The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning (1) the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs.(2) After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB).