Military Relocation to San Antonio: Your JBSA PCS Guide

As an Army spouse who has made 8 moves in 15 years, and a San Antonio native, I understand the challenges military families face when moving and finding a home on a deadline.

What JBSA is

Joint Base San Antonio reached full operational capability on October 1, 2010, bringing JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph together under one joint base, along with other operating locations such as Camp Bullis in northwestern Bexar County, northwest of San Antonio. The City of San Antonio calls JBSA the largest and most diverse joint base in the Department of Defense. Each location sits in a different part of the San Antonio area, so where you live really depends on where you’ll report.

JBSA housing: where to look by base

• JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is just northeast of downtown San Antonio and is home to Brooke Army Medical Center. Central and northeast San Antonio, plus Live Oak and Converse, are worth a look, as are Terrell Hills, just west of the base, and neighboring Alamo Heights.
• JBSA-Randolph is on the northeast side, next to Universal City and Schertz. Universal City, Schertz, Cibolo, Converse and Live Oak are all close by.
• JBSA-Lackland is on the west side of San Antonio and is home to Air Force Basic Military Training. If you’re considering Helotes or the northwest, test your commute to your reporting location.
• Camp Bullis is in northwestern Bexar County, northwest of San Antonio. Boerne, up I-10, and Stone Oak, just north of Loop 1604, are both worth a look.

Commute times change a lot with traffic and gate choice, so I always suggest test-driving the route at your real reporting time before you commit.

PCS to San Antonio: timeline tips

• As soon as you have orders: Start your household goods move with your transportation office, and use Military OneSource’s Plan My Move tool to build a checklist.
• Talk to your installation housing office early so you understand on-base and off-base options before you decide to buy or rent.
• If you’re buying: Get your VA Certificate of Eligibility and talk to a lender about pre-approval before house hunting. See my VA loan guide.
• Plan for overlap: Line up your closing or lease date with your report date and household goods delivery, and keep a temporary lodging plan as a backup.
• Virtual tours help: If you can’t visit before you arrive, ask about virtual viewing options.
• Think about your next PCS too: consider how a home would work as a rental or a resale.

I’ve been the family scrambling to figure out a new city on a deadline. I’d love to make your move to San Antonio easier. You can also browse rentals or compare neighborhoods.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I live if I’m PCSing to JBSA?

It depends on which JBSA location you report to. JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is northeast of downtown, JBSA-Randolph is on the northeast side next to Universal City and Schertz, JBSA-Lackland is on the west side, and Camp Bullis is in northwestern Bexar County, northwest of San Antonio. Test-drive the commute at your real reporting time before you commit.

What JBSA housing options are there?

Talk to your installation housing office early so you understand on-base and off-base options before you decide to buy or rent.

What should I do first when I get orders to San Antonio?

Start your household goods move with your transportation office and use Military OneSource’s Plan My Move tool to build a checklist. If you’re buying, get your VA Certificate of Eligibility and talk to a lender about pre-approval.

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Planning your next move? You can search San Antonio homes for sale or plan the sale of your current home.