KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The Combined Arms Center (CAC) and Fort Leavenworth hosted a Community Executive Forum Sept. 22 at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City for local community leaders.
The forum was centered around the concept of “Forging the Future through Community Collaboration,” and provided guests with the opportunities to realize mutual goals and objectives. Topics included Army 2030, spouse employment, the Army’s Career Skills Program, community outreach and more.
Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr., commanding general, CAC and Fort Leavenworth, opened the forum by stressing Fort Leavenworth’s commitment to the local communities.
“Our community [Fort Leavenworth] expands outside of the base,” Beagle told the approximately 60 attendees. “Our goal today is to build a better and stronger connection with the communities in Kansas and Missouri.”
Fort Leavenworth is known at the “Intellectual Center” of the Army and Beagle started the day by explaining the significant role CAC and Fort Leavenworth serve in developing Army doctrine and Army leaders. Other topics throughout the day also included future projects on Fort Leavenworth like a new Child Development Center (CDC) and the proposed relocation of the History Museum off base. The new CDC will provide childcare services for more than 300 additional military children and relocating the museum off base will make access easier for the public.
Following the briefs and lunch, the attendees broke into five groups based on their areas of expertise: housing, spouse employment, transition from the military, health care and security. The groups discussed these topics and how the local communities and the military could collaborate together to find solutions that are mutually beneficial.
“This was a great opportunity for military and civilian leaders to meet and discuss topics that will impact all of us,” said Jen Anders, president of the Leavenworth-Lansing Chamber of Commerce. “I learned a lot about Fort Leavenworth and look forward to building on our already strong relationship with the military.”
As the day included, military and local leaders left with a sense of comradery and commitment to improve what is already known as “The best hometown in the Army.“
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