By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (June 18, 2025) — Lincoln Hall Auditorium was packed to standing room only June 13 during a recognition event celebrating Fort Leonard Wood’s partnership with two of its adjoining communities.
The Army Community Partnership Awards program seeks to highlight examples of exceptional cooperation that have resulted in the improved readiness of Army installations.
In February, the Department of the Army announced Fort Leonard Wood as being one of seven installations to be recognized as winners of the 2024 Army Community Partnership Awards for the installation’s “outstanding partnership” with the Missouri cities of St. Robert and Waynesville.
“This is just one example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” said James Breckinridge, City of St. Robert mayor.
Fort Leonard Wood, St. Robert and Waynesville were chosen because of a new 25-year airfield lease project supporting the construction of a non-Army funded terminal critical to the long-term viability of commercial jet service to and from the installation.
“This is truly a team effort,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Fort Leonard Wood and Maneuver Support Center of Excellence commanding general. “This will lead to a 9,000 square foot second terminal on the airfield.”
Sean Wilson, City of Waynesville mayor, said the event was a great opportunity to celebrate partnership.
“The relationship we have with the fort is one that I cherish most,” Wilson said. “I want to thank every service member here for dedicating the best years of their lives to the military.”
Next to the podium, Breckinridge said he was honored to be representing St. Robert “as we celebrate this prestigious recognition.”
“On behalf of the city, I want to express our deepest gratitude to the Department of the Army and Fort Leonard Wood for recognizing the impactful relationship that we have built together and continue to build,” Breckinridge said. “We have a shared commitment to Fort Leonard Wood’s mission success.”
As part of the event, Beck, Wilson, Breckinridge and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood Commander Col. Steven Bartley unveiled a sign that will be placed near Fort Leonard Wood’s gate.
The sign reads — 2024 and 2017 Army-Community Partnership Award Winner.
“We will display this sign very proudly,” Beck said.
In 2017, Fort Leonard Wood and the Sustainable Ozark Partnership received an Army Community Partnership Award for their success in improving the resiliency of the Fort Leonard Wood and City of St. Robert’s water infrastructure.
More photos from the recognition event can be found on Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 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