Fort Leonard Wood celebrates Retiree Appreciation Days

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Africa Nichols, a TRICARE beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinator with General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, provides information to retired service members and their families Saturday in Nutter Field House during the Retiree Appreciations Days events.

(Photo Credit: Photo by Brian Hill, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Retired Staff Sgt. Charles Mitchell (center) and his brother, Don, speak with Sgt. 1st Class Lynda Cooke, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Chemical Brigade, outside an M1135 Strycker vehicle Saturday at Nutter Field House during the Retiree Appreciations Days events.

(Photo Credit: Photo by Brian Hill, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Retirement Services Director Mark Overberg responds to a question during a town hall event Saturday at Abrams Theater. Overberg and Fort Leonard Wood senior leaders, program managers and human resources experts were on hand for the hour-long event – part of Retiree Appreciation Days – to listen to concerns from retirees and their families, and to provide information, services and assistance concerning their personal affairs, benefits, privileges, rights and entitlements.

(Photo Credit: Photo by Brian Hill, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Service members — those still serving and some retired for decades — came together Friday and Saturday at locations across the installation for Fort Leonard Wood’s annual Retiree Appreciation Days celebration. According to Camilah Jefferson, Fort Leonard Wood’s Retirement Services officer, events this year included a bus tour of the post, a retirement ceremony, lunch in an Army Warrior Restaurant, a retiree dinner, a town hall, and a health and benefits fair and expo.

Additionally, the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate offered will preparation services Saturday in Bldg. 315. Jefferson said the goal each year is to provide retirees and their families with information, services and assistance concerning their personal affairs, benefits, privileges, rights and entitlements. At the retiree dinner Friday evening in the Engineer Regimental Room at the John B.

Mahaffey Museum Complex, retired Master Sgt. Steven Eberharter was recognized as Fort Leonard Wood’s Retiree of the Year. The following morning, after a complimentary breakfast at the USO, more than 100 attendees heard from Army Retirement Services Director Mark Overberg, during a town hall at Abrams Theater that also included a panel of Fort Leonard Wood senior leaders, program managers and human resources experts. Overberg, who served 22 years in the Army, opened his remarks by saying retirement “is a process and not an event.” “Once you’re retired, you’re still on the Army team,” he said.

“They still need you.” Calling it the mission statement for the Army’s retired Soldiers, Overberg asked retirees to “hire and inspire.” “We need our retired community to help veterans find jobs and inspire Americans to serve,” he said, noting three-quarters of Americans “don’t know anything” about their military. “Be visible and have conversations with Americans to help them understand what military service is all about,” Overberg said.

“Explain how you got to where you are and what the military did for you. Inspire the next generation and set an example for our youth.” New this year, Jefferson said, was the expo at Nutter Field House, which brought together representatives from area private businesses and governmental organizations, including health experts from General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital and ID card facility customer service representatives. Outside the expo were military equipment displays, and checking out an M1135 Strycker vehicle was retired Staff Sgt.

Charles Mitchell and his brother, Don, who drove up from Springfield, Missouri, for the event. Mitchell, who said he has attended numerous retiree events here over the years, also attended basic combat training here in 1968 — he said he enjoys the bus tour each year, because, “it’s really amazing what’s going on here at Fort Leonard Wood.” Before heading into the expo to get a new ID card, Mitchell spoke about why Retiree Appreciation Days are important. “I think it’s a good thing to keep us informed of what’s going on,” he said.

“And then, you get to see a lot of people that maybe you served with. I think it’s a good thing.”