Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland serves as the “Gateway” for many Air Force careers. Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) is the main reason for the moniker, and the installation’s primary mission is training. In 1941, Lackland AFB began as a small parcel of land carved out of Kelly Field, a nearby Army airfield. Kelly Field (later Kelly Air Force Base) has since closed, and the Kelly Field Annex now belongs to JBSA-Lackland. In 2010, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission combined Lackland AFB, Randolph AFB, and Fort Sam Houston, forming Joint Base San Antonio. The 802nd Mission Support Group calls Lackland home and aligns with the 502d Air Base Wing at Fort Sam Houston. Language and technical training are other principal missions at JBSA-Lackland.

Located in southwest San Antonio, JBSA-Lackland is roughly a 20-minute drive to downtown. Base housing is available and in pretty high demand. Because of the well-rated Lackland Independent School District (Kindergarten through high school) and relatively new housing, you’ll likely encounter a wait-list for base housing. Don’t start booking temporary lodging for months-on-end just yet! There are many great (affordable) communities to choose from off post. The base and its training areas straddle the southwestern quarter of the I-410 loop, providing easy access to the communities in Northwest San Antonio.