Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 2, 2022) – The Army begins its annual housing tenant satisfaction survey this week to gather feedback about living in Army housing.
According to Mike Estright, Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Public Works Housing Division chief, an online survey link was emailed on Jan. 11 from CEL & Associates, Inc. — an independent, third-party company — to more than 110,000 tenants living in privatized, government-owned and government-leased housing on Army installations across the globe, including the more than 1,600 residents here. Completing the confidential survey takes about 10 minutes, and tenants have until Feb. 24 to do so.
“It’s important that our housing community here has avenues to communicate concerns and ideas for improvement to make this community the best possible place to live and work,” Estright said. “Completing the Army housing survey is a great way for our residents to share what is important to them, what we’re doing well and what we need to improve.”
Survey results will guide the decisions the Army makes about future housing, said Lt. Gen. Jason Evans, Deputy Chief of Staff of Army G-9, which provides policies, programs, resources and expertise for services and installation infrastructure to enable total Army readiness — G-9 is the sponsor of the survey.
“By responding to the survey, every resident will have a voice in how the Army and its partners continue to maintain and improve the quality of our housing,” said Evans, who visited Fort Leonard Wood in June 2021, to take a first-hand look at the installation’s housing, barracks and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities.
The Army has fully implemented the Tenant Bill of Rights, ensuring privatized housing tenants receive quality housing and fair treatment. Estright said Army privatized, government-owned and government-leased housing tenants can rate their satisfaction with services, property and the overall housing experience through the online survey.
The Army is investing billions of dollars into transforming barracks and on-post housing at installations worldwide, to provide Soldiers and their families with quality, safe and secure housing and a better quality of life.
At Fort Leonard Wood, Estright said plans are in the works to replace about 50 older homes with new construction. Some of the key features prioritized in the design of these homes includes open floor plans and easy flow to the living spaces, ample storage areas and abundant natural light.
In addition to new construction, Col. Jeff Paine, Fort Leonard Wood Garrison commander, also initiated a monthly housing walking town hall program in 2021. For each town hall, Paine — along with housing and community representatives — picks a different neighborhood to walk as a way to better engage with residents and address any issues or concerns regarding on-post privatized housing in a casual environment.
“Sometimes, the best ideas come from the service members and their families about what could help a neighborhood, a community, to have that sense of belonging,” Paine said. “We’re really trying to provide that means of communication so we can help with the resources to make Fort Leonard Wood a place to not just survive, but to thrive.”
Paine also re-instituted the housing mayoral program last year after a six-year hiatus.
In addition to planning community improvements, Estright said the mayors serve as another link between leadership and residents — there is a monthly meeting scheduled between the mayors and the Housing Division, as well as a semi-annual meeting co-chaired by garrison leadership. Colonel-level commanders also each sponsor a neighborhood and work with the mayors to resolve issues and help build neighborhood pride.
Estright called the program a success, adding the current mayors’ one-year tenure is due to expire in March — anyone 18 years or older, who resides in on-post housing, is welcome to self-nominate to be put on a ballot for voting. Call 573.596.0984 or visit www.facebook.com/FLWHousing for more information.
“Residents have been bringing issues to their mayors, and the mayors have set a high standard in bringing those issues to garrison leadership,” Estright added.
Paine said improving family housing is one of his top priorities.
“We must make sure we’re keeping the promises made to our service members and their families when it comes to providing the best housing possible,” Paine said. “Ultimately, we want Fort Leonard Wood to be the No. 1 assignment of choice for service members and civilians — that starts with quality of life.”
Housing tenants who did not receive the survey notice email from ArmyHousingSurvey@celassociates.com should contact the Fort Leonard Wood Housing Division at 573.596.0984.
(Editor’s note: The Tenant Satisfaction Survey is Office of Management and Budget approved: OMB Control Number 0704-0553; OMB Expiration Date 03/31/2022.)
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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 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