A National Defense Authorization bill will provide more than $188.77 million to fund projects on Fort Leonard Wood.
The bill, part of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, was approved June 25 by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Projects for Fort Leonard Wood will account for the lion’s share of the funding— $175.87 million— and include $5.57 million for an addition to the dental clinic, $7.8 million for an addition to the health clinic, $17 million for a wheeled vehicle driver’s course, $19.5 million for Warrior in Transition complex and $27 million for a digital training facility.
The bulk of the funds, however, will be used to build training barracks at a cost of $99 million.
“I’m committed to making sure Fort Leonard Wood has what it needs to accommodate the growing number of soldiers on post and offer the quality of life Americans expect for our men and women in uniform,” U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said in a press release. “Additions and alterations to the health and dental clinics will increase the post’s capacity to provide essential health care services for soldiers and their families.”
Those services are needed more than ever, as a lack of primary care physicians has left General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital over enrolled by about 14,000 members. The problem has prompted post officials to allow active duty family members and TRICARE recipients to enroll with a network provider off post to help alleviate some of the enrollment issues.
“We have an obligation to provide the best care for our wounded, ill, or injured soldiers. With a new Warrior in Transition complex, Fort Leonard Wood will play a direct role helping wounded warriors and their families prepare to return to active duty or back to civilian life,” Skelton said.
“Fort Leonard Wood has a vital national security mission as one of our country’s most important training bases. The new barracks will house soldiers sent to Fort Leonard Wood for Advanced Individual Training,” he said.. “The new wheeled vehicle driver’s course will enable Fort Leonard Wood to accommodate the increasing number of service members who need heavy truck driver training. The digital training facility will provide up-to-date computer labs and classrooms to support chemical, military police and engineer professional military education courses.”
All told, the defense bill authorizes $550.4 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
This year’s defense authorization bill concentrates on our military’s critical readiness needs in order to meet current military challenges and prepare for the future. The bill directs $11 billion for Army reset, $2 billion for Marine Corps reset, and $6.9 billion to address equipment shortfalls in the National Guard and Reserve. To address urgent issues such as dilapidated military barracks and to keep defense facilities in good working order, the bill adds $450 million for Army barracks improvements and $762 million for base facilities and infrastructure. To boost readiness and reduce the strain on our forces, the bill increases the size of the military by 15,000 Army troops, 8,000 Marines, 14,650 Air Force personnel, and 2,477 Navy sailors.
Other provisions of the defense authorization address quality of life issues for service members and their families. The bill provides a 3.4 percent pay raise for all service members, expands TRICARE health coverage for reserve component members and their families, and provides $1.95 billion for family housing programs.
The House and Senate versions of this measure must be reconciled in conference before the legislation is forwarded to the President for his signature.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— —
