The new Camp was designated the VII Corps Training Area at first. When the administrative officers arrived it was named after Major General Leonard E. Wood. He had gained fame in the campaign against Geronimo and during the Spanish-American War. He was chief of Staff, United States Army from 1910 to 1914. Lt. Col. Leo Grabbs was the first Post Commander, with his Headquarters at 11th and Colorado Avenue. The Post then consisted of four barracks for enlisted men and one for Officers. No modern facilities were available and baths would only be obtained in local towns. Construction of buildings continued and early in the spring of 1941 there was enough housing for the first cadres. The Engineer Replacement Training Center was organized under the command of Brigadier General U. S. Grant, III.

More and more barracks were being built and the railway was extended from the town of Newburg, 21 miles away. The 6th Infantry Division arrived from Minnesota by train in May, 1941 and the 72th Field Artillery Battalion came by motor convoy from Fort Knox. After the 6th Division ( not to be confused with the 6th Armored Division ) came the 8th, the 75th, the 97th and the 70th, all of which trained one after the other to either maneuvers or overseas shipment.

The ERTC continued to function and was later called the ASFTC ( Army Service Forces Training Center). The Post trained more then 300,000 men between 1941 and 1946. At one time the population was around 50,000. In 1946 the Post was reactivated. Some 50 civilians and about 5 officers remained to safeguard the buildings and property. Soon the buildings began to fade and grass grew wild over the once busy training areas. For four years the Post lay dormant.

The Korean conflict brought demand for more trained troops and Fort Leonard Wood sprang to life once more. It was reactivated in August, 1950., and the 6th Armored Division was designated as a replacement training division. On 16 March 1956, after more then five years of training the division was deactivated and Fort Leonard Wood became the home of the United States Army Training Center, Engineer. The Program now includes basic military training advanced engineer training, specialist training and the leadership school.

Fort Leonard Wood continues to function mainly as an Engineer Training Center. Its location and its terrain features make it well suited for the training of Engineer Troops. On 21 March 1956, the Post was given permanent status. In 1956 a modern 4-lane highway makes the approach to Fort Leonard Wood a pleasant one. The reservation is now more than 70,000 acres in size. It was part of the Mark Twain National Forest until its acquisition as a military reservation. It is in the northern end of the Missouri Ozarks.