US Army Training Center - Armor Yearbook (Fort Knox, KY)

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COLONEL F. G. GOSLING Chief ofSlaff COLONEL A. W. JONES Deputy Commander

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HEADQUARTERS US ARMY TRAINING CENTER, ARMOR OFFICE OF THE COIVIMANDING GENERAL Fort Knox, Kentucky This yearbook will help you, your family and friends to vividly recall the start of your military careere your eight weeks of Basic Combat Train- ing at Fort Knox. Having successfully completed this period of rigorous training you have proven yourself to be physically fit, knowledgeable in military subjects and qualified with your basic weapon. You are now a soldier in the US Army, the finest Army in the world. As you go to Advanced Individual Training and thereafter to your first permanent assignment or back to your civilian community and Reserve Unit, I encourage you to make full use of the skills, knowledge and con- fidence that you have developed here in USATCA. You should continue to develop your God-given talents so that you will be able to serve your country to the fullest. On this significant occasion, your graduation from Basic Combat Training. I congratulate you, and wish you continued success in the future. Cuta..-hall CHARLES H. HOLLIS Brigadier General, USA Commanding

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History of United States Army Training Center, Armor The history of the United States Army Training Center, Armor CUSATCAJ, dates back to 1940, when Europe was overrun by Nazism and the United States initiated its first peacetime draft in history. The Train- ing Center had three names in that first year. It was entitled the Armored Force School and Replacement Center on 1 October 1940, and changed to the Armored Force Replace- ment Center 25 days later. In April, 1941, the title became the Armored Force Replace- ment Training Center. The Armored Force Replacement Train- ing Center grew considerably in size and function during World War II, with the title being changed again in 1943 to the Armor Replacement Training Center. After the war, when the United States demobilized portions of its huge wartime forces, the Armor Re- placement Training Center was placed on an inactive status. This occurred in July of 1947 when the Third Armored Division was reactivated at Fort Knox and assumed the training mission of the Armor Replacement Training Center. In 1955, the Third Armored Division was ordered to combat ready status for eventual shipment to Europe. This brought the Armor Replacement Training Center back to active' status in March of that year to carry on the training functions. The name of the Training Center was changed to its present title in March of 1956. As of 2 August 1968, more than one million trainees had completed one or more training programs in the Training Center since its inception. Within the Training Center there are four training brigades, a Committee Group and Special Troops. Attached to the Training Center is the US Army Reception Station and the First US Army Noncommissioned Office Academy. The First Training Brigade is responsible for Armor Advanced Individual Training and is the only Armor Training Brigade in the US Army. The Second Train- ing Brigade conducts Advanced Individual Training in Reconnaissance and Combat Support Training. The Fourth and Fifth Training Brigades conduct Basic Combat training. The Committee Group conducts about 351721 of the basic training and the com- pany cadres of the Fourth and Fifth Training Brigades conduct the remaining 65129 of the basic training. Special Troops has under its command the Training Center's Headquarters Company and a Service Company. Addi- tionally, it has the 113th Army Band, and the 12th Finance Section. The Training Center has the capability of conducting training for approximately 20,000 men at any one time. Its permanent party authorized strength, including both officers and enlisted, is about 5,250. The total strength of the Training Center on 31 May 1969 was 21,547 including trainees and permanent party. Currently over 100,000 trainees graduate from various programs in the Training Center each year. Gold Vault iifiili!l1n4ailx if1li1: fiiu..u. m,d.1T2L1 B 2TL t .wierw Effsl5EF3elfZli:iQ ' wiv limi: f'f .,w ,.E4illli5L1ltfr1i'?555l225JshtHi-iBi1wiw7Hfifw5i iiiTllfRtl95iilSt'ML?:d.11