WEBVTT

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(light orchestral music)

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- [Announcer] On February 16th, 1946,

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the Division was inactivated
and nine months later

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returned to its upstate New
York Reserve assignment.

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From 1946 to 1959,

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the Division maintained
its triangular structure.

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Initially, it was an unpaid
pool of combat-trained officers

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and senior non-commissioned officers,

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however as the '50s progressed,

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support for the Reserve
program changed dramatically.

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Reserve Centers were built,

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civilian technicians hired
and equipment authorized.

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The rationale for the Reserve changed

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from a manpower pool
to viable, ready units.

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During this period, the
Division's annual training

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was conducted at Pine Camp, now Fort Drum.

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May 1st, 1959 marked a fundamental change

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in the mission and
organization of the command.

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On this date, the
Division was re-designated

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as the 98th Division, Training

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and a total reorganization
was carried out.

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The 98th was transformed
from a combat unit

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to a Basic Training Center and Reserve.

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Infantry Regiments became Basic
Combat Training Regiments,

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the Division Artillery became
a Common Skills Training Unit

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and the 392nd was reactivated

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as an Advanced Individual
Training Regiment.

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All other elements were
inactivated and the colors retired.

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World War II and Korean War veterans

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were transformed from
Infantry and Artillery men

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to instructors responsible for training

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the next generation of American
soldiers in survival skills.

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Two months after reorganization,

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these Iroquois soldiers were
on the podiums at Fort Dix,

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instructing for the first time.

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(whimsical orchestral music)

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The years since 1959
have witnessed a series

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of further refinements to
mission and organization.

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The year 1968 produced two major changes:

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the transition from regiments to brigades

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and authorization of the
Drill Sergeant specialty.

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The implementation of the Brigade concept

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provided greater
flexibility and organization

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through shifting training battalions.

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While the regimental organization

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had fixed abilities and structure,

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the brigade could be tailored

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to command control of
two to five battalions.

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Accordingly, the 389th Regiment
became the First Brigade,

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the 390th, the Second Brigade,

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the 392nd, the Third Brigade,

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the 98th Regiment, the Fourth Brigade,

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and the 391st was
initially committee group

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and currently Training Support Brigade.

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(slow jazz music)

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The designation of the Drill Sergeant

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was also a dramatic innovation.

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The Army had always placed
training in a priority category,

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but had not authorized
a trainer specialty.

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With the creation of the
Drill Sergeant position,

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the training mission was
professionalized through

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individuals who would
set the Army standard.

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The Drill Sergeant program was conceived

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to standardize the highest
quality of initial-entry training

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and to give added recognition

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and status to the Basic Trainer.

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The 98th took the lead
with innovative techniques,

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such as the Through Ticket Program

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and since 1968, has
assumed the responsibility

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of training its own Drill Sergeants.

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This Home Station and annual
training responsibility

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is coordinated through the
Division's Leadership Academy,

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located in Syracuse, New York.

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("When Johnny Comes Marching
Home" instrumental music)

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While these major changes

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were occurring in upstate New York,

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two units, which would soon become

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part of the 98th Division,

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were called to active duty.

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The 1018th Supply and Service
company in Schenectady

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and the 401st Civil Affairs
company in Rochester

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were activated in May
1968 and sent to Vietnam

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for the Counter-Tet Offensive.

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Since these units were not part

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of the 98th Division at that time,

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the Division flag does not bear

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any battle streamers from Vietnam.

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In the early '70s, the 98th Division

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continued its training mission

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and was also utilized
for national disasters.

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While Army units aren't directly designed

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to respond to civilian emergencies,

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their organization, discipline, and skills

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are often the critical element
to bring order to chaos.

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The professionalism of the 3rd Brigade

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and its engineer skills
under field conditions

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was proven in the summer of 1972.

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Hurricane Agnes stalled over
New York and Pennsylvania,

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rain poured down for a 10-day period,

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causing the Chemung river
to overflow its dikes

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and flood the cities
of Elmira and Corning.

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With First Army's approval,

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the 3rd Brigade held annual
training at Home Station,

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performing disaster relief.

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The scale of the actions
taken is still dramatic,

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over two decades later.

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A radio communications net was established

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to control the command's efforts.

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For two weeks, the brigade
operated 24 hours a day

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distributing some 1,000 tons of food

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and over 300,000 gallons
of water to flood victims.

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(airy flute music)