FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Child Youth Services employees are now enjoying provisional child care fee reductions and Commissary shopping privileges, as new incentive pilot programs are put in place for the individuals who help care for the children of Fort Leonard Wood’s service members.
According to Tamara Smith, Fort Leonard Wood’s CYS coordinator, an Army wide pilot program now allows for CYS employees to have fees cut by 50 percent for their most-expensive child using care — the program went into effect on Dec. 1.
“This is a huge incentive for CYS employees currently on board and for those thinking about joining the CYS team,” Smith said. “This reduction definitely helps our staff who are taking care of our heroes’ children the opportunity to see some relief from their own child care fees.”
Smith said the Employee Commissary Privileges Pilot Program, which went into effect here and at 17 other Army installations today, gives the more than 150 CYS employees here a more convenient option for grocery shopping and another incentive to working with CYS.
“This is also another opportunity to show CYS staff their value to the Army’s mission,” Smith said. “Just speaking with some staff, they have said it is such a game changer when needing to run to the store on the way home from work.”
While many CYS staff members are military dependents or retirees, who already have Commissary privileges, many do not. One employee this new program directly benefits is Matthew Sagartz, CYS Youth Sports and Fitness director.
“The use of the Commissary is an amazing resource for me,” Sagartz said. “The closest grocery store off post is several miles out of the way. This admittance is much appreciated, especially for those working on bases in rural areas, where grocery shopping can be a challenge or requires planning.”
Employees wanting to shop at the Commissary under the new provisional program are asked to bring their Defense Department-issued common access card, along with a memorandum letter from CYS regarding the pilot program.
More information on CYS is available on the Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation website.
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