Fort Sam Houston, TX

Branch: U.S. Army
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Installation Type: Fort (component of Joint Base San Antonio)
Status: Active

Overview

Fort Sam Houston was established in 1876 and is located in the heart of San Antonio, Texas. It is one of the oldest and most storied Army installations in the United States, serving as the centerpiece of Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) — a tri-service installation that also includes Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base. Fort Sam Houston is the home of Army Medicine, the Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S), and the 502nd Air Base Wing which manages the joint base.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Train, develop, and deploy Army medical professionals and provide installation support for the joint base and San Antonio’s extensive military medical enterprise.
Major Units: U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S), 5th Recruiting Brigade, 1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) elements, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) — formerly III Corps forward element
Tenant Units: San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC, part of Brooke Army Medical Center), 59th Medical Wing (Air Force), Defense Health Agency elements, Inter-American Defense Board, U.S. Southern Command liaison elements

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: San Antonio, TX (Fort Sam Houston is located within the city of San Antonio, approximately 3 miles northeast of downtown)
Nearest Commercial Airport: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — approximately 8 miles north
Gate Access: Multiple gates with 24/7 access for authorized personnel; primary gates include the New Braunfels Avenue Gate and Walters Street Gate; visitor passes issued at the Visitor Control Center; valid government-issued photo ID required; civilian visitors must have a DoD sponsor; vehicle registration and insurance required

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 15,000-18,000 (across JBSA-Fort Sam Houston specifically)
Family Members: Approximately 30,000-35,000 (across JBSA)
Civilian Employees: Approximately 12,000-15,000 (including medical center staff)
Total Installation Population: Joint Base San Antonio total workforce and population exceeds 250,000 when all three installations are combined, making it one of the largest military installations in the world by economic footprint

Key Facilities

Medical: Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) / San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) — Level I trauma center and the largest military medical center in the DoD; provides comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialty care; also home to the Burn Center (world-renowned U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research)
Commissary: Yes — full-service commissary on post; additional commissaries at JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes — Army & Air Force Exchange Service on post; additional large AAFES stores available across Joint Base San Antonio
Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers on post; Pershing Pool; McWethy Fitness Center; historic Quadrangle area open for walking; access to MWR facilities across all three JBSA installations including golf courses, bowling centers, and outdoor recreation
Schools: North East Independent School District (NEISD) serves Fort Sam Houston area; no DoDEA school at this installation; JBSA overall area served by multiple ISD districts
Childcare: Child Development Centers on post; demand is high across JBSA — apply immediately upon receipt of orders; family child care network and school-age services available
Veterinary Services: JBSA Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility — services include wellness exams, vaccinations, preventive care, and microchipping for military-owned pets; appointment required
Legal Assistance / JAG: ARNORTH/Fort Sam Houston Office of the Staff Judge Advocate — legal assistance by appointment; powers of attorney on walk-in basis; tax assistance during tax season; located on Main Post

Housing

On-Post Housing: Managed by Balfour Beatty Communities (JBSA); multiple neighborhoods across the joint base; Fort Sam Houston housing includes historic quarters and modern units; some historic general officer quarters on National Register
Average Wait Time: Varies by bedroom size and rank; can be 3-9 months for larger units at desirable neighborhoods; the San Antonio market is competitive
Off-Post Housing: San Antonio is a large city with diverse housing options; average rent for a 3-bedroom home ranges approximately $1,400-$2,000/month; areas popular with military families include Schertz, Converse, Universal City, Helotes, and Stone Oak
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) website.

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Request a sponsor through the gaining unit S1; JBSA maintains a robust newcomer support network; AMEDDC&S and MEDCOM units have specific in-processing pipelines
In-Processing: Report to the gaining unit/organization; JBSA in-processing is coordinated through the respective S1; medical students and trainees may report to AMEDDC&S for course in-processing
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Enrollment through BAMC EFMP office; extensive resources available given San Antonio’s large medical community; Army Community Service EFMP coordinator available on post

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Semi-arid subtropical — hot summers (100+ F days common in July-August), mild winters; low humidity compared to Gulf Coast; occasional ice storms in January; very warm spring and fall
Cost of Living: Moderate — San Antonio is more affordable than most large U.S. cities but has seen cost increases in recent years; housing costs have risen significantly since 2020 but remain below coastal cities
Nearby Attractions: The Alamo and San Antonio River Walk (downtown San Antonio, within miles); SeaWorld San Antonio and Fiesta Texas (theme parks); Natural Bridge Caverns (approximately 20 miles); New Braunfels (Schlitterbahn water park, Gruene Historic District, approximately 35 miles north)
Spouse Employment: Excellent — San Antonio is a major metropolitan area with strong healthcare (medical city second largest to Houston in Texas), government, technology, tourism, and STEM sectors; proximity to BAMC creates healthcare employment opportunities for medically trained spouses

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://home.army.mil/samhouston/
Main Installation Phone: (210) 221-1211
MWR Website: https://jbsa.armymwr.com/
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Army Community Service (ACS) — Building 2107 on Chaffee Road; contact (210) 221-2705 for relocation assistance, financial counseling, EFMP, and newcomer support

Last updated: 2026-02-22
Sources: home.army.mil/samhouston, jbsa.armymwr.com, Brooke Army Medical Center public affairs, North East ISD, Joint Base San Antonio public affairs, DoD installation population estimates, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law