98th Division TNG Lapel Pin

[Brig]

ok...what is this? an issued discharge pin? smaller than a dime, clutchback. TNG=Tennesse National Guard? Approximate era? I'm guessing fairly recent. Vietnam at the earliest. unmarked rear

[Steve B.]

TNG is short for "Training."

 

Many of the old WWII infantry divisions are now training divisions. The "companies" average around 30-40 people, and are mostly drill sergeants, a few clerks, a supply sergeant, etc. Their mission if activated is to go to a training base and take over the training functions as cadre. At one point, the plan was to train three cycles, and then deploy with the fourth cycle, but that may have been a rumor.

[Brig]

any idea when this division became a training one?

[BEAST]

any idea when this division became a training one?

 

Brig,

This is from globalsecurity.org ( http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/98d.htm )

 

"The 98th Division (Institutional Training) was first constituted July 23, 1918, at camp McClellan, Alabama. It became part of the reserve structure in 1921 and continued operating in upstate New York until 1942. The division was then activated and following training in the continental United States and Hawaii, was targeted to become part of the force constituted for the invasion of Japan. The division served as an occupying force in Osaka, Japan until February 1946. Since December 1946, it has been a component of the US Army Reserve. It was first an infantry division and in 1959 was designated a training division. In 1994 a further reorganization resulted in it being designated the 98th Division (Institutional Training)."

[Brig]

thanks Beast, I'm guessing there's another acronym for Instructional Traning?

[Steve B.]

It would now be abbreviated "98th Div (IT)."