Pulaski County's cost of living is 11.3% lower than the U.S. average. Pulaski County has an unemployment rate of 2.70%. The US average is 3.4%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 18.2%, which is lower than the US average of 33.5%.
Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code (94) must be included.
Fort Leonard Wood Garrison Command is proud to have 1st Engineer Brigade, 3rd Chemical Brigade, 14th Military Police Brigade and many more on the installation to make Fort Leonard Wood #1 in training.
In January 1941, the installation was designated as Fort Leonard Wood, in honor of Major General Leonard Wood, a distinguished American Soldier who served for 40 years and was the Army's Chief of Staff from 1910 to 1914. Since 2000, Fort Leonard Wood has been home to the Army Engineer, Chemical, and Military Police Schools, under the combined Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE). For more information, go to the Fort Leonard Wood homepage.
Pulaski County: 52,274
Phelps County: 44,482
Fort Leonard Wood is home of the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, where all Chemical, Engineer and Military Police Soldiers, plus many Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and international students from allied nations receive training. The Post is also the home of the 1st Engineer Brigade, 3rd Chemical Brigade, and 14th Military Police Brigade where thousands of new recruits receive their basic training every year.
Fort Leonard Wood, a military community located in the beautiful south central Missouri Ozarks, covers more than 61,000 acres. The fort is located in Pulaski County, which has a population of nearly 52,274. Bordering the installation to the north are the towns of Waynesville and St. Robert, with an estimated combined population of 10,768. The post is two miles south of Interstate 44. St. Louis is a 2-hour drive to the east along I-44 and Springfield, Missouri, is a little more than an hour's drive to the west. Approximately 30 minutes driving to the east on I-44 is Rolla, Missouri and 30 minutes to the west on I-44 is Lebanon, Missouri. This vicinity is not a high cost of living area. The base operator's phone number is 573-596-0131 or DSN 312-581-0131.
Car rental and bus transportation are available from Lambert International Airport, St. Louis. Contour Airlines, operating from Waynesville/St Robert Regional Airport on Fort Leonard Wood, also has direct flights to and from Fort Leonard Wood from Dallas Fort Worth and Nashville, phone number 888-332-6686 / 573-329-4216. General flight information and Hertz rental car agency is located on Fort Leonard and can be reached at 573-329-4216. Flight booking information is 888-332-6686 / 573-329-4216.
Directions if Driving
Fort Leonard Wood is located in South Central Missouri and adjacent to the towns of St. Robert and Waynesville, Missouri in Pulaski County. St. Louis is 130 miles to the East and Springfield is 80 miles to the west on I-44.
If driving, the most direct route is by Interstate 44, which runs from St. Louis to Oklahoma City. About halfway between the cities of Lebanon and Rolla are the St. Robert, Waynesville and Fort Leonard Wood exits, with signs marking the route to the post. Take exit 161 and travel south bound for the easiest route to the Fort Leonard Wood visitors center and main gate access point.
Directions by Bus
Greyhound Bus Lines only provides runs from the Lambert International Airport in St. Louis to 718 Missouri Avenue, St. Robert (just outside the main gate to Fort Leonard Wood) for reservations only.
An on-post shuttle service, available to military in uniform, during duty hours, is provided.
Fort Leonard Wood directory 573-596-0131 or DSN 312-581-0131
Release 2023.08.17.1