FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — One of the state’s premier military installations is nearing a downsize after the U.S. Army announced the results of a new assessment on troop strength.
The Army announced the results of its Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) today and plans to reduce its active duty soldier strength from 490,000 t0 450,000. The result will be force reductions across more than 25 Army installations, including Missouri’s Fort Leonard Wood, which will slash 774 uniformed personnel by the end of FY 2017.
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill issued a joint statement along with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler about the decision.
“This spring, more than 2,000 Missourians, including local leaders, stakeholders, state and congressional delegations, soldiers and family members, attended the SPEA listening session, marking the second-largest recorded attendance in the country. While budgetary constraints have forced the Army to make difficult decisions, today’s announcement confirms what Missourians already know: FortLeonard Wood will continue to play a critical role in the training and development of our troops. Key criteria, including an abundance of maneuver and training areas, the absence of encroachment concerns, optimal geographic location, and plenty of community support give Fort Leonard Wood a significant leg up over other installations for future Army missions,” the Missouri lawmakers said. “Working with installation and Army leadership, in partnership with the Missouri congressional delegation, Missouri has positioned Fort Leonard Wood for the Army of the future, as one of the premier training bases in the country. The announced reductions to active duty personnel, while significant, are lower than the cuts at many other Army posts across the nation and lower than the level of cuts Fort Leonard Wood experienced in 2013. This is a challenging announcement for the FortLeonard Wood community, but we remain committed in our support for the fort along with its brave soldiers, families and civilians stationed there.”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon issued a statement saying the decision further highlighted the “crucial role” Fort Leonard Wood plays in national defense.
“Fort Leonard Wood is vital to the security of our nation and the economy of our state,” Nixon said. “While I oppose any cuts to Fort Leonard Wood personnel, the limited and proportional reduction announced today reaffirms this fort’s core training mission and is a testament to the ongoing efforts by state, local and federal leaders to protect this vital military asset and the thousands of dedicated men and women who serve there. My administration will continue to work with our military and civilian partners to ensure Fort Leonard Wood retains its crucial role now and in the future.”
Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat against Blunt in the 2016 election and a former Army Captain, issued a statement as well. Kander served at Fort Leonard Wood from 2007-2011.
“As someone who served at Fort Leonard Wood, I’m deeply disappointed by the Army’s decision to cut the number of soldiers at the base,” Kander said. “The men and women that serve at Fort Leonard Wood provide unequaled expertise that makes our military operations more effective and efficient across the country. It is well known that the Pentagon has been considering making personnel cuts to the base, which made Senator Roy Blunt’s decision to voluntarily leave the Senate Armed Services Committee this year so he could chair the Senate Rules and Administration Committee even more confounding. When the soldiers and civilian personnel at Fort Leonard Wood needed him most, Senator Blunt left his post so he could chair the insider committee that gives out office space. Senator Blunt owes the men and women who serve at Fort Leonard Wood, as well as the residents of the surrounding area, an explanation.”
Missouri state representative Steve Lynch, who represents Fort Leonard Wood in Jefferson City, also commented.
“I believe the tremendous turnout of 2,100 citizens from around the state and historic turnout of elected officials and dignitaries at the March Listening Post at Fort Leonard Wood had a direct impact on this decision. It is a huge victory for my district and the State of Missouri which will pay dividends well into the future,” Lynch said. “I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the many individuals, organizations, and groups that worked together to make this happen. While there remain challenges in the future, we made it clear with one unified voice that, ‘The military is good for Missouri, but just as importantly, Missouri is good for the military!”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
