DAVENPORT, Iowa -- First Army is making the training of Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers more efficient and effective.
That's according to the unit's commanding general, Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, who spoke March 3 with the editorial board of the Quad-City Times.
After 13 years of training troops for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tucker said First Army is experiencing a "paradigm shift" from postmobilization training conducted a major military installations to premobilization training conducted at unit's home stations.
"If I can go out and reach out to you at your home station and help you better manage your training …. then, when I do mobilize you, the ramp is not as steep, and it's not as long," he said.
First Army continues to train and mobilize 10,000 Soldiers annually for deployments in the Horn of Africa, Kosovo, Egypt, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay and other worldwide locations, Tucker noted.
The change in First Army's training, focus come at a time of downsizing across the Army and Department of Defense.
"First Army has taken 139 civilian [staff] cuts among our two divisions at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Meade, Maryland, and the headquarters here in Rock Island (Illinois). We've decreased our staffing at the division level; however, the headquarters will gain 36 Soldiers," Tucker said.
First Army's structure is also changing; this year the unit is decreasing from 16 brigades to nine.
In January, First Army's 191st Infantry Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, cased its colors, and its personnel merged with those of the 189th Infantry Brigade, First Army's other brigade at JBLM.
In April, First Army's 158th Infantry Brigade at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, will case its colors, and its personnel will merge with those of the 177th Armored Brigade, First Army's other brigade at Camp Shelby.
Although the number of First Army brigades is decreasing, Tucker said the new brigades will be larger and more efficient and will receive direct assistance from First Army headquarters.
Tucker said he often meets with Congressional leaders in the Quad Cities and in Washington, D.C., and shares with them the importance not only First Army's mission, but also the Rock Island Arsenal's mission.
Tucker praised local residents for their support of service members and their Families.
"I'm impressed with the patriotism and goodness of the people of the Quad Cities area. It's just phenomenal," he said. "I'm very impressed with the local officials and the local people. You have great Americans in the QCA who give of themselves."
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