Camp Bullis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camp Bullis
Bexar County, Texas, USA
Forward command post at Camp Bullis during the PANAMAX annual exercise, 2009
Coordinates	29°41′N 98°34′W / 29.683°N 98.567°W / 29.683; -98.567
Type	Military installation
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army
Site history
Built	1917
In use	1917–present

Camp Bullis Military Training Reservation is a big training area for the U.S. Army. It covers about 27,990 acres (113.27 square kilometers) in Bexar County, Texas. This camp is just northwest of San Antonio.

Camp Bullis helps support and train soldiers from Joint Base San Antonio. The camp is named after a brave soldier, Brigadier General John L. Bullis.

Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley together form the Leon Springs Military Reservation. Camp Bullis is mainly used for training exercises. Soldiers from the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps practice combat moves here. It's also a field-training spot for medical teams from Brooke Army Medical Center in nearby Fort Sam Houston.

History of Camp Bullis

Early Days and Training (1906-1917)

In 1906, the U.S. military bought over 17,000 acres of land. This area was called the Leon Springs Military Reservation. It was used for training troops from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. People liked Leon Springs because it wasn't very crowded and had different types of land.

Training started right away. In 1907, they held a rifle and pistol competition there. Big training exercises happened in 1908. These involved soldiers on foot, horseback, and with artillery. Artillery was first fired there in 1909.

When there were problems in Mexico in 1911, many troops trained at the reservation. Training slowed down from 1912 to 1916. This was because soldiers from Fort Sam Houston were sent to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Activity picked up again in 1916. Many troops were called up for training after an attack in Columbus, New Mexico. Also in 1916, a large station for horses was built.

In February 1917, the training area was renamed Camp Funston. This was to honor Major General Frederick Funston. In May 1917, as the U.S. got ready for World War I, Camp Funston started the first Officers Training Camp. Future officers practiced marching, shooting, and even trench warfare. The first group of officers finished training in August 1917.

Renaming and Growth (1917-1939)

In October 1917, Camp Funston was renamed Camp Stanley. This was to avoid confusion with another Camp Funston in Kansas. More land to the south was rented and named Camp Bullis. It was named after Brigadier General John L. Bullis.

Camp Bullis had areas for cavalry, training grounds, and shooting ranges. Only a few permanent buildings were put up. These included a camp headquarters and administrative building. Soldiers from the 90th Division built rifle and pistol ranges. These ranges could hold 3,000 to 4,000 men.

Between World War I and World War II, Camp Bullis grew a lot. The rented land for Camp Bullis was bought. Also, 1,760 acres of Camp Stanley were given to the San Antonio Arsenal. The rest of the Leon Springs Military Reservation became part of Camp Bullis.

During this time, different army units used Camp Bullis for training. Groups like the Citizens Military Training Camp and the Reserve Officers Training Corps also trained there. Troops practiced shooting, combat, and using small mortars.

New Army Organization (1937-1943)

Starting in 1937, the Second Division tested new ways to organize army units. They wanted units to be faster and more flexible. This involved using more vehicles and machines. These tests were even shown in Life magazine in 1939.

The new idea was called the triangular division. This plan used three main infantry (foot soldier) groups. It gave commanders three forces to use against the enemy. One force would face the enemy, one would go around them, and one would be a backup.

In 1939, Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall ordered this new design for all infantry divisions. The Second Division added more groups and changed their artillery guns.

However, by 1942 and 1943, this triangular division idea changed again. This was because tanks and other armored vehicles became very important in large army units.

Camp Bullis Beyond Military Training

Before World War II, Camp Bullis was used for other things too. In 1926, parts of two movies were filmed there. These were The Rough Riders and Wings. The Rough Riders used soldiers from the 1st and 5th Cavalry as extras. A hill was even planted with palm trees to look like San Juan Hill in Cuba.

The flying fields at Camp Bullis were used for Wings. This movie won the first Academy Award for best picture. In the early 1930s, Camp Bullis also helped organize young men for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Workers from the CCC and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped build some of the camp's facilities.

World War II and Beyond

As World War II began in Europe, more troops trained at Camp Bullis. This meant they needed a bigger training area. More land was bought or rented. New facilities were built to handle new weapons and tactics. The camp also added more tent areas.

A prisoner-of-war camp was set up for 200 prisoners. Access to the camp improved with a new road called Military Highway. Large army units trained at Camp Bullis until November 1943. After that, smaller units continued to train until the end of World War II. Near the end of the war, the Military Police Officer Candidate School moved to Camp Bullis.

After World War II, there was less need for the large training areas. New army weapons were too powerful to be fired safely at Camp Bullis. However, Camp Bullis became useful for other activities. It was used to test tires, fuels, vehicles, and tanks for the military.

Medical training also became very important. Fort Sam Houston became the main place for medical field training. So, Camp Bullis set up remote training spots. This allowed medical personnel to practice their skills in a field setting.

Today, Camp Bullis still trains medical personnel. It also provides training areas for the Army, Army Reserve, Air Force, and Texas National Guard. These groups come from San Antonio and other regions.

Since 1970, Camp Bullis has given 464 acres of land to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. This land was used for parks and roads.

Water Supply

In September 2015, the San Antonio Water System planned a big project. They wanted to build almost 4 miles of pipeline to Camp Bullis, Fort Sam Houston, and Lackland Air Force Base. This would be a backup water supply. It was important to make sure San Antonio had enough water. This helps prevent military bases from being considered for closure.

Soldier Medic Training Site

The Soldier Medic Training Site is located at Camp Bullis. It is designed to look like places where new soldier medics might work. This helps them prepare for real-life situations in conflict areas.