Mission
Joint Base San Antonio history began with a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation that resulted in congressional legislation directing the consolidation of installations in the San Antonio area. The Air Force's 502 Air Base Wing (502d ABW) is the lead agency for JBSA, which is comprised of three primary operating locations at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland, and JBSA-Randolph, plus eight other operating areas. The wing's mission is to deliver unrivaled installation support and services to enable mission partner success. JBSA is is home to 266 mission partners who conduct specialized missions in training, healthcare, installation management, security cooperation, recruiting, and more for the Department of Defense.
JBSA Fort Sam Houston
The primary mission at Fort Sam Houston is medical training support, with more than 16,500 graduates a year from the Medical Education and Training Campus. The installation is also home to 107 mission partners to include U.S. Army North, U.S. Army South, Army Medical Command, Brooke Army Medical Center, Medical Center of Excellence, Regional Health Command-Central, Installation Management Command, and 502nd Air Base Wing. Camp Bullis, located northwest of San Antonio, serves primarily as a field training site for medical units.
JBSA Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland's mission is to:
- Provide basic training for all non-prior service Airmen of the regular Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve.
- Provide modern technical training in security and law enforcement, military working-dog handling, combat arms, recruiting, supply, transportation, services, food preparation, and social actions.
- Provide students from 117 countries the opportunity to increase their proficiency in the English language through its Defense Language Institute English Language Center.
- Provide technical training in Spanish for military allies from Central and South America.
- Provide medical training programs at Wilford Hall Medical Center.
In response to the joint basing initiative, Lackland activated the 802nd Mission Support Group on Feb. 2, 2010, and realigned under the new 502nd Air Base Wing at Fort Sam Houston. Several 37th Training Wing staff agencies were realigned to maximize operation training and support missions throughout the base. The 37th TRW retained positions in agencies specific to the training mission, while mission support roles reorganized under the 502nd.
JBSA Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph AFB is home to numerous Department of Defense units, including Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, the Air Force personnel center, and the host unit, the 12th Flying Training Wing.
The Air Education and Training Command's mission is "to develop America's Airmen today for tomorrow." They take America's sons and daughters – young men and women who have volunteered to serve their country in a time of war – and develop them into airmen. AETC's mission begins with the Air Force recruiting service. With 24 enlisted squadrons, three health professions squadrons, and more than 1,200 recruiters assigned throughout the United States and overseas, the recruiting service's mission is to inspire, engage and recruit the brightest, most competitive, and diverse young men and women for service in the United States Air Force.
The Air Force personnel center is the Air Force's human resources division implementing personnel, manpower, and services programs for nearly 330,000 active-duty members and 150,000 civilian employees through a worldwide network of personnel flights. AFPC carries out the programs covering all life cycles of military and civilian personnel for the Air Force, including defining resource requirements and developing and delivering airmen for the Air Force and the joint environment. AFPC also manages the implementation of services programs for airmen and their families.
The 12th Flying Training Wing is the source of America's airpower, delivering unrivaled airpower leaders for the future of the U.S. Air Force. The wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, consists of three flying groups and a maintenance directorate spanning more than 1,600 miles. The 12th FTW is responsible for four single-source aviation pipelines. These pipelines include combat systems officer training and pilot instructor training and remotely piloted aircraft pilot indoctrination and basic sensor operator qualification. The wing manages all airmanship programs for the U.S. Air Force Academy and serves as the single screening point for all hopeful aviators, including pilots, remotely piloted aircraft pilots, and combat systems officers. The wing also hosts the introduction to fighter fundamentals program and conducts electronic warfare training for the U.S. Air Force and multi-national forces.
Each year, the wing graduates more than 850 instructor pilots, 350 combat systems officers, 500 remotely piloted aircraft pilots and sensor operators, and trains more than 2,500 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and 2,200 undergraduate flight training candidates.
Population
Commonly called Greater San Antonio, the metro area has a population of 2,703,999 based on the United States Census Bureau, making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and second-largest in Texas.
- Area Population: San Antonio: 1,513,974
- Active duty: 80, 000
- ANG/Reserves: 8,871
- Avg Daily Student Load:18,747
- Civilians/Contractors: 35, 000
Location
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) resides in the heart of San Antonio (Bexar County), the seventh-largest city in the United States. JBSA’s three primary operating locations—JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland, and JBSA-Randolph, plus eight other operating areas are located on 67 square miles, throughout the city.
- JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is located northeast of downtown San Antonio
- JBSA-Lackland Air Force Base resides on west side of San Antonio
- JBSA-Randolph Air Force Base is on the northeast side of San Antonio.
- Camp Bullis is located on the northwest of San Antonio
Directions
USO Military Reception Area
The USO in the San Antonio International Airport (SATX) offers service members a place to call their own while traveling to/from our city. The Military Reception Area is in the northern part of Terminal B and offers snacks, coffee, and plenty of room to sit down and relax. Regular operating hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.; except on Sunday the hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; however, call 210-233-9279 for current hours of operation.
Ground Transportation
SATX offers various ground transportation options for travelers to include rental cars, taxi cabs, and rideshare. Below are a few key points:
- Rental cars. Rental counters are located in the car rental facility, which is right across from the airport. If you are planning to rent a car, contact the car rental directly as counter hours of operation may vary.
- Taxi cabs. Available cabs are found on the outer commercial curb at Terminal A.
- Ride Share. Uber, Lyft, and Wingz rideshare companies are approved for operation at SATX. Passengers can meet them at the outer commercial curbside at the lower level of Terminal A.
Directions from the San Antonio Airport
To JBSA Fort Sam Houston:
1. Take 281 South to I-35 North
2. From I-35 North, take exit 159 B and follow signs to the Walters Gate Entrance.
3. Turn left at the first stop light and continue straight to the Walters Gate.
Please check for current gate and Visitor control Center hours at https://www.jbsa.mil/Gate-Hours/. If you have any issues or concerns regarding installation access, please contact the Base Defense Operations Center at 210-221-2244.
To JBSA Randolph Air Force Base:
1. Take Loop 410 East to IH-35 North
2. Exit at Pat Booker Road.
3. Turn left at the stop light and proceed, approximately 3 miles, to the main entrance.
Please check for current gate and Visitor control Center hours at https://www.jbsa.mil/Gate-Hours/. If you have any issues or concerns regarding installation access, please contact the Base Defense Operations Center at 210-652-5700.
To JBSA Lackland Air Force Base:
1. Head northwest on E Terminal Dr., 0.05 miles.
2. Continue onto Airport Blvd., 0.3 miles.
3. Turn right onto NE Interstate 410 Loop.
4. Take the ramp on the left onto I-410 W., 14.2 miles.
5. Take exit 6 toward US 90/Del Rio/San Antonio 0.2 miles.
6. Merge onto access road 0.7 miles. Stay in the left lane till past the US 90-W. entrance then get in the right lane. Go under the bridge, take the US 90 E ramp toward San Antonio, 0.1 mile.
7. Merge onto US-90 access E., 1.3 miles.
8. Turn right onto W. Military Drive, go under first pedestrian bridge, get in left lane and the Luke East gate will be at the next light.
Please check for current gate and Visitor control Center hours at https://www.jbsa.mil/Gate-Hours/. If you have any issues or concerns regarding installation access, please contact the Base Defense Operations Center at 210-671-2018.
Contact Information
JBSA Command Post: 210-221-9363
Automated Base Operators
- JBSA Fort Sam Houston: 210-221-1211
- JBSA Lackland Air Force Base: 210-671-1110
- JBSA Randolph Air Force Base: 210-652-1110
Base Defense Operations Center:
JBSA Lackland: 210-671-2018
JBSA Ft. Sam Houston/Camp Bullis: 210-221-2244
JBSA Randolph: 210-658-5700/5709