Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam is home to a number of Army units, including the Army Medical School, where personnel learn the latest battlefield treatments to save more lives on the front lines. The base hospital opened in 1938 and was named after Gen. Roger Brooke.

In 1946 the Institute of Surgical Research was moved to Fort Sam from Halloran General Hospital in New York. The institute specialized in trauma surgery. The Burn Center was established in 1949. In 1973 the fort acquired a major military command devoted to medical service, known as the Health Services Command.

Fort Sam Houston is unique among Army posts and is one of the Army’s oldest installations. With more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. Two of those are the Pershing House and the Quadrangle. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to the United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Today, Fort Sam Houston is part of the Army’s medical training command where Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) handles the training of more than 25,000 people annually and is nationally recognized as the premier hospital for burn treatment.

Mission
The primary mission of Fort Sam Houston is as a medical training and support post. The post is the home of the HQ U.S. 5th Army, the U.S. Army 5th Recruiting Brigade, Brooke Army Medical Center Institute of Surgical Research, the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, the U.S. Army Center Brigade, and the U.S. Army Medical Command.

Education
Fort Sam Houston is one of three military facilities in Texas to have its own school district, Fort Sam Houston Independent School District.