FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- This year marks 50 years that Army Community Service has been supporting service-members, civilian employees and their Families. In honor of the organization's golden anniversary, the GUIDON will be highlighting different ACS programs until their birthday.
On July 25, 1965, Gen. Harold Johnson, Army Chief of Staff, dispatched a letter to all major commanders announcing the approval and establishment of ACS.
The initial implementation of the new ACS program caused minor confusion from the almost simultaneous release of various Family assistance guidance.
Publication of Army Regulation 608-1 on Nov. 19, 1965, superseded all previous instructions and ACS finally was welcomed as a viable and important Army program.
Born in a climate of some confusion may be a partial explanation of why ACS continues by many to be called "Army Community Services."
There are innumerable Army community services; however, there is only one officially designated Army Community Service.
"The mission of the ACS Center is to facilitate the commander's ability to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and responsive services that support readiness of Soldiers, civilian employees and their Families," said Dan Furlano, ACS director.
Currently, there are 37 staff members and eight contractors serving Fort Leonard Wood's ACS.
Furlano said his ACS team is special because of their attitude.
"They really care and they are ready to bring a remarkable degree of professional excellence and personal passion to the table," Furlano said.
He said ACS provides a wide array of life skills that directly contribute to self-sufficient Families, safe homes and cohesive communities.
Some of the programs ACS offers are designed to help people in areas like career and finance, home and Family, Soldier and Family readiness, and moving and deployment.
"The skills ACS teaches can lessen the frequency and severity of the everyday challenges life throws our way," Furlano said.
Furlano spent 22 years as an infantryman.
"When I discovered everything that ACS has to offer, it became my passion to let the leaders who came after me know how valuable ACS could be to them," Furlano said.
"I love my job, because it allows me to give back to Soldiers and Families," he added.
Some services are limited to active-duty and retired military personnel and their Family members and members of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, when on active duty and during post deployment (up to a year) and their Family members.
Army appropriated fund and non-appropriated fund civilian employees and their Family members can use some of the services such as the educational programs.
Family members of prisoners of war or service members missing in action and surviving Family members of military personnel who died while on active duty may also use select services.
ACS is in Building 486 on Replacement Avenue.
For more information call 573.596.0131, ext. 60212 or visit www.fortleonardwoodmwr.com/acs.php.
For more information on the history of ACS, visit www.armymwr.com/acs-bday.aspx.
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