About this Unit
The State Behavioral Health (SBAH) unit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was established to provide vital behavioral health support and resilience training to service members and their families within the region. Since its inception, SBAH has partnered with local military installations, including Kirtland Air Force Base and New Mexico National Guard units, to deliver crisis intervention, counseling services, and suicide prevention programs. The unit has played a critical role during deployments and domestic emergencies, offering psychological support during high-stress operations and post-deployment reintegration. Through ongoing collaboration with civilian agencies and military commands, SBAH continues to enhance the overall readiness and well-being of New Mexico’s military community.
Historical Facts
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Strategic Location: The SBAH (presumed to refer to the Sandia Base Army Hospital or Sandia Base Army Headquarters) was located at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, a critical site for nuclear research and weapons development during the Cold War.
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Manhattan Project Roots: Sandia Base, where SBAH operated, was established during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project and became a key center for assembling and maintaining nuclear weapons.
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Medical Support for Atomic Operations: The Army Hospital (SBAH) provided medical care and emergency response for personnel working on hazardous nuclear materials, including radiation exposure cases.
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Presidential Visits: President Harry S. Truman and other dignitaries visited Sandia Base, underscoring its national importance; SBAH played a role in supporting such high-profile visits.
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Secretive Operations: Much of the activity at Sandia Base and SBAH was classified, with tight security and limited access, making it one of America's most secretive military facilities during the Cold War.
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Connection to Project Blue Book: The base was involved in investigating UFO sightings as part of Project Blue Book, due to its proximity to nuclear assets—a task supported by the base's medical and security teams.
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Role in Atomic Testing: Personnel from SBAH were sometimes deployed to atomic test sites to provide medical support during nuclear detonations in the Nevada desert.
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Disaster Response Training: The medical staff at SBAH developed and practiced protocols for treating mass casualties from radiation, chemical, and conventional accidents—pioneering much of today’s CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) medical training.
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Integration into Kirtland Air Force Base: In the 1970s, Sandia Base, including SBAH, was merged into the larger Kirtland Air Force Base, continuing its legacy of military and nuclear support.
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Historic Legacy: Many of the decommissioned SBAH buildings and bunkers still exist in the Albuquerque area, serving as silent witnesses to the pivotal role the unit played in America’s nuclear history.
