Brian Hill

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 11, 2021) — Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston visited Fort Leonard Wood Feb. 8 and 9 to engage with leaders and Soldiers here on People First priorities and other quality-of-life initiatives.

This was Grinston’s first visit to Fort Leonard Wood since becoming SMA in June 2019.

One of his first stops was an engagement with noncommissioned officers attending the NCO Academy here. Grinston spoke on the Exceptional Family Member Program. He said the online tool EFMP & Me — provided by the Department of Defense’s Office of Special Needs and Military OneSource — assists military families who have family members with special needs. The resource can help Soldiers “navigate their career while still caring for their family,” he said.

After an early morning physical fitness event with trainees and cadre assigned to Company D, 35th Engineer Battalion, Grinston presented an SMA coin to one of Delta Company’s drill sergeants, Staff Sgt. Richard Judd, who reenlisted later that day.

“Growing up, I never had much of a family, but the military gave me the chance to have that experience while working as a team,” said Judd, who’s been enlisted nine years and plans on making the Army a career. “Getting a coin from the top enlisted Soldier means a lot. You don’t see that every day — it makes me feel appreciated.”

One of Grinston’s initiatives as SMA was the name change from Soldier For Life-Transition Assistance Program to simply just Transition Assistance Program, and he visited the TAP office Tuesday to speak with both those helping Soldiers transition as well as transitioning Soldiers, who were attending a virtual TAP briefing.

“I was the one who asked for the name change,” Grinston said. “It shouldn’t be Soldier For Life-Transition Assistance Program. It should be, ‘I’m going to transition, but I’m always a Soldier for life.’ If you join the Army, you’re eventually leaving. So, how people transition is hugely important.”

The SMA serves as the Army chief of staff’s personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force. To that end, Grinston also made time to visit the barracks of single Soldiers as well as attend the 3rd Chemical Brigade’s newly enhanced Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention training. The added scenarios and vignettes aid in helping Soldiers understand how one lapse in concentration can cause a lifetime of problems.

Grinston was on-hand to assist at the promotion ceremony of eight Soldiers at the foyer of the U.S. Army Military Police School command section, which included PV2s Rayne Jasoni and Nathanial Marshall, Pfcs. Alphonso Daniel and Brandon Rosatorres, Spcs. Kevin Barros and Bryan Merchant, and Sgts. 1st Class Tanee Lowther and Julio De La Cruz.

Before departing Fort Leonard Wood Tuesday evening, Grinston stopped to discuss the ‘This is My Squad’ initiative with a class of U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division students.

Grinston said the goal of the initiative is to build more cohesive teams throughout the Army, who can effectively anticipate a Soldier’s problems.

“My goal with ‘This is My Squad’ is I want you to understand the environment that you’re in, and notice when something is not right,” he said. “It’s not to be a counselor and know the perfect thing to say. You may not know the answers, but I want you to be able to pick up on the signs.”

“Changing the culture takes years,” he added. “I think I can be an advocate for change — I can be a champion — but it has to come from the bottom up. If it’s only (coming from) me, it isn’t going to change.”

-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

Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 11, 2021) — Due to inclement weather, an early, staggered release for non-mission essential personnel is authorized for Thursday, Feb. 11. Maximum telework is encouraged and the unscheduled leave policy is in effect for Friday, Feb. 12.

Supervisors are encouraged to manage early release with the following guidance beginning at 2 p.m. today:

2:00 p.m., personnel who reside 30 miles or more from Fort Leonard Wood,

2:30 p.m., personnel who reside 20 to 29 miles or more from Fort Leonard Wood,

3:00 p.m., personnel who reside 10 to 19 miles from Fort Leonard Wood,

3:30 p.m., personnel who reside less than 10 miles from Fort Leonard Wood,

4:00 p.m., personnel who reside on the installation.

All MWR facilities, to include Child Development Centers and School Age Services, will close at 4:30 p.m. (30 minutes after the last release). Check the MWR web pages www.leonardwood.armymwr.com/ and www.facebook.com/mwr.ftwood for details.

Appointments at the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital currently scheduled after 3 p.m. will be rescheduled. The Emergency Department remains open 24/7. Harper COVID Screening Clinic will close no later than 4:30 p.m. today. Call the hospital line at 1.866.299.4234 for additional recorded information about hospital service closures.

The Commissary will close at 5 p.m.

The Main Exchange and Exchange Mini-Mall will close at 6 p.m.

For current road conditions on the installation, call the SNAIR hotline at 573.563.4141, or visit the SNAIR web page at https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/Garrison/weather.

Updates can also be found on the official Fort Leonard Wood Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fortleonardwoodmissouri/.

-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

Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 10, 2021) — Due to inclement weather and icy secondary road conditions, there will be a two-hour delayed reporting for Thursday, Feb. 11, on Fort Leonard Wood for non-mission essential personnel — as previously identified by supervisors.

For example, personnel who normally report at 7:30 a.m., should now report at 9:30 a.m.; those who normally report at 8 a.m., will report at 10 a.m.

The reporting delay is issued for safety and allows road crews time to treat the roads.

Unscheduled leave policy is in effect for those individuals who are unable to report by their reporting time. Personnel should contact their immediate supervisor with any questions.

Child Development Centers and School Age Center are scheduled to open at 8 a.m.

MWR fitness centers will open at 7 a.m. All other MWR facilities will open at 9:30 a.m. or as regularly scheduled. For more details, check the MWR web page at https://leonardwood.armymwr.com/.

Appointments at the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital before 9:30 a.m. will be rescheduled. GLWACH’s Emergency Department remains open and operational. Harper COVID Screening Clinic will open at 9:30 a.m. For recorded information regarding GLWACH, call the appointment line at 1.866.299.4234.

The Commissary will open at their regularly scheduled time.

Motorists are reminded to slow down due to icy road conditions and allow extra time to arrive at their destinations safely.

For current road conditions, call the SNAIR hotline at 573.563.4141, or visit the SNAIR web page at https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/Garrison/weather.

Updates can also be found on the official Fort Leonard Wood Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fortleonardwoodmissouri/.

-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