If you’re planning to go to Joint Base San Antonio today, be prepared for a wait — a long wait.
That was the advice offered to potential visitors by the nation’s largest joint military base, home to Lackland and Randolph Air Force bases and the Army’s Fort Sam Houston.
The warning, posted on Facebook, began with the word “ATTENTION” in large red letters, accompanied by emergency siren emojis.
It said anyone seeking access to the city’s military installations on Thursday without “approved credentials … should anticipate significant delays when requesting clearance for base access.
“Individuals who have the flexibility to postpone their visit are encouraged to do so,” the post said. “We recommend waiting for further communication regarding the return to normal service before making access requests. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to serve all our visitors.”
Missing from the advisory was an explanation for the delays.
Was it a threat related to the Iran war? A VIP visit?
“Why wld you post this and not tell us why?” one Facebook commenter asked.
“Because it’s a military base,” another replied.
It turns out the cause of the backup was IT-related.
A software upgrade was causing the computers used by JBSA security forces to operate more slowly than unusual, a spokesman said.
Civilians converging on visitor centers at JBSA’s three installations were already facing longer-than-usual lines because of extra security prompted by the Iran conflict. Thursday’s computer-related delays were on top of that.
A spokeswoman for the joint base, Angelina Casarez, said it appeared families and friends of service personnel were managing to get through security gates without inordinate delays.
“Most people coming in Thursdays already have a pass,” she said.
For people without credentials, it was a different story.