History of Ft. Dix, New Jersey
A painting of GEN Dix
and the post symbol of the Ultimate Weapon are just a small part
of the Fort Dix history at the post museum.
Photo by SSG Keith O"Donnell
Fort Dix is named for
Major General John
Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and
the Civil War. During his distinguished public career, he was a United
States Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, Minister to France and Governor
of New York.
Construction began in June 1917, and on July 18 the War Department named the
cantonment Camp Dix. During World War I, Camp Dix was a training and staging
ground for the 78th, 87th and 34th Divisions. Camp Dix grew quickly and
became the largest military reservation in the Northeast. Following the
armistice, the camp became a demobilization center.
During the period between the wars, Camp Dix was a training facility for
active Army, Army Reserve and National Guard units. The Citizens’ Military
Training Camp conducted summer training under the 1st, 77th, 78th and 99th
Infantry Divisions
1933-1941, Camp Dix was also a reception, training and
discharge center for the Civilian Conservation Corps. On 8 March 1939, Camp
Dix became Fort Dix as the installation became a permanent Army post. Fort
Dix served as a reception and training center for men inducted under the
draft of 1939. Ten divisions and many smaller units trained and staged here
before entering the battlefields of World War II. At the end of the war, the
reception center became the separation center, returning more than 1.2
million soldiers to civilian life.
On 15 July 1947, Fort Dix became a basic training center and the home of the
9th Infantry Division. In April 1954, the 9th Division was transferred to
Europe and the 69th Infantry Division moved onto Fort Dix. The 69th
Division’s stay was short-lived; it was deactivated on 16 March 1956. On
that date, Fort Dix became the United States Army Training Center, Infantry.
Fort Dix expanded rapidly during the Vietnam war. A mock Vietnam village was
constructed and soldiers received Vietnam specific training before going
overseas. In July 1973, Fort Dix became a part of the newly formed US Army
Training and Doctrine Command. In 1988 Fort Dix began to train Air Force
Security Police in ground combat skills. Air Base Ground Defense Command
trained enlisted, NCO and officer security police to better defend Air Force
installations around the world.
In August 1990, Fort Dix began around-the-clock operations deploying troops
for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In January 1991, Fort Dix was
chosen to train selected Kuwaiti civilians in basic military skills. After a
brief course, they boarded planes to take part in the liberation of their
country. As a result of Base Realignment and Closure Commission
recommendations of 1988, Fort Dix again ended its active Army training
mission.
On 1 October 1992, Fort Dix transferred from Training and Doctrine Command
to Forces Command. In December 1995, Fort Dix began mobilizing and deploying
troops for the Bosnia Peace Missions. On 1 October 1997, Fort Dix
transferred from Forces Command to the United States Army Reserve Command.
Today, Fort Dix is a major training and mobilization center for the Reserve
Component soldiers -- the Army Reserve and National Guard.