By Robert Johnson
Managing editor

In a year when resources are tight, the director of Installation Management Command-Northeast Region gives high marks for mission support to Fort Leonard Wood’s garrison operations.

“I think the team at Fort Leonard Wood is doing a first-rate job of providing the best services to support the Army mission,” said Russell Hall, IMCOM-Northeast Region director, during an interview, Jan. 26.

“The support here is phenomenal. You have some great Americans working hard to do the right thing for our Soldiers, their families and our installations,” Hall said.

All garrison teams have challenges, but the approach, leadership and direction Fort Leonard Wood has, makes it a star in the IMCOM region, Hall said.

“We have challenges — everyone has challenges. Every year we get new challenges. Every time you turn around, you may be facing a new challenge. Just when you think things are done — they’re probably not done. It’s how you face those challenges and accomplish the mission that separates good from great,” Hall said.

“I think Fort Leonard Wood is doing a superb job of taking care of our needs and requirements,” Hall said. “I am absolutely thrilled to come here and see what these gals and guys are doing. They are really being good stewards of the resources.”

Hall said the Fort Leonard Wood garrison team has a great partnership with the Training and Doctrine Command units, the Forces Command units and all the other tenant units on post, to include the other services.

“It’s one team, one fight, and this (Fort Leonard Wood) is definitely an organization that shows that it is a ‘we’ organization,” Hall said. “Leonard Wood is definitely a gold star in IMCOM.” The post is very much in step with the goals of the Army.

    The objectives assigned by the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff give great direction and strategic guidance for balancing the force, providing some stability for our Soldiers, and support for the combat commanders, Hall said.

    “We, as garrisons and home of the Army, have to learn to be adaptive, be more creative, for better more efficient ways to deliver our services and programs. The goal is to minimize the impact to the force,” Hall said.

    Hall said that garrisons need to make customers who use installation services feel that their time is well spent and that the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities are robust and provide a true relaxing environment for Soldiers and their families to reset and “recharge their batteries.”

    “The resource challenges we are having this year are really no different than any other year,” Hall said. “Some believe the impact challenge this year is a little more steep.”

    “But what they (Army) have done in relative terms, in pre-9-11 terms, the Army was about $69 billion, and today we’re at about $212 billion.  It’s really an issue about the money being in the right pot,” Hall said.

    “You can look at it and say your glass is half-full, but I look at it that we are three-quarters full, but we need to look at our efficiencies, and how to stretch our money to fill the glass,” Hall said.

    “We have to look at other options to meet our requirements,” Hall said. “If that means instead of cutting the grass once a month instead of every week, or cutting some of our custodial services from daily to once or twice a week, we will.

    “There are a multitude of ways to stretch our money, and I am confident that the team at Fort Leonard Wood will do what’s best — what’s right — to support our Soldiers and their families, and continue to provide the combat commander the best possible trained and ready Soldier for deployment.”