About this Unit
The Headquarters, 96th Regional Readiness Command (HQ 96th RRC) traces its lineage to the 96th Infantry Division, originally activated in 1918 during World War I. Reactivated for World War II, the 96th Infantry Division saw significant combat in the Pacific Theater, notably in the Battle of Leyte and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the war, the unit underwent several reorganizations within the Army Reserve, eventually becoming the 96th Regional Readiness Command, responsible for supporting and mobilizing Army Reserve units across the western United States. The HQ 96th RRC played a crucial role in ensuring readiness and support for reserve operations until its deactivation and restructuring in 2008 under Army Reserve transformation initiatives.
Historical Facts
• Origins in World War II: The lineage of the 96th Regional Readiness Command (RRC) traces back to the 96th Infantry Division, which was activated in 1942 and saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
• Nickname "Deadeye": The 96th Infantry Division earned the nickname “Deadeye Division” for their sharpshooting skills during training, a moniker that followed the unit’s descendants, including the 96th RRC.
• Okinawa Campaign: The division played a critical role in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific, earning two Presidential Unit Citations.
• Postwar Reorganization: After World War II, the 96th Infantry Division was inactivated and later reactivated in the Army Reserve, eventually evolving into the 96th Regional Readiness Command.
• Transition to Regional Readiness Command: In 1996, the 96th Army Reserve Command became the 96th Regional Support Command, and later the 96th Regional Readiness Command, reflecting a shift to providing administrative and logistical support to Reserve units.
• Headquarters Location: The 96th RRC was headquartered at Fort Douglas, Utah, a historic military post with roots dating back to the Civil War.
• Support Mission: The RRC was responsible for overseeing Army Reserve units across several western states, ensuring their readiness for mobilization and deployment.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom: During the early 2000s, the 96th RRC mobilized thousands of Reserve soldiers in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Deactivation and Legacy: In 2008, the 96th RRC was deactivated as part of a nationwide Army Reserve transformation, but its lineage and honors continue with the 96th Sustainment Brigade.
• Heraldry and Insignia: The 96th Division’s iconic shoulder patch, featuring an “O” over a blue background, symbolizes the division’s World War II service on the island of Okinawa, with the “O” standing for "Okinawa."
