DATE: February 2, 2018 9:23:08 PM CST

Fort Leonard Wood report for the week of Feb. 5

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 2, 2018) – The following Fort Leonard Wood announcements are for the week of Feb. 5 through 9.

Feb. 5

USO, What to Expect and Target Special Delivery Baby Shower, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Leonard Wood USO. This shower is open to expecting mothers and new (6 months postpartum or less) mothers. For more information, or to register, visit bit.ly/2Ctut4V.

Feb. 6

Story Time

Story Time, 10:30 a.m. at the Bruce C. Clarke Library. Story Time is open to the public and is a program of stories and crafts. For more information, call 573.563.4113.

Feb. 9

Still time to sign up for Texas hold’em tournament

Registration is now open for Fort Leonard Wood’s next Texas Hold’em tournament, scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at Pershing Community Center. Players 18 and older can register in advance now through Feb. 8. The advance fee is $25, and can be paid in person at the Installation Wide Events Office, located inside Pershing Community Center, or online at https://leonardwood.armymwr.com. Entry fees are $30 per player at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 24

Bold in the Cold

The Fort Leonard Wood Better Opportunities for Single Service Members announced that it will host the annual “Bold in the Cold” event at 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the lake at Training Area 250. Held annually on post, the event invites participants to dress in costume and compete for a variety of awards, including “Best Team Theme,” “Best Couples Theme,” “Best Individual Costume” and the swimmer with the “Most Moxie.” The event is open to the public. The event is designed for participants ages 18 and older. Participants younger than 18 years of age must have written consent from a parent or guardian. Participation fees are $5 in advance for an individual or $20 for a team of five people. Same-day registrations cost an additional $5. Advance registration can be completed in person at BOSS Corner, Bldg. 496, or online at https://leonardwood.armymwr.com. The advance registration deadline is Feb. 20. For more information, call 573.596.5967.

Sapper Competition registration open

The U.S. Army Engineer School is gearing up to host the 12th annual Best Sapper Competition April 14 – 20 at Fort Leonard Wood. Registration for the Best Sapper Competition opens at 9 a.m. February 1 and closes at 5 p.m. March 1 CST. The purpose of the physically and mentally demanding competition, which takes 50 teams, across more than 50 miles, in 50 hours, is to determine the next “Best Sapper” team and allow elite members of the Engineer Regiment the chance to test their skills. In addition to Army personnel, this year the competition is open to Marines and cadets who are Sapper-tab qualified. To be eligible to compete, teams must consist of two military personnel in the grades of E4 and above, and both competitors must be graduates of the Sapper Leader Course. Any person who wishes to compete without graduating SLC, must obtain a waiver through the U.S. Army Engineer School commandant. Competitors will need to report by 9 a.m. April 14 to in-process for the event that officially kicks off April 16. For registration information, visit http://www.wood.army.mil/sapper/BSC.html. The public will be able to follow the Best Sapper Competition on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BestSapper/, or by using #BestSapper on social media.

Spotlight on education: Using GI Bill benefits

The GI Bill benefit can be used to pay for college tuition, vocational school attendance, on-the-job training, and many other forms of educational activities. Learn about GI Bill benefits and eligibility by reading the full Guidon article at http://www.myguidon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21723&Itemid=39.

Youth Spring Sports

Fort Leonard Wood Youth Sports & Fitness’ Co-ed Cheerleading, Flag Football, Soccer, and Track & Field teams are now forming for the season to begin Mar. 17. These sports are open to youth ages 5-15 years old. Practices will be held in Waynesville, St. Robert, and Fort Leonard Wood while games will take place in Fort Leonard Wood and other communities. Volunteer coaches are needed for all age groups. Contact 573.596.0209 for more information. Cost is $45 per child. Register youth at Parent Central Services, located in Bldg. 470 Room 1126, until Feb. 16.

DoD Launches Initiative to Inform Americans of Military Life

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2018 — It is a sign of America’s disconnect with its military that there are those who believe that when a person joins the military, that person cannot have a spouse or children or pets, said Amber Smith, the deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for outreach. This misperception may be extreme, but there are others and it’s one reason why DoD is launching an outreach program on Feb. 1 called “This Is Your Military.” The program is designed “to inform and educate the American public on who is serving in the military today,” Smith said during a Pentagon news conference today. Recent surveys demonstrate the divide between the military and the public it serves is growing. In 1995, 40 percent of young adults had a direct connection to a service member or a veteran in their families. Today, it is around 15 percent. Each month the initiative will have a different theme, and when it starts on Thursday the theme will be We Are Connected. The website for the initiative is knowyourmilitary.osd.mil. The hashtag is #KnowYourMil. Read the full story at: https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1426748/dod-launches-initiative-to-inform-americans-of-military-life/.