Rick Brink

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 23, 2021) — Meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, Defense Commissary Agency partners held a virtual kick-off event Feb. 16 to launch Military ProCamps, a program that hosts football camps for military family youngsters worldwide.

Commissary and Exchange patrons can help football camps come to Fort Leonard Wood by shopping. The installation can qualify for a camp based on sales of designated products at the Commissary and Exchange from mid-March to mid-April.

Customers will see mass product displays at the Commissary. Patrons can also help their installation win by texting “Fort Leonard Wood” to 833.998.1228 anytime between Friday and April 11.

The football camps are scheduled to be conducted in June and July, either in-person or virtually, depending on the status of public health precautions in effect. Last year, they were virtual because of COVID-19. Either way, youth in grades one through eight can enjoy activities led by National Football League athletes. So far, more than 90 camps have been held for military youth on installations worldwide.

Bill Moore, DeCA director and CEO, opened the program kickoff with remarks. Fans and patrons listened to the event virtually.

“ProCamps’ payback to the military is part of the benefits our Commissary and Exchange customers receive from our partnership with industry suppliers and manufacturers,” Moore told the audience. “Our industry partners provide millions of dollars annually in giveaways and promotional events that greatly enhance military quality of life.”

NFL players interacted with participants during the kickoff. Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones and Washington Football Team defensive tackle Jonathan Allen spoke and answered questions from the registered attendees.

Both players talked about their experiences as children of military families. Allen’s father is a retired Army sergeant first class and his brother serves as an Army staff sergeant. Jones’ parents are both military retirees — his father served as a command sergeant major and his mother as a sergeant major.

(Editor’s note: Brink is a public affairs specialist with DeCA.)

Rob Gronkowski, who is currently a tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, runs a route while a camper throws him a pass during a ProCamps event on Joint Base Andrews, Md., July 1, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant.

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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