FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The Fort Leonard Wood community is invited to celebrate Army Community Service's 60 years of serving military members and their families at 10 a.m., July 25 at Building 486.
The celebration will feature inflatables for children, music, giveaways and food. Attendees can also bring a canned food item to support the Fort Leonard Wood food pantry and earn a toss at the dunk tank.
“We will be celebrating our birthday like everyone else celebrates a birthday, a little food and music and a lot of fun,” ACS Chief Shawn Steen said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for ACS to show appreciation for our service members, families, and the Fort Leonard Wood community.”
According to Steen, who has worked with ACS since 2004, the event will also provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about the programs ACS offers while celebrating a “vital resource.”
“ACS is a comprehensive system of programs and services designed to support service members, their families, and authorized civilian employees,” he said. “It's quite extensive.”
ACS is a part of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. It offers a range of services and programs, including the Family Advocacy Program, Financial Readiness Program, Army Emergency Relief, Exceptional Family Member Program, Survivor Outreach Services, New Parent Support, and Information and Referral. Detailed information about each program is available on the Fort Leonard Wood ACS website.
For Megan O’Donoghue, DFMWR director, the ACS team and programs are “critically important to the installation for a multitude of reasons – they really are a cornerstone of readiness and well-being.”
“Through Army Community Service’s programming, we enhance readiness, strengthen resiliency, and improve quality of life for the Fort Leonard Wood community,” she said. “In essence, ACS isn’t just a support system; it’s an investment in the people who make the installation function.”
ACS also contributes to mission readiness, Soldier well-being, and the overall strength of the military community, and provides a comprehensive network of support, according to O’Donoghue.
“ACS is more than just a resource center; we’re your partners in navigating life’s challenges and maximizing your experience within the military community,” she said. “ACS is vital to the strength of our installation and the readiness of our Army.”
Steen agreed and said ACS programs demonstrate the Army’s commitment to its people, contributing to higher retention rates and preserving valuable skills and experience.
“ACS directly enhances Army readiness by reducing distractions, strengthening family resilience and supporting retention,” Steen said. “By addressing family needs – financial stability, parent and family support, and well-being – ACS allows service members to focus on mission accomplishment and maintain peak performance.”
Throughout its 60 years of service, ACS has continuously adapted and transformed programs to help meet the needs of the Army community.
“As our military families grow with the changing times, the ACS team forges ahead to help,” Steen said. “From the new online eEFMP facilitating family member transitions to their gaining installation, to allowing Soldiers to initiate their AER application and upload documents online prior to meeting with staff, we strive to improve your ACS experience.”
Both Steen and O’Donoghue are excited to celebrate 60 years of ACS, and the team’s commitment to “serving and building a stronger, more vibrant community for all.”
For more information about the celebration, visit DFMWR’s website.
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