FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — As high school graduates trade caps and gowns for combat boots, Fort Leonard Wood is bustling with a different breed of graduate this time of year — lethal, disciplined U.S. Army Soldiers.
“We have 55 graduations in the month of September. Our greatest number of trainees are during the summer due to high school graduation,” said Col. Tod Marchand, assistant chief of staff for Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Plans, Operations and Training.
According to Teresa Sloan, training technician with MSCoE Directorate of Training, in the last two years Fort Leonard Wood facilitated more than 300 basic combat training graduations, more than 600 advanced individual training graduations and more than 300 one station unit training graduations.
Marchand attributed the summer peak in recruiting numbers to two main factors — most high school graduations taking place in May and the popularity of the Army’s Split Training Option.
The STO program enables 17-year-old high school juniors to enlist in the National Guard or Army Reserve and complete their basic and advanced individual training across two summers.
“Many of our future Soldiers make the decision to serve during their junior or senior years of high school,” Marchand said. “Recruiting Command does their best to get those Soldiers into training as soon as they graduate.”
According to Marchand, on average, the installation graduates about 84,000 Soldiers each year.
“This fluctuates based on needs of the Army. This includes basic training, AIT, professional military education, as well as functional courses,” Marchand said.
Sept. 3, 2026, Nutter Field House was filled with families and loved ones of the more than 130 Soldiers graduating from basic combat training with Company A, 3rd Battalion 10 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Chemical Brigade.
During her remarks, Capt. Brittany Aikin, the company commander, thanked families for traveling long distances to celebrate their Soldiers’ achievement.
“Thank you for supporting your Soldier through their journey in basic combat training,” Aikin said. “We put your Soldiers to the test. We tested their dedication, discipline and fitness while showing them what it means to be a member of a team.”
Aikin said the new warfighters met the standard and conquered their fears while at Fort Leonard Wood.
“Your Soldiers rappelled down a 40-foot tower, completed three field training exercises, and executed 10 ranges qualifying with their individually assigned weapons, threw live hand grenades and low crawled the length of a football field,” Aikin said. “These men and women did everything that was asked of them and there is no doubt they have earned the title of American Soldier.”
One of the new Soldiers and Company A, 3rd Bn. 10th Inf. Reg. honor graduate, Pfc. Joseph May, said he was proud to call himself a Soldier as he prepares to return to his Kentucky high school to complete his senior year, as he is taking advantage of the Army’s STO program.
“I am going to be a 13B Cannon Crewmember. I am excited for the opportunity to break up basic training and advanced individual training and get a head start on my Army career,” May said. “I picked the Army because my dad is in the Army and I want to be like him.”
William May said he could not be prouder of his son’s decision and was excited for Joseph to attend basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, where he completed his own basic course in 1995 and advanced course in 1999.
“I tried to give him some advice about what he might expect and what to shoot for,” William said. “He had a goal and pursued it. We are so proud he found something he wanted to do and excelled at it. As a parent, that feels awesome.”
William said his favorite part of the graduation ceremony was watching the Soldiers call out their names and where they were from.
“It was really cool. They are from all over the country,” William said. “It was reassuring to see the other families gathered here. It is a reminder that people support the military and are proud of their service members.”
Joseph’s mom agreed and said the graduation ceremony was “touching.”
“Their willingness to serve our country is moving. I am so proud,” Rachel May said. “I know what a challenging experience that 10-weeks was for them. I haven’t cried yet, but I am going to any second.”
Across the cantonment area, another graduation was taking place at Lincoln Hall Auditorium, where Soldiers were celebrating completing their advanced individual training with Company C, 84th Chemical Battalion, 3rd Chemical Brigade.
Pvt. Josephine Smith said she enjoyed her AIT experience and is proud to be one of the Army’s newest Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear specialists.
“It feels amazing to graduate. It is a dream come true. Both of my parents were in the military and being able to graduate in front of them and carry on their legacy is an honor,” Smith said.
“I learned so much here, my military occupational specialty is fascinating. Fort Leonard Wood has been an awesome place to begin my Army career. It’s the home of my regiment. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Families planning to attend graduations at Fort Leonard Wood may visit the [visitor access webpage](https://home.army.mil/wood/my-fort/visitors-access) for information about access requirements.
More photos from the graduation ceremonies mentioned in this article may be viewed at [Fort Leonard Wood’s photo gallery site](https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortleonardwood/albums).