Welcome to Your Sailor's next step: “A” School in San Antonio, Texas
(Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland)
If your Sailor’s orders say San Antonio, Texas, they will be training at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) — specifically at Lackland Air Force Base, which hosts several Navy technical training programs.
San Antonio is one of the Department of Defense’s largest joint training communities, meaning your Sailor will be training alongside members of other military branches as well. This location plays a major role in preparing Sailors for careers in medical and technical fields.
Where Is It?
Joint Base San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas, in south-central Texas. It combines multiple military installations into one joint base. The Navy training schools are located primarily at JBSA–Lackland.
San Antonio is often called “Military City USA” because of its strong military presence and long history of supporting service members and their families.
What Type of “A” School Is in San Antonio?
San Antonio is best known in the Navy for:
Hospital Corpsman (HM) “A” School
This is the entry-level training for Navy medical personnel. Corpsmen are the Navy’s enlisted medical specialists and may work in:
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Military hospitals and clinics
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Field medical units
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Marine Corps units
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Ships and submarines
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Specialized medical teams
Training here prepares Sailors in:
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Basic patient care
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Emergency medicine fundamentals
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Medical terminology
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Anatomy and physiology
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Clinical procedures
If your Sailor is becoming a Hospital Corpsman, this is one of the most important steps in their Navy career.
How Many Service Members Train Here?
Joint Base San Antonio is one of the largest joint military installations in the country. The overall JBSA community includes tens of thousands of military members and civilians across multiple branches of service.
Because it’s a joint base, your Sailor will see Air Force trainees and other service members training nearby — but Navy students remain under Navy leadership and standards within their schoolhouse.
What Is “A” School Life Like Here?
“A” School in San Antonio is structured and academically focused.
Families should know:
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Class days are full and require serious study time.
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Medical training is academically demanding.
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Sailors must meet testing standards to continue.
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Liberty privileges increase as Sailors progress.
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Communication is much easier than during boot camp.
The Texas climate is very different from Great Lakes — hot summers, mild winters — so hydration and adapting to the weather are important.
What This Means for Families
If your Sailor is headed to San Antonio:
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They are entering a professional medical career path.
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The training is respected across the military.
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Many Corpsmen go on to serve with Marines, on ships, or in Navy hospitals worldwide.
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This is a proud and meaningful rating with a long history in the Navy.
San Antonio has strong military support services, family readiness programs, and medical facilities to support students during training.
A Word of Encouragement
Becoming a Hospital Corpsman is not just another job — it’s a role of responsibility, leadership, and trust. If your Sailor is headed to San Antonio, they are preparing to take care of others in some of the most challenging environments in the world.
And just like always — Navydads is here to walk through it with you.
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