Army cuts impacting Fort Leonard Wood – St. Joseph Post Archive

File Photo A standing room only crowd turned out for the listening session to discuss the proposed cutting of up to 5,400 jobs at Fort Leonard Wood. Photo courtesy Missourinet — File Photo A standing room only crowd turned out for the listening session to discuss the proposed cutting of jobs at Fort Leonard Wood. Photo courtesy Missourinet

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (AP) — Missouri officials say Fort Leonard Wood is scheduled to lose 774 active-duty troops by the end of fiscal year 2017.

The reductions were announced Thursday in a joint statement from U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, with Rep. Vicki Hartzler.

The cuts at the south-central Missouri fort are part of a federal move to reduce the number of the country’s active-duty soldiers to 450,000 from 490,000 across 28 Army installations.

The Congressional representatives said the reductions are challenge for Fort Leonard Wood but lower than those imposed on some other Army posts. They said the announcement confirms that Fort Leonard Wood will continue to play a critical role in the training and development of troops.