46th Adjutant General Battalion

46th Adjutant General Battalion 46th Replacement Battalion
Battalion Coat of Arms, approved in 1987
Active	15 April 1943 – 31 May 1946 20 April 1987 – c.2011
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	Training reception
Size	Battalion
Part of	1st Armored Training Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Fort Knox, Georgia
Nickname(s)	"Dragon Slayers"
Motto(s)	"Begin With The Best"
Engagements	World War II New Guinea Luzon
Website	Archived website
Insignia
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 46th Adjutant General Battalion was a reception and training battalion of the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army responsible for training at the United States Army Armor School. However, following the movement of the school to Fort Benning, Georgia the battalion was inactivated.

History

The 46th Adjutant General Battalion traces its lineage to the 46th Replacement Battalion which was constituted in the Army of the United States on 25 March 1943. On 15 April 1943, the battalion was activated at Camp Cooke, California. Soon after, the battalion was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where it served during the New Guinea campaign and later Battle of Luzon. For its role in the campaigns, the battalion was awarded campaign credit on its colours, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. On 1 November, 1943, the Battalion was reorganized with Companies A, B and C being redesignated as the 191st, 192nd and 193rd Replacement Companies. On 31 May 1946, the battalion was inactivated while still in the Philippines.

Until October 1956, there was no reception operation at Fort Knox.  However, with the establishment of a new Army Training Center, the need was recognized for a reception station in the Second United States Army area.  On 15 October 1956, the Reception Station (2408) was officially activated. On 1 November 1956, the station designated as a major command of the Armor Center.  Effective 1 January 1957, Reception Station (2408) was redesignated as the United States Army Reception Station-Fort Knox, Fort Knox, Kentucky.  As a result of the consolidation of the First United States Army and the Second United States Army, the Reception Station became a First United States Army unit on 1 January 1966 and, in April of the same year, was attached to the United States Army Training Center (USATC).  In October 1966, the Reception Station was authorized to fly, display, honor and retain the Armor Unit Colors as a recognized major command of the USATC.  In June 1970, the U.S. Army Reception Station was reorganized and assigned to the U. S. Army  Armor Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky.  In July 1973, the U.S. Army Reception Station was assigned to the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

During the 1980s, the new U.S. Army Regimental System, each of the army's reception or training support battalions were to be redesignated as Adjutant General Battalions. On 20 April 1987, the Reception Battalion, Fort Knox of the United States Army Armor School was was redesignated as the 46th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception). The battalion was consequently allotted to the regular army, transferred to United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and activated. The new battalion was assigned to the United States Armor School, responsible for all reception of new recruits into the school. In May of 1992, when the 4th Training Brigade deactivated, the battalion joined the 1st Armored Training Brigade. Along with a host of reorganization actions on post, the Battalion was realigned from the 1st Armored Training Brigade and placed under the Garrison Commander on 15 January 1993 and the battalion commander took on the dual role of Post Adjutant General. However, two years later in June 1995, the battalion once again joined the 1st Armored Training Brigade.

In 2001, the battalion was granted the Army Superior Unit Award. During the Iraq War, the battalion was augmented by the 1st Battalion, 399th Regiment of the Army Reserve. Under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission however, the Armor School moved to Fort Benning in Georgia, and the battalion was subsequently disbanded during that move in 2011.

Structure

The structure of the battalion before inactivation was as follows:

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• A Company
• B Company (Physical Training and Rehabilitation Program)
• Processing and Control Division

Heraldry

Heraldry of the 46th Adjutant General Battalion, as approved by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of the 46th Adjutant General Battalion

Years in use The coat of arms was approved on 4 September 1987. Escutcheon Azure, two lightning bolt swords in saltire Gules hilted Or and overall a quill Argent; on a chief embattled of the third between two palm fronds fesswise Vert a mullet of the first. On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure a mountain peak Vert charged with a sea lion grasping a sword in dexter claw all Or armed and langued Gules. Symbolism Dark blue and scarlet are the branch colors of The Adjutant General's Corps; gold is symbolic of excellence. The quill represents the administrative mission of The Adjutant General's Corps. The swords stand for combat readiness and their red lightning bolt blades symbolize action and courage. The "embattled" division of the shield resembles a fortress and denotes military strength and preparedness. Combined with the color gold, it refers to Fort Knox, the national gold reserve, and the location of the unit. The two palm branches, emblems of victory, honor the unit's two World War II campaign participation credits for New Guinea and Luzon. The star symbolizes its Philippine Unit Citation. The sea lion, adapted from the Philippine Presidential flag, commemorates the unit's Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The green mountain peak highlights the lush, green terrain of the Philippines and neighboring islands. Both the mountain and sea lion are expressive of might and power. Green and gold (yellow) representing the Armor branch and U.S. Army Armor Center, emphasize the assignment of the Battalion.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of arms of the 46th Adjutant General Battalion

Years in use The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 4 September 1987. Escutcheon A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of a Gold triangle, one point surmounted by a shield blazoned: Azure, two lightning bolt swords in saltire Gules hilted Or and overall a quill Argent; on a chief embattled of the third between two palm fronds fesswise Vert a mullet of the first. Attached below the shield a Red scroll doubled and inscribed "BEGIN WITH THE BEST" in Gold. Symbolism Dark blue and scarlet are the branch colors of The Adjutant General's Corps; gold is symbolic of excellence. The quill represents the administrative mission of The Adjutant General's Corps. The swords stand for combat readiness and their red lightning bolt blades symbolize action and courage. The "embattled" division of the shield resembles a fortress and denotes military strength and preparedness. Combined with the color gold, it refers to Fort Knox, the national gold reserve, and the location of the unit. The two palm branches, emblems of victory, honor the unit's two World War II campaign participation credits for New Guinea and Luzon. The star symbolizes its Philippine Unit Citation. The unit's location and affiliation with the Armor School and Center are represented by the triangle, a symbol long associated with Armor and typifying strength, support and stability.

Awards

Decorations awarded to the 46th Adjutant General Battalion or predecessors:

Ribbon	Streamer	Name	Service	General Orders
		Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1999-2000	1 October 1999 to 1 October 2000	Army General Orders 29-01
		Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JUYL 1945	17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945	Department of the Army, General Orders 47-50