Public Affairs Office wins IMCOM awards

By U.S. ArmyFebruary 25, 2016

Public Affairs Office wins IMCOM awards
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Leonard Wood's Public Affairs Office garnered several awards at the Installation Management Command's worldwide yearly public affairs competition.

Judges chose Marti Yoshida as the Moss-Holland civilian Print Journalist of the Year. Yoshida's win automatically enters her into the Army competition, which Fort Leonard Wood won last year.

The office's "50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War" also won first in the Special Event category in a tie with Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Fort Leonard Wood will also compete at the Army level in that category.

Tiffany Wood's news photo, "Service members pay respect during Wreaths Across America" received third-place votes in the News Photo category.

Also receiving a third-place mention for his news story, "Thousands turn out for Fort Leonard Wood's community listening session," was Stephen Standifird.

"The awards continue our track record at these competitions," said Wood, Fort Leonard Wood public affairs officer.

"It's a credit to the dedication and hard work of our staff, who always seem to be able to highlight the daily activities of the Soldiers and civilians on this installation and transform them into award-winning journalistic pieces," Wood added.

The Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Competition recognizes Soldiers and Department of the Army civilian employees for excellence in achieving the objectives of the Army Public Affairs Program. On behalf of the Secretary of the Army, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs conducts the competition annually in order to recognize, cultivate and inspire excellence within the Army Public Affairs community.

The KLW Competition aligns as closely as possible with the annual Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Awards Program, establishes competition criteria and provides the Army with guidance for recognizing the most notable work of its public affairs professionals.

Command information in the form of Army journalism began during World War I. Hand and typewritten news was spread by couriers to Soldiers in combat zones.

This era of Army information saw the beginning of news bulletins at various levels of command. The intelligence or adjutant section in most units did writing. The Army newspaper was born.

The establishment of the Bureau of Public Relations, in February 1941, triggered the development of the Office of the Chief of Information, Department of the Army.

Under this new department, the Command Information Division and its mission to prepare and define policies for Army Command Information was developed.

In 1970, Maj. Joseph Burlas established the Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware award.

Related Links:

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Facebook

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood