ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- First Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker welcomed Maj. Gen. Paul M. Benenati, as the unit's new deputy commanding general for support during a ceremony Friday.
Several local military and civic leaders including Moline (Ill.) Mayor Scott Raes, East Moline (Ill.) Mayor John Thodos, and Silvis (Ill.) Mayor Tom Conrad, along with First Army Soldiers and civilians, attended the event in First Army Headquarters. Six Civilians Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASAs) from four states also attended the ceremony.
"It is extremely important to gather together as a team to recognize the arrival and assumption of responsibilities of an incoming deputy commanding general to a three-star headquarters such as ours," said Tucker. "It is significant that the deputy commander for support in our organization is filled by an Army Reserve general officer. Not only is 51 percent of the Army manned by Reserve Component Soldiers, but more than 60 percent of First Army is manned by Army Reserve Soldiers."
Before joining First Army, Benenati served concurrently as the commanding general of 7th Civil Support Command and deputy commanding general of 21st Theater Sustainment Command at Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Tucker expressed confidence in the new deputy commander's leadership abilities.
"What a great honor and pleasure it is to welcome another outstanding warrior and patriot to the First Army command team and fill the vacated chair of our Reserve and logistics support subject matter expert with a talented leader and Soldier such as Maj. Gen. Paul Benenati."
Benenati said he shares Tucker's vision for a "total force" Army.
"I am a total believer in the Army Total Force Policy and Operation Bold Shift," Benenati said. "I believe in training together for everybody -- active component, Army Reserve and National Guard."
Benenati said that, after 13 years of combat, one could look inside any given Humvee and find, one active component Soldier, one Army Reserve Soldier and one National Guard Soldier -- a totally integrated fighting force.
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