Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood Relocation Information
Image via army.mil
Welcome to Fort Leonard Wood!
Fort Leonard Wood is known for military education at many levels, but especially for basic training and three major Army schools: Engineers; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN); and Military Police. The base is also home to the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, where all Chemical, Engineer, and Military Police Soldiers, plus many Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and international students from allied nations receive training.
The Army also trains 80,000 soldiers in the active component courses and nearly 15,000 servicemembers from 130 Reserve and other non-tenant units.
Fort Leonard Wood is a small- to medium-sized base, with 63,000 acres of land, but 45% of the installation borders federally owned property. You’ll find Fort Leonard Wood in Southwestern Missouri in the heart of the Ozark Mountains adjacent to the Mark Twain National Forest. Military families look to St. Robert, Waynesville, Dixon, Crocker, and Plato for housing and everyday shopping and amenities.
Image from FLW Facebook
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Leonard Wood
1) Are branches other than the Army at Fort Leonard Wood?
Soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood work alongside a Marine Corps Detachment, a Navy construction detachment, and an Air Force Squadron.
2) How long is basic training at Fort Leonard Wood?
Army Basic Combat Training, aka, Basic or BCT, is a 10-week entry point into the U.S. Army.
3) Who is Fort Leonard Wood named for?
The base is named for Major General Leonard Wood. His career dates back to the late 1800s when he served in the Apache-Indian wars and commanded the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. He served as the Army’s Chief of Staff between 1910-1914.
Image from FLW Facebook
4) What are the major cities near Fort Leonard Wood? How far away are they?
- Lake of the Ozarks 1 hour
- Springfield 1.5 hours
- St Louis 2 hours
- Branson 2 hours
- Kansas City 3 hours
5) What is the zip code for Fort Leonard Wood?
The zip code for Fort Leonard Wood is 65473. Other nearby zip codes include 65583, 65584, 65459, 65452, 65552.
6) What is the BAH for Fort Leonard Wood?
The BAH for Fort Leonard Wood ranges from $1,101 for E-1 with dependents to $1,722 for E9 with dependents and from $1,191 for O-1 with dependents to $ 1,929 for O-7 with dependents. See the housing section for more info.
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Base Location and Information
Image from bestplaces.net
Nearby military installations:
Fort Leonard Wood is located in Pulaski County, Missouri, and has a population of nearly 53,000. Unlike some of the Army’s largest bases, Fort Leonard Wood is accessible through four gates, and it’s easy to find your way around and commute.
Servicemembers and their families enjoy outdoor living, including navigating around local wildlife that roam the area. It’s not unusual to find herds of deer during your commute. The Lake of the Ozarks is a huge draw for family getaways and offers everything lake life entails, like boating, fishing, swimming, and more.
Image via FLW Facebook
Arrival Lodging
There are multiple arrival lodging choices through IHG on Fort Leonard Wood. All have the same contact telephone and email, but the websites are brand specific.
Contact Info
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Fort Leonard Wood Housing
Balfour Beatty Communities manages Fort Leonard Wood on base housing through the Stonegate Leasing Community Management Center.
Contact info:
235 Ellis Street
Fort Leonard Wood
Missouri, 65473
573-329-0122
The housing community on base is gated and has two-, three-, and four-bedroom floor plans. The neighborhoods are walkable, pet-friendly, and families have access to playgrounds, splash parks, and sports courts.
Fort Leonard Wood Off-Base Housing
To the north of Fort Leonard Wood lie Waynesville and St. Robert, the two most popular towns for military families to find homes. They add 9,000 people to the area’s population. Military families who live in the area enjoy the small community charm, tight-knit neighborhood feel, and well-appointed schools.
Interstate 44 is a close two-mile commute from Fort Leonardwood and takes you to St. Louis and Springfield when you prefer the conveniences of big cities. But, for everyday life, many servicemembers enjoy the affordability and low cost of living of the small towns surrounding Fort Leonard Wood.
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Fort Leonard Wood BAH
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S.based allowance determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed servicemembers compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided. Learn more about your Basic Allowance for Housing.
Compared to the rest of the country, Fort Leonard Wood’s cost of living is 16.8% lower than the U.S. average. Some sample Fort Leonard Wood BAH rates for zip code 65473:
- E-1 with dependents: $1,101
- E-1 without dependents: $909
- E-9 with dependents: $1,722
- E-9 without dependents: $1,299
- O-1 with dependents: $1,191
- O-1 without dependents: $1,053
- O-7 with dependents: $1,929
- O-7 without dependents: $1,692
Fort Leonard Wood Weather
Fort Leonard Wood’s location in the middle of the country brings a variety of weather phenomena. Although you won’t worry about hurricanes, you’ll take the warnings for tornadoes and other severe weather that sprouts throughout the spring and summer seriously. May through September are also the months that warm weather activities bloom (high temps typically reach 89°F) and when the area sees an influx of visitors. Although the winter is cold, the typical low is 26°F, rarely below 9°F.
Fort Leonard Wood Area Schools
Waynesville Middle School - Image via Facebook
The Waynesville R-VI Schools operates four elementary schools on base and two off base for kindergarten through fifth grades. All sixth graders attend the Waynesville Sixth Grade Center, an off-post facility dedicated to helping students transition from elementary to middle school.
Seventh and eighth grade students attend nearby Waynesville Middle School. High school students attend Waynesville High School. The Waynesville High School campus includes a Ninth Grade Center that eases the transition for students from middle to high school. Bus transportation is provided to and from school.
Waynesville R-VI School District Boundaries - image from waynesville.k12.mo.us
If you need more school information, contact the base School Liaison Officer (SLO).
Contact info:
13486 Replacement Avenue
Bldg. 470, Room 1102
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri 65473
(573) 596-0357
If you are interested in private schools in the area, read about their ratings on Private School Review.
For homeschooling information, start with the state of Missouri’s information. You’ll also find help through Pulaski County Homeschoolers.
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Support for Military and Families
Work Life
If you choose to work in the Fort Leonard Wood area, it’s a good idea to start your search with the Waynesville - St. Robert Chamber of Commerce to begin networking and learn about employment opportunities. The largest employers in the area include:
- Military
- Federal Civilian Employees
- Government Contractors
- Tourism
- Waynesville R-IV School District
- Army and Air Force Exchange
- Walmart
- The cities of Waynesville and St Robert
- Pulaski County
Volunteer
It’s pretty common to move to a new duty station and begin volunteering. Volunteer positions build social and professional networks while serving the community. So pick your favorite and jump into helping others.
Education
Sometimes, a PCS cycle offers the perfect opportunity to head back to school, either to finish a degree or to pursue something new. Take a look at some of the higher education around Fort Leonard Wood.
More Helpful Links
Military life requires support. Take advantage of the programs designed for servicemembers and their families.
Things to Do Near Fort Leonard Wood
Around Fort Leonard Wood, you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventures, several historic military sites, and must-try eateries. Here are a few to add to your list!
Image from Explore Fort Leonard Wood
- Bennett Spring State Park: Plan a day hike or weekend camping, and you’ll have lots to choose from, including fishing at a stocked lake and relaxing at the dining lodge.
- Historic Route 66: Go ahead and get your kicks! Route 66 is the perfect way to take in the historic road’s scenery.
- Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area: A major outdoorsman and tourist destination, the Lake of the Ozarks has something for everyone, boating, camping, swimming, water skiing, fishing, to name a few.
- U.S. Army Military Police Corps Museum: Get to know Fort Leonard Wood’s roots through an interactive museum with exhibits dedicated to realistic experiences of the U.S. Army’s military police.
- U.S. Army Engineer Museum: Learn everything you ever wanted to know about engineering corps’ equipment, landmine warfare, special weapons, and much more.
- I Love Ice Cream & More: For some families finding their go-to ice cream shop is high on the list of priorities in a new town. Try 16 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream after a lunch of grilled cheese or hot dogs.
- SweetWater BBQ: Another must-try—regional BBQ. Try the ribs and pick a favorite side. Don’t forget the dog; he gets a to-go bag of bones.
- Piney River Brewing Company: Taste award-winning beer at a 160-acre farm in the picturesque Ozarks.
More Area Info
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Base Address:
140 Replacement Ave
Fort Leonard Wood
,
65473-8935