Fort Leonard Wood Community Smart Book

1. Fort Leonard Wood Community Smart Book

2. Table of Contents Overview Slide 3 Committee of 50 Slide 4 Friends of the Fort Slide 5 Phelps for the Fort Slide 6 Springfield and STL Slide 7 Local Communities Slide 8 District and State Leadership Slide 9 Federal Leaders Slide 10 CASA’s Slide 11 Local Media Access Slide 12 Community Influencers Slide 13 Community Alliance Listing Slide 14

3. Overview Fort Leonard Wood receives strong support throughout its communities, and specifically from three regional post and military supporting organizations, the Committee of 50, Friends of the Fort and Phelps for the Fort. Other communities support the post through the Chamber of Commerce or other civic or non-profit organization.

4. Committee of 50 Formed during the 1950’s in an effort to save the post from closure, and designated for members from within a 50 mile, perimeter of the post, this organization’s specific mission is to support the post and the men and women who serve here and their families. The organization was based on a similar group near Fort Hood.

5. Lebanon Friends of the Fort The FoF was revived in 2002 after many years as a fading social organization. Now it’s a strategic supporter of the post in all matters, and has integrated AUSA efforts into its membership. Friends of the Fort and AUSA partner to support and sponsor many activities, especially families of Soldiers from FLW killed in OIF/OEF.

6. Phelps for the Fort This Rolla and St. James organization took the best aspects of the other community support organizations and established a team-oriented supporter of the post in 2005. The USAES and UMR relationship drives many aspects of the efforts, but the presence of international students in both organizations is a source of continual partnership activities.

7. Springfield and St. Louis The Springfield community supports the post through the military liaison of the Chamber of Commerce. Alliances exist with the University and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. St. Louis’ relationship with the post is built around the USO, which recently opened a club on FLW. Annual events with the Cardinals and routine patriotic or veteran related events are also coordinated each year.

8. Local Communities Local communities with annual events or relationships with the post include Dixon (Cow Days), Crocker (Railroad Days), Richland (Founders Day), and Iberia (Fall Festival). While the Lake of the Ozarks and associated towns have strong military ties, events and coordination are sporadic. The post has numerous events throughout the year with the Waynesville St. Robert Community, including Frog Fest, Old Settler’s Day, and an annual Veterans Day Parade. Christmas on the Square and Christmas on the boulevard are also popular local events.

9. District and State leadership Fort Leonard Wood is actually part of the 147th District in Texas County(South), but the post’s relationship to the state is through the 148th District, Pulaski County (North), represented by David Day, an Army veteran and rancher from Dixon. The senator responsible for this district is rancher Frank Barnitz from Rolla. While Sen. Barnitz is not a veteran, he is in tune with FLW activity.

10. Federal Leadership Fort Leonard Wood and the Ozarks are supported in Washington by three influential national politicians: Rep. Ike Skelton’s district includes the post and Whiteman AFB. His sons have served in the military and he attended Wentworth Military Academy. His support is constant and his relationship to the post is a pillar to his constituents in this area. He is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Sen. Kit Bond, a former 2-time governor, is father to a Marine captain and strong supporter of the military and environmental issues. As chairman of the appropriations sub-committee on transportation, Bond has been a key supporter of infrastructure around the post. Sen. Claire McCaskill is a first-term senator with a seat on the Armed Services Committee. She champions frugal spending and accountability as well as supporting Soldiers and their families as people first.

11. Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Fort Leonard Wood is supported 3 CASAs A CASA is an unpaid advisor responsible for regional advice. Dalton Wright of Lebanon is the Missouri West CASA. He owns several media companies and is a retired Army NG Colonel. He is on several state boards that support veterans and other military agencies. Larry Sexton was named a CASA in 2008 in an “at large” capacity. He is a local businessman and has been involved with economic development organizations at the state level for 15 years Jim Hunter of St. Louis was named a CASA East in 2008. He has not readily engaged the post from a tactical or strategic standpoint.

12. Community Media The post newspaper is The Guidon, an authorized publication printed by the Springfield News-Leader, a Gannet company under a civilian enterprise agreement with PAO. Local papers include a daily newspaper, a weekly newspaper and two free weekly publications targeting the military population. There is also a web-based only product. Several radio stations of various formats also broadcast throughout the region. Two stations are manned 24 hours (News). Four Springfield television stations broadcast into the FLW area, including over the cable system, and two from Jefferson City/Columbia broadcast through Cable. Major networks CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox are represented. Fox News, Pentagon Channel and CNN are also on the Cable system.

13. Community Influencers Virgie Mahan, Waynesville, president of Committee of 50. Strong influencer of activities and supporter of the post. Larry Sexton, Waynesville, CASA, AUSA leader at all levels and member of several state boards of influence; owner of 2 local car dealerships and other business interests. Primary Tech Park liaison. Steve Ehrhardt, Waynesville and Lebanon, resuscitated Friends of the Fort, president of local AUSA chapter, strong committed supporter of the post; owns 5 hotels off post. CSM (Ret) Merle Jones, (MP) President of Friends of the Fort, highly involved in post activities; owner of investment company. Cliff Hammock, (LTC in Reserves), mayor of Waynesville and DRM supervisor. Team player for regional support to initiatives. George Sanders, retired NCO, mayor of St. Robert, knows what’s good for FLW is good for St. Robert and this whole area. Bill Ransdall, former mayor and state Rep. Presiding Commissioner for Pulaski County. Strong influencer and lobbyist for the community. CSM (Ret) Rick Morris (MP) serves as president of Phelps for the Fort and is deeply involved in AUSA activities. Joe Driskill serves as director of the Leonard Wood institute and is the former Director of Economic Development for Missouri under Gov. (Dem) Holden.

14. Community Alliance Program The community alliance is an program that provides support to communities in the form of command representation when the CG is unavailable and for community support (color guards/static displays). The program assures direct support by city or regional proximity to a designated city. Several alliances were based on pre-existing relationships by units or Schools.