San Antonio Families to Host Soldiers for Thanksgiving
Apply by Oct. 16 to host two Fort Sam Houston soldiers for the holiday meal and help trainees feel at home.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Entertaining
Live Poll
Would you open your home to host a local service member for the Thanksgiving holiday?
The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence has extended the application deadline for Mission Thanksgiving to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. San Antonio-area families interested in hosting Fort Sam Houston soldiers for the holiday can still apply to participate.
Why it matters
The program provides a home environment for soldiers in training who are unable to travel due to readiness requirements, helping them adjust to spending their first major holiday away from their own families.
Interested families must reside within 40 miles of Fort Sam Houston and pass a background check that takes approximately two weeks. As of Oct. 14, 158 families have registered, aiming to match or exceed the 170 families who participated last year.
The players
U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence
The military organization responsible for managing training and medical readiness for personnel at Fort Sam Houston.
Fort Sam Houston
The major Army installation in San Antonio where soldiers undergo training and maintain readiness.
The details
Families apply through an online portal to be matched with soldiers in training. Because training requirements prevent soldiers from traveling home, they are hosted in pairs to support one another through the buddy system. Families pick up their guests on Thanksgiving morning and must return them to base by 7 p.m. the same day.
Timeline
• Oct. 16, 2026: Application deadline for Mission Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Day 2026: Soldiers are picked up and hosted
The Home Front
This effort tracks seasonal community support trends where local populations integrate military trainees into private family life during major holidays. It follows a historical pattern established by the 2025 Mission Thanksgiving program to ensure soldiers in training receive off-base hospitality.
Families living within 40 miles of Fort Sam Houston should finalize their applications by the Oct. 16 deadline to account for the two-week background check period. Ensure your household calendar is clear for Thanksgiving Day to accommodate the morning pickup and 7 p.m. return time.
The takeaway
Opening your home to military trainees provides crucial support during their training period. Ensure you have your documentation ready for the required background check if you are interested in hosting.
Further reading
Learn more about local ways to connect with your community in the San Antonio Entertaining section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSAT.
Live Poll
Would you open your home to host a local service member for the Thanksgiving holiday?
