Fort Leonard Wood starts 2021 with community info-sharing forum

By GUIDON staffFebruary 4, 2021

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Through a Facebook livestream Feb. 3, garrison leaders here hosted Woodworks, a community forum meant to share information about current and upcoming activities, events and services.

“Communication with the entire community, our families, our service members, our civilian employees — it is very important to me,” said Col. Jeff Paine, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood commander. “Our time here should be professionally rewarding, but it should also be an opportunity for our families to not just survive, but to thrive and grow. To achieve this, we’ve got to have a free flow of communication about what is going on.”

According to garrison officials, Woodworks is also designed to give the Fort Leonard Wood community an outlet for feedback. On Wednesday’s livestream, viewers were encouraged to ask questions.

The topics addressed at the first meeting revolved around community services, and included:

— General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital leaders discussed the COVID-19 vaccination program expansion into Phase 2, which includes Fort Leonard Wood service members, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and enrolled beneficiaries. To assist with the expansion, a COVID-19 mass-vaccination event is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 at Nutter Field House. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting https://informatics-stage.health.mil/glwachcovidapp. A COVID vaccine form — found at https://leonard-wood.tricare.mil/health-services/preventive-care/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine-program — must also be completed and brought to the appointment. Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 90 days, or who has had another vaccine within the past two weeks is considered ineligible to receive the vaccine at the event. Additionally, the vaccine is only approved for individuals ages 16 and older. Check the GLWACH Facebook page at www.facebook.com/glwach for updates.

— The Directorate of Public Works Housing Office, along with installation housing partner Balfour Beatty Communities, provided updates. The housing office is accepting applications for its community mayoral program, and on-post housing here is still being conducted via a no-contact leasing policy, including move-in and move-out services. A plan for the construction of new homes and the renovation of existing ones on the post was announced by DPW. The plan is still in an early design phase.

— Army Community Service representatives encouraged its patrons to call 573.596.0212 to schedule appointments in order to reduce congestion in the facility. The Family Advocacy Program announced it is assembling educational materials for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month to be distributed to Waynesville High School students.

— Child and Youth Services reminded community members about its Family Child Care program, which it said benefits children, by having smaller, more personalized groups, and parents, by having flexible hours. An initiative they mentioned was monetary bonuses on offer for FCC providers. There is now a $1,000 sign-on bonus as well as a $1,000 transfer bonus when departing Fort Leonard Wood via a permanent change of station.

— Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation announced they are seeking people to fill lifeguard positions, golf course roles, Outdoor Adventure Center openings and Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area dockhand and assistant jobs. The department also covered construction updates for Specker and Davidson fitness centers. Additionally, Leisure and Travel Services will not be accommodating any personal international travel.

— The Directorate of Emergency Services said Fire Station No. 3 was officially opened Jan. 22 to assist with response times on the eastern side of the cantonment area. DES urged community members to remain aware of changing road conditions to stay safe.

— The Religious Support Office is resuming some events. Lent kits are available. A free, virtual Valentine’s Day event by the RSO called “An Evening in Paradise: Date Night In” is set for 8 p.m. Feb. 12. Email martha.a.strong.civ@mail.mil to register.

— The Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security reminded potential hunters that all weapons on the installation must be registered, and instructed hunters to register at https://ftleonardwood.isportsman.net. They also said flights to St. Louis from Forney Airfield are available through flyflw.com. Community members should also stay tuned to ALERT! notifications and changing road conditions through the installation’s Snow and Ice Removal program, commonly referred to as SNAIR.

— The Garrison Safety Office offers traffic safety classes. More information is available by calling 573.596.0116.

— Garrison officials emphasized the importance of the Interactive Customer Evaluation comment card process — more commonly known as ICE — and said comments could be answered during future Woodworks meetings. Officials also urged community members to download the Digital Garrison application for smartphones to gain easier access to information on Fort Leonard Wood events and activities.

Visit https://leonardwood.armymwr.com/application/files/3016/1230/0214/LWOOD_WOODWORKS_FEB2021.pdf for a complete and detailed list of all the topics discussed during the Feb. 3 Woodworks meeting.

The event, which garrison officials said is the first of a series, was held virtually to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Future Woodworks events are tentatively scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month at the Pershing Community Center — the next being set for 10:30 a.m. March 3 at the PCC.

More information on Woodworks can be found at https://leonardwood.armymwr.com/happenings/woodworks-community-information-forum.