Matt Decker
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Jan. 22, 2021) — Want to know what events and activities are happening on the installation, where to go for a bite to eat or find out what’s on sale at the Exchange?
The U.S. Army has a mobile app just for that purpose called “Digital Garrison.” Developed through a partnership between U.S. Army Installation Management Command and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the goal is to give Soldiers, family members and civilians access to real-time information and to keep military communities connected.
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play app stores.
“We’ve wanted to join the app world for years,” said Megan O’Donoghue, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation acting director. “The app (allows) our patrons to have MWR at their fingertips.”
O’Donoghue said Digital Garrison pulls information from the Fort Leonard Wood FMWR website at https://leonardwood.armymwr.com and makes it available in mobile form.
“Patrons … no longer have to go online to try to find MWR information; they simply have to download the DG app, set Fort Leonard Wood as their installation,” O’Donoghue said. “MWR events are highlighted right on the front page of the selected installation, plus the app has a big blue button at the bottom for ‘community,’ which allows patrons to browse … upcoming MWR events. Also, patrons have access to a list of recreation facilities, dining options and, of course, AAFES.”
Kassandra Perry with the Fort Leonard Wood Exchange said the app gives visitors and those new to the installation easy access to information about products and services available on post.
“(It provides) information such as hours of operation, the physical addresses of stores they are interested in visiting, a brief summary of the type of products each store has (and) who is authorized to shop at each location,” she said.
Perry noted the navigation option also includes a location pinning display, similar to mapping apps, which she said is “fantastic for (those) unfamiliar with what Fort Leonard Wood has to offer.”
“The app also includes weather forecasting, uniform building tools and Military Star Card (specials), as well as the movie-theater showings schedule, recreational events, Commissary events, deals and sweepstakes,” she added. “You can also view gate information, the installation directory and a newcomer’s guide from the ‘Community’ tab.”
Planned DG improvements in the near future include garrison news feeds, social media connections and more.
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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 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