 The history of the United States Army Training Center, Armor
(USATCA), dates back to 1940, when Europe was overrun by Nazism and the
United States initiated its first peacetime draft in history. The Training
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 Replacement Center 25 days later. In April, 1941, the title
became the Armored Force Replacement Training Center.
The Armored Force Replacement Training 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
Replacement Training Center was placed on an inactive status. This
occurred in July of 1947 when the Third Armored Division was reactivated
at 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 Training Brigade conducts Advanced Individual Training in
Reconnaissance and Combat 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. |
Fort Knox and assumed the training mission of the Armor Replacement
Training Center.
Support Training. The Fourth and Fifth Training
Brigades conduct Basic Combat training. The Committee Group conducts about
35% of the basic training and the company cadres of the Fourth and Fifth
Training Brigades conduct the remaining 65% of the basic training. Special
Troops has under its command the Training Center's Headquarters Company
and a Service Company. Additionally, it has the 113th Army Band, and the
12th Finance Section.