teen daughter hugs her father who is in military uniform

When Everything Changes

The ASYMCA is there to ensure no military family is left behind.

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Our Mission

The Armed Services YMCA enhances the lives of military members and their families in spirit, mind, and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life.

Our focus is to provide needed programs and services for single or married junior enlisted personnel and their family members. The Armed Services YMCA Fort Leonard Wood empowers military families, no matter who they are or where theyโ€™re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive.

What We Do for Our Military Community

Our programs empower young people, improve health and well-being, as well as provide support and inspire action in our communities today and every day. Explore our offerings below to discover new ways to connect to your purpose, potential, and each other.

See All Our Programs
baby learning to walk is held by hands by her mom in military uniform

MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Browse programs exclusively tailored to meet the needs of military members and their families serving in the Fort Leonard Wood community.

Mother and daughter working together to practive writing skills

CHILD Development

The Armed Services YMCA Fort Leonard Wood offers early education and development opportunities for toddlers, camps and fitness programs for school-age children, and family bonding opportunities for all ages.

family welcoming soldier home with hugs

Holiday Assistance

The Armed Services YMCA provides programs to help brighten the holidays and strengthen family connections to bolster resiliency in families struggling with the challenges of military life.

WHAT WE DO TO STRENGTHEN MILITARY FAMILIES

Armed Services YMCA Fort Leonard Wood operates programs and services to ease the burden of military families and single service members who are currently serving, with an emphasis on junior enlisted personnel.

We work with installation leadership to ensure a network of support for military families stationed at Fort Leonard Wood and the surrounding areas. This collaboration allows us to identify and address gaps in services that pose a hardship to service members and their familiesโ€”hardships that can negatively affect mission readiness.

a little girl practices her letters with her momโ€™s hand holding the paper down

Operation Little Learners

Operation Little Learners is an interactive education program that offers new parents and their children ages 18 months -5 an opportunity to learn and grow together.

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Teacher helps two young children with their reading skills

Early Learning

Help Me Grow and Help Me Learn are half-day preschool classes for 3-year-old and 4 to 5-year-old children that help prepare them for entry into Kindergarten.

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A boy holding a basketball between his hands

Youth Sports & Fitness

The Armed Services YMCA Fort Leonard Wood, recognize that physical activity is central to good physical and mental well-being.

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A soldier and his daughter pack canned food into a brown bag at a food distribution event

Emergency Food Assistance

The Armed Services YMCA Fort Leonard Wood aids military families by providing food items in times of crisis, such as pandemics, natural disasters, or financial emergencies.

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Operation Deploy Your Dress

Operation Deploy Your Dressโ€™s primary goal is to improve the quality of life of military families by offsetting the high cost of attending formal military functions, especially for junior servicemembers.

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Soldier and his spouse are greeted by family with hugs at Christmas

Operation Ride Home

Nationally sponsored by Jack Daniels, Operation Ride Home provides financial assistance to active duty junior enlisted military and their families to travel home for the holidays.

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Why It Matters

6-9

The number of times military children will be transferred by the 12th grade

43%

The percentage of military families who feel isolated from their communities

7 in 10

The ratio of military parents struggling to access affordable, quality childcare.

40%

The percentage of military children on free or reduced-price lunch programs.