By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Aug. 21, 2025) — Fort Leonard Wood service members joined the Waynesville R-VI School District Aug. 18 in welcoming students on their first day of the new school year.
“Celebrating these children is celebrating our future. It’s a simple act that sends a powerful message — education matters, and they matter,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Fort Leonard Wood and Maneuver Support Center of Excellence commanding general.
Senior leaders and service members who volunteer for the Partners in Education program spent the morning at several schools across the district. The PIE program is a tool that brings Fort Leonard Wood’s military units and local schools together to foster relationships between service members and students.
“They greeted students, helped them find which door to go in and walked them to their classrooms, while giving a reassuring nod to parents,” said Hilary Bales, Waynesville R-VI School District superintendent. “Having Soldiers and senior leaders present on the first day of school makes it easier, more exciting and more fun.”
According to the district, more than 60% of their students come from military families.
“We hope (the service members’) presence reassures our families that we highly value our partnership with Fort Leonard Wood,” Bales said. “PIE partners not only volunteer on the first day, but also throughout the school year, providing the most valuable resource of all — their time.”
Beck, and U.S. Army Engineer School Command Sgt. Maj. David Palmer, began their morning at Waynesville Middle School, followed by East Elementary.
“My favorite part about being at the school for the first day is seeing all the smiling faces, not knowing what to expect, but ready and happy to go to or back to school,” Palmer said. “Giving the kids a high-five and making them happy brings a smile to my face and warms my heart.”
Beck said welcoming students back to school is a “truly inspiring” way to start the day. On more than one occasion, kindergarteners let go of their parent’s hand and grabbed his, as he led them into East Elementary for their first day of school.
“The most rewarding part of this experience is the opportunity to offer a small gesture of encouragement as these young students begin their educational journey,” Beck added.
“The first day of school is a cornerstone event for our communities. Being present to greet these young students isn’t just a gesture, it’s a reaffirmation of our commitment to supporting families and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their success is our collective success,” Beck said.
More back-to-school photos can be viewed on Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortleonardwood/albums/72177720328431780.
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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 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 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.