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Fort Leonard Wood returns to core mission

Fort Leonard Wood is returning to its more traditional ways for training recruits.

During the wars in the Middle East, the fort trained recruits in the ways that mimicked the experiences they would encounter there.

Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, commander at the fort, says the change is part of a large shift at the post back to missions that existed before the wars.

For example, the Army Engineer School will continue studying how to counter improvised explosive devices. But more attention will be paid to traditional missions such as building and demolishing structures and bridging rivers.

Smith told The Springfield News-Leader that with troops not deploying as much, the focus is on how to keep them combat-ready.

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