Story and photo by Melissa Buckley
GUIDON staff
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July 25 marked the 47th birthday of Army Community Service, and the Fort Leonard wood ACS center celebrated with a cake cutting ceremony.

The ACS center serves as the installation’s primary coordinating resource agency. ACS provides a multitude of community-based services that foster growth, development and readiness of Families assigned to the installation.

Verna McGee, Mobilization and Deployment specialist, was at the cake cutting. She’s been serving troops at the ACS on Fort Leonard Wood since 1986.

“I have watched us grow. If it wasn’t as important as it is, it wouldn’t have grown to as large as it is,” McGee said.

McGee enjoys her job because she finds success in helping others.

“It’s the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping,” McGee said.

Lynn Morgan, Army Community Service director, described ACS as the center of help for troops on post.

“If ACS doesn’t provide services and assistance that will meet a service member or Family members needs, we know who does and we point them in the right direction. If we don’t have the answer, we will find it,” Morgan said. “ACS has so much to offer — from baby bundles to volunteer opportunities.”

Here are some of the services that ACS provides: Employment Readiness Program, Financial Readiness Assistance, Soldier and Family Readiness, Family Advocacy Program, Exceptional Family Member Program, Youth Outreach, Transitional Compensation Program, Victim Advocate Program, Family Violence prevention Program, Community Partnerships (Adoption), Military Family Life Consultants, Survivor Outreach Services, Army Family Action Plan, Army Family Team Building, Army Volunteer Corp, Relocation Readiness and Mobilization & Deployment Readiness.

“ACS has a service or class for nearly everyone, no matter where they are in their military life. We have programs that focus on new Soldiers, spouses that are new to military life and programs that assist leaders in meeting their mission requirements,” Morgan said. “We provide support and services to all Fort Leonard Wood community members to include sister service members and their Families, Department of the Army civilians and retirees.”

    Morgan said she wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

“The Fort Leonard Wood ACS is made up of professional and caring people. Come see us for advice or assistance before small things in life become major challenges. It is always easier to correct a problem or situation at its onset and not after it has become overwhelming and seemingly un-manageable,” Morgan said.

For more information call 596.0212.