78th Division (Training Support)
Lightning Division
The 78th Division (TS) provides training assistance and support to Reserve Component (RC) units IAW established priorities, provides command and staff training exercises through the simulations brigade, and discharges other missions as directed by the First Army to enhance the combat readiness of RC soldiers and units. On order, coordinate and synchronize mobilization assistance and support to RC units within AOR. All soldiers trained by this Division will be fully prepared to accomplish any mission. All of our deployed units will meet theater commander's requirements.
The 78th Division provides training support to its client units and soldiers by providing the latest tactics, techniques, procedures, and doctrine by utilizing mobile training teams, computer simulations, and lanes exercises. Through a wide range of focused professional services, we work with the responsible commanders to maximize the combat power of the US Army, by ensuring that these units are fully trained and ready to deploy.
The 78th is the famous Lightning Division. The shoulder insignia mirrors the nickname - a red semicircle with a white lightning bolt streaking through it. There are two stories concerning the origin of the sobriquet. The first holds that, in World War I, the French compared the action of the 78th to a bolt of lightning that seared the field through which it raced. The other is attributed to the fact that the Division was first formed in Burlington County. It was called "Lightning Division" to honor the famous Jersey Applejack whiskey produced in that county.
The 78th Infantry Division was activated on 23 August 1917 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. It consisted of four infantry regiments- the 309th, 310th, 311th and 312th, and three Artillery regiments- the 307th, 308th and 309th. Twenty thousand soldiers made up the original Division.
In France, during the summer and fall of 1918, it was the " point of the wedge" of the final offensive, which knocked out Germany. The 78th was in three major campaigns during World War I- Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Lorraine. Demobilization took place after the war in June 1919.
In World War II, the 78th Division was reactivated at Camp Butner, North Carolina on 15 August 1942. After two years as a Training Division, the 78th embarked for the European Theatre. There, in combat in Belgium, France and Germany, our men brought even more honor to an already proud name. The Siegfried Line, the Roer and the Rhine rivers, the Cologne plain, the Remagen bridgehead, the Rhur pocket- all lay along the road to Berlin, where after six months of occupation duty, the Division was officially deactivated in May of 1946.
In November 1946, the 78th Infantry Division was reactivated at Newark, New Jersey and in May 1959 it was reorganized as a Training Division. The 78th Division again responded to the nation's call in 1990 and 1991 during Desert Storm/ Desert Shield when the Lightning's 920th Transportation Company( Medium, Petroleum) was deployed to Southwest Asia and provided vital fuel for the thunder of Desert Storm's troops and machines in their victorious campaign. The 1018th Reception Battalion, the 2nd Brigade OSUT Headquarters, and the 1st and 3rd Battalion of the 310th Regiment as well as the 1st Brigade's 3rd Battalion, 309th Regiment, with a composite detachment from the 78th Training Support Brigade, provided assistance in necessary Training Base Expansion at Ft. Dix. The 348th MP Detachment conducted protective service missions for key national leaders throughout the world during the mobilization period. Coupled with the 78th's many individual fillers and volunteers for other mobilized units, the 78th Division's proud tradition of service was once again illustrated.
In 1992, the Division transformed into an Exercise Division under the Army's "Bold Shift" initiative. The new mission was to conduct small unit collective training (LANES) and computerized battle simulation exercises for clients in the First Army East area.
The 78th Division was one of five Exercise Divisions in the United States, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey with subordinate units located in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
The Army Reserve conducted its first combat service support (CSS) training simulation system (CSSTSS) simulation exercise (SIMEX) in an inactive-duty-for-training (IDT) status in September 1997. The participating group commanders found that the SIMEX effectively stressed their staffs and provided more effective CSS training than that offered in other simulations used by the Army Reserve. The 78th Division (Exercise) (DIVEX), Edison, New Jersey, was tasked by the Army Reserve Command to conduct a pilot test using CSSTSS to determine its viability for training CSS battalion and group staffs during a weekend drill.
Using a modified Prairie Warrior data base, five CSS groups operated at 5 locations in 4 states in the SIMEX: the 475th Quartermaster Group, Farrell, Pennsylvania; the 300th Transportation Group, Butler, Pennsylvania; the 38th Ordnance Group, Charleston, West Virginia; the 390th Personnel Group, Richmond, Virginia; and the 300th Area Support Group, Fort Lee, Virginia. The 310th Theater Army Area Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, provided a small group to function as a theater support command at the 78th Division's battle projection center in Fort Dix, New Jersey.
The SIMEX ran from 1800 hours on 11 September 1997 until 0800 hours on 14 September 1997. The opposing forces (OPFOR) cell fought a series of "battles" with the battle driver subsystem. The battles created corps sustainment requirements that were fed into the CSSTSS emulated Standard Army Management Information System (STAMIS) to reflect the generated logistics work load. Daily roll-ups were used to monitor unit progress and check the accuracy of data posted by the groups on the status boards.
Due to the success of the SIMEX, a proposal was developed to conduct a single SIMEX from a mainframe and transmitted to all five DIVEX's. This way, CSS units all over the country can simultaneously participate in one SIMEX through their host DIVEX's. This will increase training opportunities and eliminate the cost of conducting multiple exercises. In Fiscal Year 1998, two DIVEX's, the 78th and the 87th, conducted an exercise in this manner. The 375th Transportation Group, Mobile, Alabama, joined the 475th Quartermaster Group, the 300th Transportation Group, and the 390th Personnel Group for a SIMEX in August.
In October 1999, the 78th was re-designated as the 78th Division (Training Support). The 78th Division is a tri-component structure for training support, assistance and evaluation as directed by First United States Army for designated priority Reserve and National Guard units during pre and post mobilization. The missions of mobilization training teams, mobilization,, and providing military support to civil authorities are new additional duties. Units are headquartered in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina.
In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, the DoD recommended to close Camp Kilmer, NJ and relocate the HQ 78th Division at Fort Dix, NJ. The relocation of the HQ 78th Division to Fort Dix and establishment of one of the new Army Reserve Sustainment Units of Action would establish a new capability for the Army Reserve while increasing the support capabilities of the Army Reserve to the Active Army.
