Fort Leonard Wood Army Community Service celebrates 50th anniversary this weekend

By Derek Gean (Fort Wood Community Editor)July 23, 2015

Fort Leonard Wood Army Community Service celebrates 50th anniversary this weekend
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Leonard Wood will take part in the Army-wide recognition of Army Community Service's 50 years of serving military Families this weekend.

The celebration is scheduled to begin from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the ACS Center, Building 486, with cake cutting at 11 a.m., inflatables for the kids, giveaways and food. The event is scheduled to include a recognition ceremony for former ACS staff members. From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, the fun will move to the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation RecPlex, with free mini golf and go-karts courtesy of FMWR. The USO mobile canteen will also be providing food.

"This is a milestone for the Army and the Army Family," said Dan Furlano, ACS director.

"We are taking an opportunity to honor the vision of Gen. Harold Johnson, the Army chief of staff who established ACS (in 1965). We also want to honor the dedication and service of everyone who worked so hard to provide real-life solutions to our Soldiers, Families, civilians and retirees. It is also a birthday party, and who doesn't love birthday cake?"

ACS has provided for the needs of Army Families by providing services that can ease military Family life. Some of the services provided include employment training, financial counseling, Family advocacy programs, Army Family Team Building, relocation services and more.

Furlano said over the years, the program has responded to the changing needs of military Families.

"By the Vietnam era, a significant number of Soldiers had Families," Furlano said. They faced typical problems--financial, medical and personal--and the stresses of wartime service. In 1965, the Army created a structured program to help commanders maintain readiness by delivering services promoting Family self-reliance, resiliency and stability during war and peace: Army Community Service."

Furlano said ACS is about skill building, providing life skills and a pathway to success.

"Whether you would like to improve your financial skills, your credit score, your marriage, your parenting or your resume, ACS has had your back since 1965," he said.

Furlano said he encourages the Fort Leonard Wood community to take part in the celebration. For more information about ACS or the celebration, call 573.596.0131, ext. 60212.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood Guidon Newspaper