US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Polk, LA)

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POST EXCHANGE GOLF COURSE . , max; DENT LCLINIC EM CLUB EM CLUB yrs :uw POST POST EXCHANGE CHAPEL K

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During 1961-62. the 49th Armored Division served a year of active duty at Fort Polk along with other tactical and support units. On 1 June 1962 the post was designated an Infantry Training Center. A planning group of Regular Army personnel was assigned to establish a training pro- gram. The first trainees arrived in July, and by early fall units providing basic combat. advanced individual an com- bat support training were fully operational. Rehabilitation of post facilities was a gigantic task. Train- ing and recreational resources had to be developed to' accomodate the Fort's new mission as a training center. An intensive beautification program was begun in 1962 and is still continuing. A new Honor Gate. magnolia and cypress trees, verdant lawns, lakes. and widened post roads provide scenic welcome to visitors. Forty-seven picnic sites have been developed for use by military personnel, their families and friends. Alligator Lake and Toledo Bend are other recreational sites undergoing constant improvement. These projects are transforming Fort Polk into a garden spot of Louisiana. In December 1965 Polk was selected to Conduct jungle oriented advanced training and was named a permanent installation 23 October 1968. By 21 April 1972, the post had graduated more than l-million trainees in basic combat. advanced Infantry and combat support like cooks. clerks. wiremen and mechanics. Construction of new building began in 1967; among those completed are six brigade classrooms, cold storage plant, gas station. bowling alley. lOO-man theater. 60-man batche- lor quarters. Main Post Chapel, with a religious educational facility, 28 chair dental clinic, an Information Center, and one of the largest post exchange complexes west of the Mississippi. Since the declaration of permanency, a total of 260 sets of on-post housing is under construction. Other projects nearly completed include batchelor enlisted quarters. a family area with a new commissary, theater, NCO Ciub. and 18-holegolf course. Northwestern State University has extended its courses on-post so that military and civilian students may now attend college year-round and receive degrees without IeaVo ing the post's campus. The ranges and training areas. which include modern electrically controlled target systems, alleweather access roads, and many varieties of ideal terrain, make available to Fort Polk trainees the finest area and facilities in the Army for Infantry training. A closed-circuit educational tele- vision system is included among the newest training meth- ods and used in the six modern 1,000-man brigade class- rooms. In addition to material facilities, a dynamic training phi- losophy has been developed. It is best expressed by General Creighton Abrams' comment made during his visit to the command in 1965. At Polk they don't recognize that there is anything they can't do. its worth has been proved. Trainees have matched and topped qualification scores in physical training. combat proficiency tests. and marksman- ship. ALLIGATOR LAKE 'V POST THEATER 9V nu i'm- POST EXCHANGE BOWLING ALLEY

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RECEPTiON STATION This is the gateway to the Army. How do they get everything accomplished here? This may be one of the thoughts that occurs to a trainee as he processes through the Fort Polk reception station. it becomes quite clear to him that they do get a great deal accomplished during his brief few days stay. Aptitude tests, physical examination, a classification interview, orientation meet- ings, a clothing issue and the creation of a permanent fiIe-all are completed within the few days of processing at the Recep- tion Station. The change from civilian to trainee has to be a swift one. for in the next eight weeks he will receive intensive training in the tun- damentals of combat soldiering that he may have to apply in the defense of his country and his own life. Even as the trainees move to their train- ing companies, they have begun to under- stand a littIe of the routine that will be- come such an important part of their eight weeks in Basic Combat Training.