250th Signal Battalion

The 250th Signal Battalion is the most high tech unit in the NJ Guard. It deploys mobile cellular telephone technology to every customer in the Division. The battalion has its headquarters in Westfield, with companies in Woodbridge, Somerset, Flemington, and Woodbury. The unit is capable of providing a mobile telephone network covering all of New Jersey.

The 250th Signal Battalion was originally organized on 21 February 1917 in the New Jersey National Guard at Newark as Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry. It was drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917, before bring reorganized and redesignated on 11 October 1917 as Headquarters Company, 113th Infantry, an element of the 29th Division. The unit was demobilized pm 27 May 1919 at Camp Dix, NJ.

It was reorganized and Federally recognized on 30 June 1919 in the New Jersey National Guard at Newark as Headquarters Company, 6th Infantry. It was redesignated on 17 June 1921 as Headquarters Company, 113th Infantry, an element of the 44th Division.

The unit was inducted into Federal service on 16 September 1940 at Newark (the 113th Infantry was relieved on 20 February 1942 from assignment to the 44th Division). It inactivated on 25 September 1945 at Camp Rucker, AL.

It was converted and redesignated on 1 August 1946 as the 50th Armored Signal Company and assigned to the 50th Armored Division. It was reorganized and Federally recognized on 10 February 1947 at Newark. Its location changed on 31 January 1957 to Plainfield.

Reorganized and redesignated on 1 March 1959 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 250th Signal Battalion, the unit remained assigned to the 50th Armored Division (its organic elements were concurrently organized from new and existing units).

The unit's Headquarters relocated on 1 February 1968 to Orange; and on 1 November 1973 to Plainfield. It was relieved on 1 September 1993 from assignment to the 50th Armored Division and assigned to the 42d Infantry Division.

In 1997, the 250th Signal Battalion initiated and ran a specialized military school to train soldiers in systems communications and operations. This highly technical and comprehensive course taught by instructors from the 250th Signal Battalion, has saved thousands of dollars in training time and resources because soldiers do not have to travel and train at military schools outside New Jersey. The Signal Battalion is also actively engaged in a joint effort with the U.S. Army Communications Command (CECOM) in testing and fielding new model/series radios to help determine future acquisition of new generation communications equipment for the U.S. military.

In 1998, the 250th Signal Battalion participated in communication exercises throughout the state. The 250th possesses the Mobile Subscriber Equipment which places cellular phone communications capability (phone, radio and fax) directly on the battlefield. The battalion also serves as a "test bed" for communications equipment being considered for use by army units. The 250th has been actively involved with Army Communications Command in testing, evaluating and fielding radios to determine future needs and acquisitions.

In 1999, the 250th Signal Battalion participated in communication exercises throughout the state. The battalion also serves as a "test bed" for communications equipment being considered for use by army units. The 250th has been actively involved with Army Communications Command in testing, evaluating and fielding radios to determine future needs and acquisitions.