FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo.—The past year was full of changes, successes and improvements for Fort Leonard Wood. From welcoming a new garrison command team, to improvement projects and multiple individual and unit Army level awards, there was seemingly never a dull moment.
Below are 22 of the top stories of 2022, listed in the order they happened.
Fort Leonard Wood EEO re-energizes Special Emphasis Programs, diversity council
Fort Leonard Wood Equal Employment Opportunity program leaders re-energized Special Emphasis Programs and the diversity council here at the beginning of 2022, to assist in attracting, developing and retaining diverse civilian workforce talent to the Missouri Ozarks.
According to EEO Manager Gary Woodruff, the diversity council is ideally made up of many EEO groups — also commonly referred to as federally-protected minority groups — who brainstorm ideas and act as a sounding board to identify barriers that keep minorities from seeking federal employment — specifically here.
MSCoE announces winners of 2022 Best Warrior Competition
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence senior leaders announced the winners of the 2022 Best Warrior Competition during a ceremony April 4 in Lincoln Hall Auditorium.
This year’s winners included 1st Lt. Daniel Nyachwaya, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, Officer of the Year; Staff Sgt. Krista Osborne, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, Drill Sergeant of the Year; Staff Sgt. Shom*one Hemphill, Company D, 31st Engineer Battalion, NCO of the Year; Spc. Eric Dowler, 399th Army Band, Soldier of the Year; Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chance Sheek, 368th Training Squadron, Joint Service NCO of the Year; and Cpl. Marcus Destine, Combat Engineer Skills Division, 35th Engineer Battalion, Joint Service Junior Enlisted of the Year.
Abrams Theater makeover one of many quality-of-life improvements on Fort Leonard Wood this year
Abrams Theater reopened in April for movies, graduations and other events, after a closure for renovations delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The improvements to the theater are part of an ongoing effort by Fort Leonard Wood senior leaders and officials from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to provide amenities service members, their families and civilians here have said they want.
New Army maintenance system goes live at Fort Leonard Wood
The Army Maintenance Activity, or ArMA, expanded to Fort Leonard Wood in April, providing a digitized maintenance request process for all Army-owned facilities with a centralized method of submission and tracking.
Fort Leonard Wood was one of 73 installations managed by U.S. Army Installation Management Command to receive the new service in 2022.
Fort Leonard Wood community attends funeral for four Vietnam-era veterans
A light, gentle rain fell on the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Fort Leonard Wood May 25 as four Vietnam-era veterans were laid to rest in the presence of their fellow service members.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen from Fort Leonard Wood joined family and community members to pay their final respects to Sgt. Donald Dale Henson, of Lebanon, Missouri; and three unclaimed veterans — Airmen Third Class Daniel Franklin Killinger, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; Seamen Recruit Joseph T. Donaho, of Willow Springs, Missouri; and Fireman Recruit Ricky L. Gwin, of Licking, Missouri.
Fort Leonard Wood TAP hosts Chicago PD hiring fair
Senior recruiting officials from the Chicago Police Department visited Fort Leonard Wood June 4 and 5 to conduct a special hiring fair, in conjunction with the Fort Leonard Wood Transition Assistance Program.
Besides getting information, interested applicants were also able to complete some of the initial hiring paperwork on the spot, including some of the testing, finger printing, and the required employment questionnaire.
EIB, ESB testing comes to Fort Leonard Wood
More than 200 Soldiers tested for either the Expert Infantryman or Expert Soldier skill badges June 6 through 10 at Fort Leonard Wood.
Throughout the week, about 160 Fort Leonard Wood candidates, along with Soldiers from Camp James E. Rudder, Florida; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, completed more than 30 tasks, demonstrating their individual knowledge and proficiency in a variety of critical Soldiering skills, including personal fitness, land navigation, weapons, first aid and patrolling in a tactical environment.
Army awards Fort Leonard Wood’s safety excellence
Fort Leonard Wood’s Maneuver Support Center of Excellence demonstrated their commitment to safety excellence during fiscal year 2021, earning three Army-level safety awards for their efforts.
The awards were announced on June 9, in a letter from Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth.
Fort Leonard Wood winners included:
- Maj. Jason Overstreet, 795th Military Police Battalion, in the Field Grade Commissioned Officer category;
- 169th Engineer Battalion, in the Army Exceptional Organization (battalion level) category; and
- Fort Leonard Wood Explosive Safety Program in the Army Excellence in Explosives Safety category. This was the second year in a row the ESP was named best in the Army.
Fort Leonard Wood bids farewell to Paine, welcomes Pollio during garrison change-of-command ceremony
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood held a change-of-command ceremony June 28 at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Plaza, where Col. Jeff Paine relinquished command to Col. Anthony Pollio.
Pollio came here from Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was the director of G3X – Sensitive Activities for U.S. Army Cyber Command.
Army Chief of Staff stresses importance of recruiting mission during visit to Fort Leonard Wood
“We’re in a war for talent.”
That was the key message from Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville, when he visited Fort Leonard Wood on July 13 to speak with Soldiers and civilians, stressing the message that every member of the Army team plays a role in recruiting and retaining the best men and women.
During his visit, McConville toured facilities here — including the Chemical Defense Training Facility and the Homeland Defense Civil Support Office — and said he was impressed by the “unique capabilities to train our Soldiers.”
Fort Leonard Wood prepares for arrival of electric vehicles
Anyone driving around Fort Leonard Wood these days can spot one pretty quickly and easily, and it seems like there are more and more every day. Electric vehicles, or EVs, are not the future — they are here — and not just the privately-owned ones.
Government-owned vehicles are going electric as well — Fort Leonard Wood received two EVs in July, and more are on the way.
The electric vans in the Logistic Readiness Center inventory are part of the Army’s latest directive of electrifying its non-tactical vehicle fleet. Executive Order 14057 — Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability — requires the Department of Defense to transition its non-tactical vehicles to a 100% zero-emission vehicle fleet, including 100% of light-duty acquisitions by 2027, and 100% of medium- and heavy-duty acquisitions by 2035. Fort Leonard Wood maintains approximately 540 vehicles that meet the definition of non-tactical.
Fort Leonard Wood’s 2022 AER campaign is No. 1 across TRADOC, among the highest in Army
Fort Leonard Wood’s 2022 Army Emergency Relief fundraising campaign took the No. 1 spot in the U.S. Army for the number of Soldiers who donated and for the dollar amount raised.
The team also took the top spot across U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command for number of Soldiers who donated, percent of Soldiers donating and dollar amount raised.
On Aug. 8, members of the AER team, including AER Officer Chuck Matthews and volunteer coordinators 2nd Lt. Jordan Anderson, Company C, 554th Engineer Battalion, and Staff Sgt. Shawn McLain, Company E, 701st Military Police Battalion, presented a ceremonial check to Maj. Gen. James Bonner, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, and MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood Command Sgt. Maj. Randolph Delapena at the MSCoE headquarters building.
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood bids farewell to McGlensey, welcomes Castleberry at ceremony
The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood held a change-of-responsibility ceremony Aug. 11 in Lincoln Hall Auditorium, where Command Sgt. Maj. Sean McGlensey relinquished responsibility of the garrison to Command Sgt. Maj. Danny Castleberry.
Castleberry served as director of Training and Leader Development at the U.S. Army Engineer School here before taking on the role of garrison command sergeant major.
Community members meet their Army at Fort Leonard Wood special event
Hundreds of people from as far away as Illinois and Iowa, visited Fort Leonard Wood Aug. 13 for the Meet Your Army event, an opportunity for the public to speak with Soldiers, watch demonstrations, get hands-on experiences with equipment and learn more about what the Army does at the installation.
Soldiers from just about every unit on post volunteered time to showcase their knowledge and skills, along with some of the technology they use, including many of their weapons systems, robotics and vehicles. There were also opportunities to tour a modern Army training barracks and have lunch in an Army dining facility.
Forward thinking, innovative solutions at Fort Leonard Wood impress Army Assistant Secretary Jacobson
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Rachel Jacobson visited Fort Leonard Wood Aug. 17 and 18 to learn more about energy initiatives on post and tour facilities.
As the 17th Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Jacobson is the primary adviser to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army on all matters related to Army installation policy, oversight and coordination of energy security and management. In addition, she also oversees policy and sustainability, and environmental initiatives.
First female Sapper Leader Course instructor paves the way for others
Sapper Leader Course instructor Staff Sgt. Ariana Sanchez never set out to make history or be the example she is today.
Originally from Ecuador, she moved to New Jersey when she was 17. As high school ended, Sanchez was interested in the Army but was unsure of her future. After speaking with Army recruiters, she joined the New Jersey National Guard, setting her off on an unexpected path.
Fort Leonard Wood Exchange team wins AAFES’ diversity and inclusion award
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service named the Fort Leonard Wood Exchange team the worldwide winner of its 2022 Global Connections Worldwide Award.
It was the first time Fort Leonard Wood won the award, which recognizes Exchanges throughout the world that demonstrate the importance of diverse skills, perspectives and values through community events and engagements.
The award was presented Sept. 7 at the Main Exchange.
Fort Leonard Wood NCO is active-duty 2022 Army Drill Sergeant of the Year
Staff Sgt. Krista Osborne, a drill sergeant with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, was named the active-duty 2022 U.S. Army Drill Sergeant of the Year at a ceremony Sept. 15 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Osborne is the fifth woman to win the active-duty award — she called it “the greatest honor.”
“I’ve worked so hard to represent not just female drill sergeants but females across the Army,” Osborne said. “With this win, it’s not just for me, but for all women looking to compete.”
3-10 Soldier is 2022 TRADOC Adjutant General’s Officer of the Year
In October, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command named Fort Leonard Wood’s 1st Lt. Davontae Hair, its Adjutant General’s Officer of the Year.
The annual award recognizes Army officers assigned to TRADOC who excel in the human resources profession.
As the S1 officer in charge for the 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, Hair is responsible for all personnel matters across the battalion.
399th Army bandsman is Army Bands Active Component Soldier of the Year
In October, the U.S. Army School of Music named Sgt. Bridget Olenik, a percussionist with Fort Leonard Wood’s 399th Army Band, the U.S. Army Bands Active Component Soldier of the Year for 2022.
Olenik, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was selected for the top spot out of nominees from across 20 active Army bands.
USACBRNS unveils ‘significant’ updates to Chemical Memorial Grove
The U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School unveiled a new brick walkway and sculpture during a dedication ceremony held Nov. 7 at Fort Leonard Wood’s Chemical Memorial Grove.
“This is the most significant improvement that we have ever had to our memorial grove, and has been a long time coming,” said guest speaker retired Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr, who served as the 24th Chief of Chemical and Commandant of the USACBRNS from 2006 to 2008.
Fort Leonard Wood leaders dedicate MSCoE complex to former Missouri Congressman and his ‘lasting impression’ here
The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence complex was renamed “The Honorable Ike Skelton Campus” during a ceremony Nov. 10 on the second floor of Hoge Hall to honor an individual who senior leaders here said was instrumental in shaping much of Fort Leonard Wood’s present-day training missions.
Former Congressman Ike Skelton, originally from Lexington, Missouri, represented his state’s Fourth Congressional District — which includes Fort Leonard Wood — in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 2011.
Skelton was instrumental in the consolidation of the Army Engineer School from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, along with the Military Police and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear schools from Fort McClellan, Alabama, to establish the Maneuver Support Center here on Oct. 1, 1999.
