Because of this uniqueness, Lackland is the "Gateway to the Air Force. Not only is basic training conducted here, the Defense Language Institute is located here, the K-9 training for all branches of the military, Boarder Patrol, Traffic Safety Administration, etc., and other schools for our allied nations military.
I drove around the base looking primarily for a couple of specific things. The first was the type of barracks I spent my time in. This is a World War II type of structure that was terribly hot in the summer and I would assume very, very cold in the winter. No insulation, the boarding around the building had openings that would let the wind come on through and of course no heating or air conditioning. The picture below is an image of the only WWII barracks left on base.
This is what I lived in, the structures of today are entirely different. Not only are they well insulated with heating and air conditioning, they are constructed for 2 per room, underground pads for marching drills that can be used in all weather (we were outside).
It was kind of funny when I took this picture. A training instructor came up to me and asked what I was doing. I told him that I was going around the base just taking a few pictures. He said that I was not allowed to take images of dormitories. I then asked him about the old WWII barracks and he said that was OK. I asked him about a picture I took of a chapel and he said that was OK also. Then, knowing that I kind of had the upper hand, I asked him our someone was supposed to know what to take picture of and what I can't. I said that there is no sign, so the just turned and walked away.
The other thing I was looking for was a static display of a F-101 VooDoo and I'm sorry "Cousin-In-Law" David Feller, I could not find one. A lot of other aircraft but not the F-101. Here are a few:
A few years ago BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) came to San Antonio and it really ending up being a good thing and a little-bitty bad thing. The bad thing about it all was that one of the landmarks of Lackland and even San Antonio, was that Wilford Hall Medical Center was going to close. All hospital beds and the Level 1 Trauma Center was going to close and all this was moving to Ft. San Houston. With the Trauma Center closing, it only left 1 center in San Antonio.
When it was determined that WHMC was closing and the icon was going to be on the destruction block, they are almost done with a new building that will act as different clinics. WHMC will be comming down in the very near future. And because of BRAC, the hospital at Ft. Sam Houston more than doubled in size. Their Trauma Center is the best in San Antonio and probably throughout the military. Also, because of BRAC it was determined that all medical training from all branches in the military will be conducted at Ft. Sam Houston. Over $1 billion in construction on Ft Sam alone, not just the hospital but to dormitories and other facilities. Because of all that, the recession did not hit us as hard.
The top picture is of WHC and the bottom is the new clinics.
The name has been changed from BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center) to SAMMC (San Antonio Medical Military Center). This is one huge facility and just to see the magnitude of it all, needs to be seen in person.
