Brian Hill
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2020) — Fort Leonard Wood leadership has provided guidance that allows deliveries and taxi services to return to the installation after being suspended for more than six months.
In March, on-post deliveries and taxi services here were put on hold along with many other services to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. While other Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation amenities have reopened to varying extents over the past few months, leaders here have taken a cautious and deliberate approach in reopening services in order to maintain safety and to help protect the force.
“Protecting ourselves so we can protect the force, so the force can protect the nation has been the Army’s approach since the coronavirus pandemic began,” said IMCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Doug Gabram. “It’s important to go slow at first so we can go fast later. We are being very cautious and deliberate in our reopening strategies.”
The plans to reopen services here continue to rely on the best advice of medical experts, said Col. Richard Ball, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood chief of staff.
“As situations change, recommendations may as well,” Ball said. “Fort Leonard Wood remains fully mission capable and continues to perform all mission-critical tasks.”
Regarding deliveries, officials said all orders must be contactless, to include payment.
“Try to do everything electronically whenever you can,” said Col. Jeff Paine, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood commander. “Use an app or call, for example.”
Delivery persons must wear a mask and gloves when they make deliveries and pre-coordination will be made as to how and where items will be delivered.
“This will help to maintain 6 feet of distance or greater from your delivery driver,” Paine said. “Also, remember to move back to a distance greater than 6 feet away while verifying receipt of the delivery with the recipient if required.”
Avoid sharing scanners, pens or other tools with delivery drivers, and disinfect commonly touched surfaces — like doorbells and door handles — before and after delivery.
“Practice the everyday preventive actions we’ve all become accustomed to, such as avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth and maintaining proper hand hygiene,” Paine said.
For questions about deliveries, call the Visitor’s Center at 573.596.0356/0590/5327.
When using a taxi service, officials said all passengers and the driver are required to wear masks at all times. Drivers must also sanitize the inside of their vehicle between each drop off and pick up.
“Taxis must be called to initiate service,” Paine added. “They will not be lined up waiting anywhere on the installation. Please also don’t forget that seatbelts are required of everyone in the vehicle. And as with deliveries, practice every day preventive actions, such as avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth and maintaining proper hand hygiene.”
For questions about taxi service, call FMWR at 573.596.0118.
-30-
About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission