Fort Custer Training Center Fort Custer Training Center , often known simply as Fort Custer , is a federally owned and state - operated Michigan Army National Guard training facility , but is also used by other branches of the armed forces and armed forces from Illinois , Indiana , and Ohio . It is one of the most heavily used Midwest training facilities , and is used mainly for company level small arms and maintenance training . The 20th Century Tactical Studies Group ( based in the US Midwest ) , holds two battles there every year . Fort Custer occupies land in both Kalamazoo County , Michigan to the west and Calhoun County , Michigan to the east . Most Fort facilities are located north or south of M - 96 about west of Battle Creek , Michigan in Calhoun County , and east of Augusta , Michigan in Kalamazoo County . This locates the Fort about north and east of the town of Kalamazoo , Michigan , and mostly south of M - 96 , and divided east – west by the Kalamazoo and Calhoun county line that runs north and south . The current Fort Custer Training Center is located south of M - 96 & mostly east of the county line at 2501 26th Street , Battle Creek , Calhoun county , MI 49037 . The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is located north of M - 96 in NW Calhoun County at 5500 Armstrong Rd , Battle Creek , Calhoun county , MI 49037 . Fort Custer National Cemetery is located north of M - 96 in Kalamazoo County about 2 miles east of Augusta , Michigan , at 15501 Dickman Rd , Augusta , MI Fort Custer Recreation Area is located well south of M - 96 in Kalamazoo County at 5163 Fort Custer Dr , Augusta , Kalamazoo county , MI 49012 . History . Camp Custer was built in 1917 for military training during World War I . Named after Civil War cavalry officer General George Armstrong Custer , the facility trained or demobilized more than 100 , 000 troops during World War I . In the years following World War I , the camp was used to train the Officer Reserve Corps and the Civilian Conservation Corps . World War II . On August 17 , 1940 , " Camp " Custer was designated " Fort " Custer and became a permanent military training base . During World War II , the post had an area of 16 , 005 Acres , and Quarters for 1 , 279 Officers and 27 , 553 Enlisted Personnel . More than 300 , 000 troops trained there , including the 5th Infantry Division ( also known as the " Red Diamond Division " ) which was sent to Iceland in 1942 to protect the North Atlantic convoy routes , and in 1944 landed in France shortly after D - Day . The division saw much combat and sustained heavy casualties , particularly at the Battle of Metz . In 1943 , Fort Custer was the activation point for many Army inductees from Chicago , Illinois and other parts of the midwest . New troops received their equipment before being sent by train to Basic Training or other duty assignments . Fort Custer also served as a prisoner of war camp for 5 , 000 German soldiers until 1945 . It was also an Army hospital receiving casualties from Europe . The primary purpose of the camp was to function as a Military Police Replacement Training Center . Cold War . Fort Custer became home to units of the Navy Reserve in 1949 and to a Marine Corps Reserve Tactical Bridge Company in 1952 . Also during that time , approximately 17 , 000 troops were trained for the Korean War and Fort Custer served as an induction center for draftees . Beginning in 1959 , Fort Custer served for a decade as part of the North American Air Defense system . In 1968 , the state of Michigan took over operation of the base although it remains federally owned . Current uses . Fort Custer ' s facilities are used by the Michigan National Guard and other branches of the armed forces ( including ROTC students ) , primarily from Ohio , Illinois , and Indiana . The 177th Regiment , Regional Training Institute , Augusta Armory and the Regional Maintenance Training Site are based at Fort Custer . Additionally FBI , the Michigan State Police , and other law enforcement agencies have used the area . Fort Custer offers a distance learning center , barracks and dining facilities for visiting units , and plenty of training areas . The small arms ranges are recently upgraded and the maneuver training areas offer a variety of terrain . ROTC cadets use Fort Custer for their bi - annual CFTXs ( Combined Field Training Exercises ) . These exercises consist of day and night land navigation , and Situational Tactical Exercise ( STX ) lanes . Cadets are placed into squads with other cadets from different schools , and graded on their performances . Non - military uses . Established during World War I and greatly expanded during World War II , the base reached a size of over 14 , 000 acres ( 57 km ) . After the wars the size of the base was reduced . In 1923 , were transferred for the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs hospital . The extensive grounds included a working farm for vocational therapy The Fort Custer Recreation Area is a state park adjoining the Fort , donated from base land in 1971 . It includes of hiking trails , of mountain bike trails and of bridle trails . There is cross - country skiing in the winter . Mini cabins and rustic cabins are available for rent . The park is just east of Augusta on M - 96 . Battle Creek Unlimited built Fort Custer industrial park containing over ninety businesses which provide over 8 , 000 jobs . It was developed on base land in the 1970s and lies between the Fort Custer Military Reserve and W . K . Kellogg Airport ( civilian and Air National Guard ) . Goods produced include shopping carts , noodles , fiber optic traffic signals , automotive parts , water purification pumps , and instruments for microscopic study of surgical specimens . An master plan was developed and implemented . " The charge to retain , develop and attract employers led to resounding success in Fort Custer Industrial Park , at 3 , 000 acres the largest modern industrial park in Michigan . " The Fort Custer National Cemetery lies on land from Fort Custer and from the VA Medical Center . The United States Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that as of September 30 , 1999 the cemetery had 11 , 955 total burials . During FY 1999 ( Oct 98 - Sept 99 ) there were 1 , 112 burials . The VA estimates Fort Custer National Cemetery has sufficient space to continue providing full casket gravesites beyond the year 2030 .