JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Families across Joint Base San Antonio are invited to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 249th birthday by participating in Operation Hooah June 12, 2024.
The event, which will occur in two phases, is open to all JBSA families and is being hosted by the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military & Family Readiness Center at Brig. Gen. Johnson Running Track, located between Schofield and Worth Roads on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
The first phase of the event will be a mock deployment experience open to 200 military children.
“The purpose of Operation Hooah is to give children a glimpse into what their parent or parents might experience when they deploy,” said Ken Matthews, community readiness specialist at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
Participating children will be divided into two companies, five platoons per company, and will be processed through a Central Issue Facility and Soldier Readiness Program to ensure they are ready for their ‘deployment,’ Matthews said.
Once the children have been ‘cleared,’ they will receive a deployment briefing from an Army senior leader and will move to their ‘deployment’ location, which will consist of several stations: Military Working Dogs, Army Medical demonstrations, an obstacle course, and a simulated weapons qualification test. They will also have access to various military tactical vehicles and will watch a military helicopter practice a medical evacuation.
After the deployment is complete, the children will be reintegrated during a welcome home celebration with their parents, Matthews said.
Operation Hooah's Phase 1 is open to JBSA children ages 6-12 and requires registration. Drop off for the event will be between 7 and 7:30 am. in front of the Military and Family Readiness Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The first 100 participants for Phase 1 will be selected from online registrations HERE and the second 100 children will be selected by JBSA Child & Youth Programs. Please do not register through both opportunities.
During Phase 2 of Operation Hooah, open to all DOD ID cardholders, participants and families are invited to attend an Army birthday event which will feature displays from JBSA units, resilience, and Military and Family Readiness organizations, as well as fun activities for children. This phase of the event will occur from 11:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. Food trucks will also be on site offering a wide variety of items for purchase.