FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2018) — The Fort Leonard Wood Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program will hold a Hiring and Education Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 in Nutter Field House.

The Soldier For Life-Transition Assistance Program conducts employment and education workshops designed to prepare transitioning service members and spouses for meaningful civilian employment and education opportunities. As a part of the “Reintegrate Strong” phase of Soldier for Life, this event will serve as a chance to connect transitioning service members, veterans and their family members to employers and job opportunities. Job seekers will have an opportunity to market their skills, to include networking with numerous employers for a variety of jobs.

The Hiring and Education Fair is open to active duty service members, Retirees, veterans, family members, contractors or anyone else who is interested in meaningful employment or education opportunities.

An estimated 50 employers and 17 higher education institutions are slated to be on hand for this event. Participants can expect employers from the fields of health care, trucking, retail sales, insurance, state government, law enforcement and higher education institutions.

Arrive prepared

Those seeking employment openings should come to the event prepared to interview, in professional dress attire and with copies of their resumes for employers to review.

It is imperative that job seekers make sure their resumes are correct, updated and in a professional format. They should also prepare for a face-to-face interview during the hiring and education fair, or a telephonic interview may be scheduled at a later date.

Job seekers’ goals should include leaving the event with tentative job offers or follow-on interviews. The event is an opportunity to provide a lasting, positive first impression with participating employers, and is designed to connect the right employer with the right candidate.

The SFL-TAP program is designed to help Soldiers prepare for the civilian employment. Retirees normally enroll with the program 24 months prior to separation, while others can begin 18 months out or immediately upon notification.

Leaders who have service members who will be separating from active duty within two years should make every attempt to allow them to attend the Hiring and Education Fair, as the event allows job seekers to interact with employers, explore the job market and take advantage of networking opportunities prior to transitioning from service.

For more information about the Hiring and Education Fair, or for assistance with developing resumes, contact the Fort Leonard Wood SFL-TAP Center at 573.596.0175. More information about SFL-TAP is available at www.facebook.com/sfltap.flw.

By Heather Kline
Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2018) — Fort Leonard Wood’s 2018 “Make a Difference Day” is scheduled from 7 a.m. to noon Oct. 27 around the installation.

Rhonda Hutsell, Army Volunteer Corps coordinator, said the AVC is registering projects for the annual day of community service now through Oct. 12.

“Millions of Americans across the country are projected to spend Oct. 27, the 29th Annual ‘Make a Difference Day,’ doing volunteer projects to improve their communities and help neighbors in need. This day is the largest community service effort in the nation, rallying corporations, government leaders, charitable organizations, and everyday Americans into action on one day. It is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors,” Hutsell said.

Approximately 30 projects have been identified for this year in the Fort Leonard Wood area.

Last year, a total of 2,991 volunteers contributed a record number of more than 4,290 volunteer hours to the Fort Leonard Wood community, Hutsell said.

“Volunteerism stabilizes our military communities by contributing to community cohesion, increasing self-reliance and enhancing the well-being of our service members and their families,” Hutsell said.

“Volunteers contribute their time, energy and skills in nearly every agency and organization that support service members and their families, whether on the installation or in the local community,” Hutsell said.

Some of the scheduled projects include cleaning an elderly neighbor’s house, cooking or baking for a family in need, collecting toys, food, clothing, books and eyeglasses.

Beautification projects are planned at Thayer Playground, Wood Elementary School, the Post Cemetery and the Commissary flower beds, along with refurbishing the Engineer Trail, Colyer Park, Happy Hollow and Warehouse Rowe.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Installation Volunteer Program and the Family Advocacy Program are co-sponsoring a 5K Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at ACS, Bldg. 486. Registration opens at 7:15 a.m. The Mobil USO from St Louis will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ACS building.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Hutsell at 573.596.4334 or by email at rhonda.l.hutsell.civ@mail.mil.

Story and photo by Dawn Arden
Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2018) — The U.S. Army Military Police School, joined by several past senior leaders, families and friends, celebrated 77 years of Military Police Corps history Sept. 24 through Saturday at Fort Leonard Wood.

Military Police Regimental Week officially began with a ceremony to reflect on those who gave their lives to protect their country.

This ceremony, held every year during the regimental week, is a Memorial Tribute to honor fallen Military Police Soldiers.

“They still speak to us. If you listen quietly, you can hear them,” said U.S. Army Military Police Regimental Command Sgt. Maj. James Breckinridge. “You remember their voices from the conversations you had before they gave their last measure of devotion to this nation.”

He added, “Look around and you will see their legacy. It is us, Americans gathered in a free society, unified in the common purpose of honoring uncommon bravery. We are their legacy.”

The Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Leonard Wood said farewell to Sgt. Maj. Jason Patrick and welcome to Sgt. Maj. Jason Gillespie, as the detachment’s newest sergeant major, during a Relief and Appointment Ceremony held Friday on Gammon Field.

Patrick came to Fort Leonard Wood in May 2014 and is slated to retire in February after 30 years of service.

Col. Ralph Rizzo Jr., United States Marine Corps Detachment Fort Leonard Wood commander, said it was obvious Patrick had no hesitation in spending his adult life in service to his nation.

“Sergeant Major, 66,000 Marines in four in a half years have been on your watch,” Rizzo said. “And in three short months, Marine, you have made an impression on me that will last a lifetime. Your dedication, your loyalty, your selflessness — you’re always placing the Marines in this unit up front. Well done, Marine, well done.”

Patrick said he owes his successful career to his fellow Marines.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and the only reason I was successful was because the Marines I served with — the Marines that were behind me lifting me up,” he said, adding that he knows Gillespie will do great things in his place.

Rizzo said he also knows Gillespie is up to task and looks forward to working with him.

“Good order, morale and discipline rests on your shoulders. There is mission, and there are Marines, and when you go to battle and all things are equal, morale will carry the day,” Rizzo said. “You can’t buy it, your cannot order it from you unit, but you must have its pulse — that is what the sergeant major brings to the command team.”

He added, “I always say you have two jobs, Sergeant Major; take care of the troops and take care of the commander. If you’re doing one you’re automatically doing the other.”

Gillespie said he is honored to be the the detachment’s new sergeant major and promised to give his all to the job.

“I asked to come back here. I was here about six years ago as a company first sergeant, and there were people here who made such an impact on my life that I wanted to come back,” Gillespie said. “The weight and responsibility of being the sergeant major of this detachment doesn’t weigh lightly on me. I’m going to take my job seriously, and I’m going to give you everything I have to make this place better.”

Gillespie comes to the detachment from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 at New River Air Station, North Carolina, where he served as the squadron sergeant major.

Story and photos by Andrea Smith
Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2018) — The U.S. Army Military Police School, joined by several past senior leaders, families and friends, celebrated 77 years of Military Police Corps history Sept. 24 through Saturday at Fort Leonard Wood.

Military Police Regimental Week officially began with a ceremony to reflect on those who gave their lives to protect their country.

This ceremony, held every year during the regimental week, is a Memorial Tribute to honor fallen Military Police Soldiers.

“They still speak to us. If you listen quietly, you can hear them,” said U.S. Army Military Police Regimental Command Sgt. Maj. James Breckinridge. “You remember their voices from the conversations you had before they gave their last measure of devotion to this nation.”

He added, “Look around and you will see their legacy. It is us, Americans gathered in a free society, unified in the common purpose of honoring uncommon bravery. We are their legacy.”

Breckinridge explained that 2018 not only marks the 77th anniversary of the Military Police Corps, but also the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War.

“Military police heroism, valor, action, and capability against the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong, proved that military police are capable of delaying and defeating enemies in direct combat,” he said. “This significant event in our history directly prompted the Chief of Staff to change the Military Police Branch from a combat service support unit to a combat support unit.”

Brig. Gen. Brian Bisacre, USAMPS commandant and 50th chief of the MP Corps, stressed the importance of not only recognizing the service of the Military Police Soldiers, but also those civilians who provide support.

The Military Police courage and bravery was also demonstrated by family members when they conducted Army training on Sept. 25 with MP-specific tasks at the Warrior Tower, Stem Village and the evasive driving course.

Several events were held in celebration of the corps’ official birthday Sept. 26, starting with the Regimental Run, where MP Soldiers gathered on Gammon Field in the early hours led by Bisacre. A cake-cutting ceremony was held immediately following the run.

Sept. 27 began with the Hall of Fame Induction and Unveiling ceremony, where four distinguished individuals were inducted: retired Col. William Hart, retired Col. John Garrity, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Zeliff, and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Dorsey Newcomb.

Also taking place on Sept. 28 was the Regimental Retreat at MSCoE Plaza.

“The 19 color bearers represent the 19 military police brigades of our regiment. Collectively, they represent approximately 37,000 Soldiers of our regiment, many of which stand on their post around the world,” Bisacre said. “And across every post, there is a Military Police Soldier reporting law enforcement every minute of every day with the sole purpose of assisting, protecting, and, if necessary, defending our families and our Soldiers.”

Bisacre closed his remarks by sharing what the sound of retreat means to him.

“I am not sure what everyone else thinks about during the playing of the retreat. I can only tell you what I think about. I raise my eyes to the heavens, and I thank God every day for the men and women who volunteered to serve our nation,” he said. “Preserving peace around the world, and God forbid, I know they will ruck up and deploy anywhere in the world to support and defend our Constitution and preserve the greatest gift in the world; freedom.”

MP reunion groups also visited the installation throughout the week, touring Stem Village, Memorial Grove and the John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex. Veterans from the 793rd MP Association and Company C, 385th MP Bn./31st MP Detachment were among those in attendance.

The MPs hung up their belts to finish off the week at the Military Police Regimental Ball held Saturday evening at Nutter Field House, where retired Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Rimmer was awarded the 2018 Gold Marechaussee. Rimmer received the award in recognition of his dedication, competence and contribution to the Military Police Corps Regiment.