ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. - First Army held an Adjutant General summit April 12-13, with a goal of streamlining its human resources processes.
In opening remarks to the approximately 60 attendees, First Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, noted there has been a substantial reduction in personnel at the division level in the last two years. Because of this, brigade personnel now deal directly with First Army headquarters, as opposed to personnel at the division level.
Therefore, the summit was intended to be an opportunity for human resources Soldiers from First Army brigades to dialogue with their First Army headquarters counterparts on topics such as human resources policies and how to improve the flow of information across the organization. Staff Sgt. Stephanie Gonzales, First Army Headquarters human resources NCOIC, said the summit met that intent.
"It was good to meet the other Soldiers from across First Army, not just the ones who work here on Rock Island Arsenal," she said. It was a learning experience to talk with active duty human resource soldiers and learn their processes because it's completely different than how it's done in the Reserve."
Gonzales added that the summit provides momentum for going forward. "The summit was very well organized and informational," she said. "It was good to make contacts and exchange information. Being able to ask each other questions helps to ensure the process is streamlined."
Capt. Aaron Oder, a First Army Headquarters operations officer, said the summit gave him a clearer picture of how Operation Bold Shift impacted First Army human resources operations.
"It broadened my horizons and allowed me to see the big picture. I have a good understating of how this operates now that things have been moved around and restructured," he said.
He also gained a better understanding of how to aid Soldiers in their career progression. "There was some good information shared about how we can help Soldiers with their personnel development," he said. "They may approach us for guidance about areas such as schooling, promotions, and classes."
Social Sharing