The 98th Division was activated in 1921 as a Training Division for the US Army Reserves. In 1942, the Division was reorganized as the 98th Infantry Division and served occupation duty in Japan from 1946 to 1947. After 1947, the Division went through several reorganizations as a Training Division and serves today as a Reserve Training Division. The following is an excerpt from the 98th Division (IT) Home page describing their mission.

For seventy-five years the 98th Division Institutional Training has provided the nation with a fully trained and prepared complement of citizen-soldier ready to meet any mission. The many accomplishments of these soldiers were achieved in a historical context ripe with change. 98th Division soldier have surmounted every obstacle from mobilization and wartime service including occupational duty during World War II, and through the various reorganizations, restructuring, and mission changes during the decades that followed.

To be able to rise to any summons to protect the vital interests of America and to insure the national security of the nation requires a special kind of citizen soldier. A professional who must be willing to dedicate a portion of his or her life, away from family and community, in order to accomplish the many challenges that are a part of the life of a soldier. A reservist must be an individual who enthusiastically responds to the vigorous educational requirements and the demanding personal physical training needed to meet the same standards as their Active Components counterparts. The citizen-soldier must be an idealist believing in the great principles of freeman and democracy and knowing the price to keep them is eternal vigilance.

Yet despite all these challenges brought these soldiers never forgot the immense contribution to success that families and communities gave to their efforts. As a result, the Division has always sought to nurture these vital links to the Reserve "family" through developing mutual support activities with both local civic groups and Army families ensuring that the bonds of community support flourish and grow ever stronger.

Though all of the currents of time and events, our key focus has been to be mission capable through training. Whether it was through instruction of Drill Sergeants, training initial entry soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood in engineer skills, or tough the myriad of training opportunities during annual training and drill assemblies, the Division has maintained its hard-earned reputation as one of the best prepared Training Division in the Army.

It is this unique wiliness and ability to adapt to change and train hard to meet any contingency that defines the 98th Division soldier as a professional. This short history and record of achievement is quiet testimony to the fact that the "Iroquois Division" has always had that kind of soldiers in its ranks, and this brief historical retrospective is dedicated to the men and women who made its proud history possible.