts love the miles of hiking and biking trails, parks, and recreational areas.
Life on Fort Sam Houston
Even though there’s so much to explore off-base, you'll also find plenty to do on Fort Sam Houston and all of JBSA. Each base has a fitness center, recreational areas, youth facilities, bowling alleys, golf courses, and more.
A few popular activities include Fort Sam Houston’s excellent recreational travel camp with RV sites and cabins along Salado Creek. Nearby, Lackland AFB has indoor pools, a ski park, an auto hobby shop, and one of the best golf courses in San Antonio.
Start planning affordable on-base activities through JBSA’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs.
Fort Sam Houston Military Spouse Resources
One of the best things about a robust military base is the access military spouses have to an array of resources, from education and career to social and volunteer opportunities.
- JBSA Spouse Employment
- JBSA Military Family Readiness
- JBSA Education Resources
- Fort Sam Houston Spouses’ Club
- Newcomers’ Information
- JBSA Volunteering Info
Strong Community Connections at Fort Sam Houston
At the end of a long military life day, what really defines life at Fort Sam Houston is the supportive military community spread across the JBSA bases. From the Airmen at basic training to the medical professionals at BAMC, servicemembers and families take pride in their units and missions while looking out for each other.
Are you moving to the San Antonio area? See MilitaryByOwner's free guide to the area below to get even more information before your military move.
