Victory Starts Here!

Fort Jackson plays a major role in shaping today's U.S. Army by training almost half of tomorrow's disciplined, well-trained, professional Soldiers. With an ideal climate for year-round training, more than 45,000 Initial Entry Training Soldiers are trained here each year. The first stop on the road to becoming a Soldier is the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception), one of the finest facilities of its kind anywhere. This modern complex receives new Soldiers at any time of day or night and has the facilities to feed, house, administratively process and properly outfit the men and women beginning Army service.

Basic Combat Training
After processing and general orientation, new Soldiers begin nine or 10 challenging weeks of Basic Combat Training assigned to a battalion in either the 193rd Infantry Brigade or the 165th Infantry Brigade.

The focus of Basic Combat Training is transforming civilian volunteers to basically trained, disciplined, motivated and physically fit "Warriors" who espouse the Army's Core Values and are focused on teamwork.

This is accomplished by the mentoring, teaching and coaching provided by highly-trained, professional noncommissioned officers, called drill sergeants. Basic Combat Training Soldiers are taught Soldier skills, starting with the most basic and gradually adding to those skill sets and eventually using all the skills in a field-training environment. Soldiers must meet required standards and tasks throughout the cycle in order to graduate.

Combat in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom has resulted in the addition of many combat skills to basic training to better prepare Soldiers for the possibility of deployment in the future. This training includes convoy operations, urban operations, checkpoint operations, media and civilians on the battle- field, advanced first aid procedures and other combat skills.

Woven throughout basic training and serving as the foundation for Soldier's training, are the Army's Seven Core Values and Warrior Ethos. The Core Values — Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage — are emphasized throughout the nine or 10-week cycle by relating them to training events, Army heritage and teamwork development. With proper training and application, the values become a way of life.

The Warrior Ethos is the spirit of the American Soldier. Regardless of his or her occupational specialty, the American Soldier is known for total commitment to victory — Mission First, Never Accept Defeat, Never Quit and Never Leave a Fallen Comrade. The Warrior Ethos is reinforced throughout basic training so that these principles gradually develop into an absolute faith in themselves and their fellow Soldiers to succeed in all they do.

Organization
Two Combat Training Brigades operate on post, each commanded by a colonel who is centrally selected by Department of the Army. There are nine active-duty lieutenant colonel commands for basic training; each capable of training 1,200 Soldiers every cycle.

Fort Jackson also conducts Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for chaplains' assistants, administrative specialists, finance specialists and wheeled vehicle mechanics. The 369th Adjutant General Battalion, part of the Soldier Support Institute, conducts the administrative training. The 171st Infantry Brigade's AIT battalion is the 187th Ordnance Battalion. They conduct the 63B wheeled vehicle mechanics training. Both AIT battalions provide realistic training at Camp Victory. This forward operating base (FOB) is used to complete their field training.

In support of Fort Jackson's training mission are the 171st Infantry Brigade, the medical and dental activities, and a number of other support units. 193rd Infantry Brigade

The 193rd Infantry Brigade, or "Task Force Bayonet," comprises five active component Basic Combat Training Battalions: the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 13th Infantry Regiment; and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 60th Infantry Regiment. The Brigade's history includes participation in World War II during operations in the Ruhr pocket and with the Third Army's operations in Czechoslovakia. The 193rd Infantry Brigade moved to Panama in 1962, and in December 1989, participated in Operation Just Cause to depose Manuel Noriega. Today it is based at Fort Jackson, S.C., with the mission to conduct basic combat training and transform America's sons and daughters into Soldiers.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions,
13th Infantry Regiment,
"First at Vicksburg"
The regiment was initially formed in July 1789, as the 13th Infantry Regiment. Reconstituted in May 1861, Gen. William T. Sherman was the colonel of the regiment and Phillip Sheridan was one of the original captains.

During the Civil War, the regiment participated in the battles of Haynes Bluff, Champion Hill and Black River. During the assault on Vicksburg, May 19, 1863, the regiment earned its motto "First at Vicksburg," as the 13th Infantry Regiment was the only unit to plant its colors on the Confederate position.

On Feb. 27, 1987, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 13th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the United Army Training Center Command and reorganized at Fort Jackson. On Nov. 16, 2005, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment was reactivated at Fort Jackson. Today, the 1st Battalion, "Vicksburg," 2nd Battalion, "Forty Rounds," and 3rd Battalion, "Forty Rounds" 13th Infantry Regiment conduct Initial Entry Training at Fort Jackson.

2nd and 3rd Battalions,
60th Infantry Regiment
"Go Devil"
With distinguished combat service during World War I, World War II and Vietnam, these two battalions — the 2nd Battalion "Scouts Out," and 3rd Battalion "River Raiders," 60th Infantry Regiment — are today located at Fort Jackson, S.C. The 2nd Battalion was reactivated on Fort Jackson in August 1996, and the 3rd Battalion was reactivated here Nov. 16, 2005. Both battalions of the historic "Go Devil" regiment train and prepare new Soldiers to become an integral part of America's Army.

165th Infantry Brigade
The 165th Infantry Brigade conducts gender-integrated basic combat training. The basic training units include the 1st and 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment; the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment; the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 323rd Infantry Regiment; and the 2nd Battalion, 485th Infantry Regiment. A Brigade Headquarters oversees all the units and creates a synergistic, team-concept approach to training.

1st Battalion,
61st Infantry Regiment,
"Roadrunners"
The 61st Regiment was constituted in the Regular Army on May 15, 1917, as Company A, 61st Infantry, and organized at Gettysburg National Park, Pa., on June 10, 1917. On Nov. 17, 1917, the 61st Infantry was assigned to the 5th Division. With the 5th Division, the unit received its first taste of combat.

The regiment deployed to Europe during World War I, where it was awarded four battle streamers for its gallant participation in the bloody campaigns of Saint Mihiel, Meuse- Argonne, Alsace and Lorraine in 1918.

After the war, the 61st returned to Camp Jackson, S.C., where it was inactivated on Sept. 2, 1921. The unit was relieved from assignment with the 5th Division and assigned to the 8th Division on Aug. 15, 1927. On Oct. 1, 1933, the 61st Infantry was relieved from assignment to the 8th Division and again assigned to the 5th Division.

The unit was disbanded Nov. 11, 1944. On Aug. 10, 1950, the 61st Infantry was reconstituted in the Regular Army as Company A, 61st Infantry, an element of the 8th Infantry Division. It was activated on Aug. 17, 1950, at Fort Jackson.

After a period of activation, inactivation and reassignments spanning over a period of 18 years, the unit was once again inactivated in September 1956 at Fort Carson, Colo., and was concurrently relieved from assignment to the 8th Infantry Division. On Jan. 17, 1962, Company A, 61st Infantry was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment. HHC 1-61 Infantry was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Carson, Colo., (organic elements constituted and activated) on Feb. 19, 1962. The unit was reassigned to the 4th Infantry on Aug. 2, 1971, and assigned back to the 5th Division Aug. 21, 1974. HHC 1-61 was inactivated on June 19, 1989, at Fort Polk, La., and relieved from assignment to the 5th Infantry Division.

The unit received several awards and decorations during the Vietnam conflict, which include the Valorous Unit Award, two Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry awards and a Civil Action Honor Medal. After reorganizing again for the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the unit was transferred to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and organized at Fort Jackson on June 13, 1993, to fulfill its current role in conducting Basic Combat Training for initial entry Soldiers.

2nd Battalion,
39th Infantry Regiment,
"Fighting Falcons"
The 39th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Syracuse, N.Y., June 1, 1917, by transfer of veteran troops from the 30th Infantry Regiment. In December, the 39th was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division and in the spring of 1918, sailed for France as part of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. The regiment distinguished itself in the key Alsne- Marne, Champagne, St. Mihiel, Lorraine and Muesse-Argonne campaigns, earning its famous nickname, "Fighting Falcons."

During the lull between wars, the regimental crest was designed and approved. Each of the devices in the crest holds significant meaning for the regiment. The shield is blue for infantry. The fleur-de-lis is from the coat of arms of Soissons, a town in France recaptured by the 39th Regiment in 1918. The two trees represent the Groves of Cresnes, the sight of the regiment's first military success in France during World War I. The boar's head on the canton is taken from the crest of the 30th Infantry Regiment and indicates the 39th was organized with personnel from the 30th Infantry Regiment. The crest is a falcon's head, for Mount Faucon in Muesse- Argonne. The falcon holds, in its bill, an ivy leaf from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 4th Infantry Division to which the regiment was assigned during World War I. The motto "D'une Vaillance Admirable" is a quotation from the French citation, which awarded the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star to the regiment for its distinguished service in World War I. The motto best translates — "With a Military Courage Worthy of Admiration."

The 39th Infantry Regiment was reactivated Aug. 1, 1940, and became the first unit of U.S. combat troops to set foot on foreign soil when they stormed the beaches of Algiers in November 1942. During fighting in Sicily, Italy, the regiment came under the command of the legendary Col. Harry A. "Paddy" Flint, who gave the regiment its triple A-Bar Nothing slogan — Anything, Anywhere, Anytime — Bar Nothing.

The regiment took great pride in the AAA-O slogan, displaying it on helmets and vehicles, even in combat. Later in the war, the 39th landed at Utah Beach and fought through France. The Fighting Falcons joined the 47th Infantry Regiment in capturing Roetgen, the first German town to fall in World War II. After a series of inactivations and activations spanning a 20-year period, the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment was reactivated on Feb. 1, 1966, as part of the 9th Infantry Division and in late 1966 it deployed for combat in Vietnam. For its part in World Wars I, II and the Vietnam conflict, the 39th Infantry Regiment possesses 21 battle streamers. Its decorations include four Presidential Unit Citations, four French Croix de Guerre (two with Palm and one with Gilt Star) and the Belgian Fourager.

Following reactivation and transfer to the TRADOC, the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment departed Fort Dix, N.J., for Fort Jackson, arriving on Aug. 22, 1990. The battalion is justifiably proud of its historic past and today continues to uphold these same high standards of excellence in Basic Combat Training as it prepares young men and women for service to their nation. Anything, Anywhere, Anytime...Bar Nothing!

1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion,
34th Infantry Regiment,
"Leyte Dragons"
The 34th Infantry Regiment was constituted July 1, 1916, in the Regular Army. It was organized in El Paso, Texas, on July 15, 1916, by transfer of personnel from the 7th, 20th and 23rd Infantry Regiments. Its initial mission included guard duty on the Mexican border and the training of National Guard units.

During World War I, the 34th was shipped to France, arriving Aug. 27, 1918. On Oct. 9, 1918, the regiment held the extreme left of the 7th Infantry Division's Vank. The regiment received battle honors "Lorraine" for actions during this period.

In World War II, the 34th Infantry was chosen to spearhead the assault on Leyte, to liberate the Philippines. The unit was in a series of bloody battles for 78 continuous days. The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment received the Presidential Unit Citation for conspicuous valor and outstanding performance. The battalion's nickname, "Leyte Dragons," derives its recognition during the Leyte assault.

The 34th Infantry Regiment made its second beachhead assault in the Philippines on the island of Luzon. It was later chosen to assault the island of Corregidor. On June 30, 1950, in the Republic of Korea, the 34th Infantry Regiment, with the 24th Infantry Division, began to successfully delay the North Korean People's Army until the United Nations forces could arrive to hold the Pusan Perimeter.

The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment was deactivated on Jan. 15, 1993, and was reactivated on Jan. 12, 1996, at Fort Jackson. Following periods as a Reserve and inactive unit, the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment resumed active duty as a Basic Combat Training unit.

Advanced Individual Training
Chances are that Soldiers remaining here for advanced individual training (AIT), the second and final step during initial entry training, may receive all their training while assigned to one brigade. The 187th Ordnance Battalion, 171st Infantry Brigade, is the only AIT battalion in the Army that trains light- and heavy-wheel vehicle organizational mechanics.

The 369th Adjutant General Battalion is responsible for conducting the Soldier Support Institute's AIT mission in several administrative military occupational specialties.

AIT is actually an integration of the attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to become a proficient Soldier in today's Army. The process begins by merging the newly acquired Soldier skills learned in Basic Combat Training with the teachings of an MOS. These are then integrated into simulated mission settings.

Graduation
Graduation from Basic Combat Training or Advanced Individual Training is a good time to celebrate a Soldier's accomplishments. Detailed schedules of graduation events are available from the Soldier's unit/company. Highlights of the Soldier's unit/company training experience are presented in an orientation provided by the unit/company on Thursday before graduation on Friday. Following the orientation, a buffet dinner will be available on Fort Jackson. Family and friends may visit with their Soldier in the company area until 8 p.m. Graduation is held outdoors at Hilton Field in good weather, or indoors at the Solomon Center during inclement weather. Graduating Soldiers may be signed out "on pass" after graduation so families are free to explore the activities Fort Jackson and the Columbia area have to offer.

Return times must be met so that Soldiers can proceed as scheduled to the next training location or assignment.