Some recent headlines could lead you to think the military is in trouble.

In February, a mother at Fort Leonard Wood starved her infant daughter to death.

Just last month, an army recruiter shot and killed her retired army husband just north of the post.

But Fort Leonard Wood is providing programs to prevent tragedies like these.

The help is there, but service members have take advantage of it.

"You need to know what to do and who can help you in your time of need," says Usa Iverson, a military wife.

She has conquered both—the what to do and who can help—while her military husband is deployed overseas.

"The first thing I did when I got here was check out ACS. I wanted to see what they are offering. I took care team training, ready training, army family team building. You empower yourself, knowledge is power," says Iverson.

Iverson is a knowledgeable veteran, but not a combat veteran. She's a veteran at managing her household minus a major player-- her husband--who has moved all over the world with the army.

When she needs support, she turns to ACS or Army Community Services.

"We have employment readiness, relocation readiness, financial readiness," says Nancy Starnes of Child and Youth Services.

And they have more classes that teach those skills than ever before.

Last October the army reaffirmed its commitment to military families all over the world. The Army Family Covenant Initiative was signed here at Fort Leonard Wood. It added programs, plus made them more affordable, and more available for soldiers and the people who love them.

"We have 33 childcare providers and those ladies are certified to care for children in their homes," says Starnes.

There are programs for new and experienced parents, and free daycare centers on the post.

"The whole goal is prevention."

So military and family life consultants or counselors are always available to soldiers and their families, by phone or in person.

Their philosophy is the army life is a family life, and they want to make it a good life, too.

You do not have to have been deployed to take advantage of the programs offered there.

You do not have to live at Ft. Leonard Wood. Being in the military qualifies you for help.

From anywhere in the state, the army can set up service members and their families with classes and counselors in their area.

To find the program that meets your needs, call the Army Service Center at Fort Leonard Wood at 573-596-0212.