Fort Leonard Wood

Established: 1940
Base Type: Army

About

Fort Leonard Wood is an Army station just south of St. Robert, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. It’s often referred to as “Fort Lost-in-the-Woods” due to its remote location. Fort Leonard Wood houses just over 8,000 active duty soldiers and civilians, and is in the county of Pulaski, which has a population of around 38,320. Established in 1940, this base was named after Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, who was a former chief of staff in the Army.

Major General Leonard Wood, the base’s namesake, served in the U.S. Army for 40 years. He went to the prestigious Harvard University and joined the Army as a contract surgeon in the 1880s. He ended up winning the Medal of Honor for his valorous service. When the Spanish-American War broke out, Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood lead the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, though they are usually known as the Rough Riders. A man named Theodore Roosevelt served as his second in command, and took over the Rough Riders once Wood was promoted. Wood was the Army chief of staff from 1910 to 1914, and after the Spanish-American War he served as a governor general of the Philippines until his death in 1927.

Fort Leonard Wood is primarily a training installation, and is known as the homebase of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. This school trains Military Police, Army engineers, soldiers going into specialized jobs for chemical and nuclear warfare, and other maneuver support capabilities.

Before Fort Leonard Wood was ever constructed, Army Camp Meade in Maryland was changed to the name “Fort Leonard Wood” in 1928. However, Pennsylvania legislators acted quickly to change its name back in honor of the Gettysburg hero George G. Meade. This meant that Leonard Wood was again up for grabs, and in 1941 it was used for the training base in Missouri that remains today. Building a major training facility amidst rugged mountainscape proved to be challenging. But a war was raging, and the base needed to be built quickly in order to house and train troops that were set to arrive in only a matter of weeks. The construction began in December 1940 and was completed by June 1941. The project — which consisted of 1,600 building and five million square feet of floor space — cost $37 million. Today, that price would be over $647 million.

The first troops to train were members of 6th Infantry Division. Others to join them included: the 8th, 70th, 75th, and 97th infantry divisions. The base also dealt with other kinds of soldiers like artillery battalions and quartermaster companies. By the end of World War II, more than 300,000 soldiers had been trained at Fort Leonard Wood. Eventually, the focus shifted from infantry to engineering, and today the Missouri base is a major hub for future Army engineers.

Military housing on Fort Leonard Wood includes over 500 homes, three community centers, and various playgrounds. The three communities are called Woodlands, Eagle Point and North Stonegate. Piney Hills is a neighborhood that’s specifically for officers and senior enlisted personnel. Fort Leonard Wood offers other amenities such as a rec center with several pools and water slides, a miniature golf course, and a go-kart track. In addition, there is a full-size golf course on the east side of the base, an outdoor adventure center with fishing, hunting, and camping gear, a bowling center, auto skills center, leisure travel office, and numerous fitness centers. The base itself sits on 61,000 acres of mountainous forest and is perfect for outdoor adventures like hiking and camping. Kids on Fort Leonard Wood go to school in the Waynesville R-V1 School District, which runs three elementary schools on post. There is a middle school and high school off post for military kids to attend, and transportation is taken care of by the school district.

If you’re PCSing to Fort Leonard Wood or have a loved one stationed there, be assured: It’s one of the most respected posts in the Army, with a ton of history, resources, and support from military families just like you.

Gate and Hours

Gate Hours
Main Gate (North) Open 24/7
West Gate Open 24/7
East Gate 0500 – 0900 & 1400 – 1800 Closed Sat-Sun
South Gate Open 24/7

Quick Reference

Installation Chaplain’s Office (ICO)
Bldg. 6501 Indiana Avenue

Main Post Chapel (MPC)
608 Minnesota Ave.

Soldiers Memorial Chapel (SMC)
450 Iowa Ave.

SMC Chapel Annex Fellowship Hall
Bldg. 590

Central Iowa Chapel (CIC)
Bldg. 742

South Iowa Chapel (SIC)
Bldg. 843

North Iowa Chapel (NIC)
Bldg. 637

Education Center
(573) 596-0172

Equal Opportunity Office
(573) 596-0601

Family Advocacy Program
Address: Replacement Ave Building #486
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
(573) 596-0212

Public Affairs Office
(573) 563-4145

Legal Services
Address: 316 Missouri Avenue Building #315
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
(573) 596-0624

Housing Office
(573) 596-098

Finance Office
(573) 596-0710

Base Surroundings
Gateway Arch
St. Louis, MO 63102
(877) 982-1410

Silver Dollar City
399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy,
Branson, MO 65616
(417) 336-7100

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd,
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 577-5100

Forest Park
5595 Grand Dr,
St. Louis, MO 63112
(314) 367-7275