DATE: December 13, 2018 10:17:33 PM CST

Fort Leonard Wood report for the week of Dec. 17

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Dec. 13, 2018) – The following Fort Leonard Wood announcements are for the week of Dec. 17 through Dec. 21.

Dec. 17

Dec. 17 and running through Jan. 3 the Fort Leonard Wood Legal Assistance Office will have a holiday schedule with reduced hours. The office will remain open as usual for walk-in attorney consultations, powers of attorney and notary services, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and Dec. 21. During the week of Christmas, the office will be closed Dec. 24 and Christmas Day, but will be open Dec. 26 and 28 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. For New Year’s week, the office will be open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 31, closed New Year’s Day, but will be open Jan. 2 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.  The office will be open for appointments only during the afternoon. To schedule an appointment, call 573.596.0629.

Army Community Service Music Group for Children with Autism, 5:30 p.m. Mondays at ACS. This program is for children and parents to learn social and communication skills through music. For more information, call 573.596.0212.

Dec. 18

The Protestant Women of the Chapel are hosting an Armed Services Blood Program blood drive Dec. 18 in the Main Post Chapel and the Fort Leonard Wood community is invited to donate. The drive starts at 9 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. and everyone is invited to come out and save lives. It’s open to everyone 17 years old and older – military or civilian. All donors will receive a free ASBP t-shirt, some juice and cookies, and a heart-felt thank you.

Dec. 19

Candy Cane Toss, 2 p.m. Dec. 19 in the Fort Leonard Wood housing area. Starting from Fire Station 1, Santa and friends will visit the Fort Leonard Wood housing area on a fire truck, tossing candy canes to boys and girls. When you hear the sirens, go outside and wave to Santa. For more information call, 573.563.0148.

Dec. 20

S.T.E.A.M. Lab, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Bruce C. Clarke Library. S.T.E.A.M. Lab is a place for children of all ages to come learn, play, build, and create! Enjoy kits, projects, and crafts that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics! Join us in this fun and interactive environment, where children can learn new things and fulfill their creativity and curiosity. This is a self-paced program and the children have the opportunity to work without time constraints or press of a particular goal. The S.T.E.A.M. Lab is free and open to the public, all ages and will take place the third Thursday of every month. For more information, call 573-563-4113.

The Army Community Service Bright Start Play Group runs from 9 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays. Children between the ages of 0 and 3 years are eligible. The children will take part in hands-on activities and interact with other children. For more information, call 573.596.0212.

Community Orientation, 8 a.m. to noon, Thursdays at Building 470, Room 2224. This program is part of a seven-day cycle for in-processing Soldiers called Arrive Strong. Spouses are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact 573.596.0136.

Dec. 31

Soldiers eligible to opt-in to the Blended Retirement System have until Dec. 31 to decide whether to opt-in to BRS or remain with the legacy retirement system. Active-duty service members with fewer than 12 years of service as of Dec. 31, 2017, and Reserve component service members with less than 4,320 points are eligible. The BRS blends the traditional legacy retirement pension, also known as a defined benefit, with a defined contribution benefit into a Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP. This new system provides retirement savings benefits for the majority of service members, including those who serve fewer than 20 years. For more information on the Blended Retirement System, visit https://militarypay.defense.gov/BlendedRetirement/.

Jan. 8

Protestant Women of the Chapel January Kick-off, 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 8 at Main Post Chapel. For more information, contact pwocflw@gmail.com.

Jan. 14

Youth Sports and Fitness Soccer Registration is open from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22. Open to youth ages 3-15. Practices are scheduled to begin March 11 and games are slated to begin March 23. Register youth at Parent Central Services located in Building 470, Room 1126. For more information, call 573.596.2611.

Youth Sports & Fitness Volleyball Registration is open from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22. Open to youth ages 7-14. Practices are scheduled to begin March 11 and games are slated to begin March 23. Register youth at Parent Central Services located in Building 470, Room 1126. For more information, call 573.596.2611.

Youth Sports & Fitness Track Registration is open from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22. Open to youth ages 5-15. Practices are scheduled to begin March 18 and games  are slated to begin April 6. Register youth at Parent Central Services located in Building 470, Room 1126. For more information, call 573.596.2611.

Ongoing

The Armed Services Blood Program is in need of blood donors. The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center is located in Bldg. 822 at the corner of Iowa and Kansas Streets. People can donate from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 573.596.5385 for an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Fort Leonard Wood Combined Federal Campaign is underway and is scheduled to run through Jan. 12. The CFC provides federal employees with the opportunity to donate to charities via a one-time donation or payroll deduction. According to gatewaycfc.org, the CFC is one of the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaigns, raising millions of dollars each year. For more information or to schedule a brief, call Michele Piccione-Leone at 573.563.4057, or email michele.l.piccione-leone.civ@mail.mil.

The Legal Assistance Office is currently looking for full- and part-time volunteers to assist with the 2018 tax season, which runs from January through April 2019. Volunteers are needed for both weekdays and weekends. Those interested may contact Capt. Tim Bowman at 573.596.0629, or visit the Fort Leonard Wood Legal Assistance Office, on the first floor of Building 315 located at 316 Missouri Avenue. Once selected, volunteers are registered with the Army Volunteer Corps.