Representative Ike Skelton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Lara Battles or
Thursday, June 23, 2005	Whitney Frost (202)225-2876

SKELTON ANNOUNCES ARMY WILL SEND 970 MORE TROOPS
TO FORT LEONARD WOOD

Washington, DC – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) announced today that the Army plans to send approximately 970 additional service members to Fort Leonard Wood over the next 3 fiscal years.

“In May, I wrote to the Secretary of the Army and contacted the Army Chief of Staff to let them know that Fort Leonard Wood is ideally suited to welcome new missions and additional forces. In response to my suggestion, the Army informs me that 970 service members will join the Fort Leonard Wood community in the next couple of years. I am extremely pleased by this news and I am optimistic that even more troops may come our way as the Army restructures its forces at home and abroad,” said Skelton.

According to the Army, active component changes during fiscal years 2005-2007 will bring approximately 970 additional spaces to Fort Leonard Wood. Increased capabilities by year are as follows:

Fiscal Year 2005:

One Multi-Role Bridge Company (MRB) with 183 authorizations;

Fiscal Year 2006:

One Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy) with 517 authorizations, and

Two Engineer Mine Dog Teams with 5 authorizations each;

Fiscal Year 2007:

One Sapper Company with 91 authorizations, and

Two Mobility Augmentation Companies with 85 authorizations each.

“The Army is still working on restructuring plans for the years beyond 2007, but Army leaders assure me that Fort Leonard Wood offers great opportunities and will likely receive additional units. No one should doubt that I will keep reminding the Pentagon that Fort Leonard Wood is a national treasure. As one of America’s premier military installations, I expect great things for Fort Leonard Wood in the years ahead,” said Skelton.

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. For further information, please contact Lara Battles or Whitney Frost at (202)225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton's web site at http://www.house.gov/skelton.