Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard (left), and Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr., Commanding General of First Army (right) share a laugh during a discussion pertaining to the importance of the partnership between First Army and the Army National Guard. Jensen visited the First Army headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. on November 2, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office)
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard (left), and Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr., Commanding General of First Army (right) share a laugh during a discussion pertaining to the importance of the partnership between First Army and the Army National Guard. Jensen visited the First Army headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. on November 2, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Aaron Berogan) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Troy D. Galloway, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, First Army (left), and Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard (right), take questions from Army National Guard members. The two general officers spent time with the Army National Guard Soldiers at First Army’s headquarters on Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. to solidify the importance of the National Guard and First Army partnership. This visit, on November 2, 2020, was Jensen’s first headquarters visit since being named Director of the Army National Guard. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office)
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Troy D. Galloway, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, First Army (left), and Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard (right), take questions from Army National Guard members. The two general officers spent time with the Army National Guard Soldiers at First Army’s headquarters on Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. to solidify the importance of the National Guard and First Army partnership. This visit, on November 2, 2020, was Jensen’s first headquarters visit since being named Director of the Army National Guard. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Aaron Berogan) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard visited the First Army Headquarters on Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. November 2, 2020. The visit was a chance for the new Director of the Army National Guard to have a face-to-face with First Army leadership and develop strong communication going forward as the Army transitions to the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model, or ReARMM. ReARMM is a concept to transition the Army from counter-insurgency operations to great power competition with near-peer adversaries. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office)
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard visited the First Army Headquarters on Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. November 2, 2020. The visit was a chance for the new Director of the Army National Guard to have a face-to-face with First Army leadership and develop strong communication going forward as the Army transitions to the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model, or ReARMM. ReARMM is a concept to transition the Army from counter-insurgency operations to great power competition with near-peer adversaries. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Berogan, First Army Public Affairs Office) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Aaron Berogan) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, Director, Army National Guard, visited First Army Headquarters here on November 2, 2020.

Jensen and Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr., Commanding General of First Army, met face-to-face and opened the lines of communication about their Total Force partnership and training Army National Guard Soldiers for the duties of war.

“Since becoming the Director, I decided First Army had to be my first stop,” said Jensen. “First Army and the Army National Guard partnership is the key partnership to Army success.”

It has been said on several occasions by Forces Command’s Commanding General Gen. Michael X. Garret, that the Army could not win the nation’s wars without the support of the Reserve and National Guard, a sentiment echoed by James.

“The total Army is what we focus on,” said James. “We cannot compete with near-peer adversaries without our National Guard and Reserve partners. We are humbled to be a small part of that team.”

The partnership of First Army and the Army National Guard becomes even more important as the Army has put out its plans for the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model, or ReARMM. ReARMM is a concept to transition the Army from counter-insurgency operations to great power competition with near-peer adversaries. Overall the goal is to shift the Army to a multi-domain capable force, and Jensen believes that transition relies heavily on First Army and their National Guard and Reserve partners.

“I believe really good subordinate commanders solve any problems that arise for their bosses,” explained Jensen. “This is where our partnership shines. We can come in during this (transition) and identify where there are issues, challenges and obstacles, and make recommendations on solving those problems."

Maj. Gen. Troy D. Galloway, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, First Army, said this sort of transition just amplifies First Army’s role and highlights the importance of our partnerships.

“The strength of the leadership in First Army and the Army National Guard puts us in a position to build momentum,” said Galloway. “That momentum will forever change the Army and will be irreversible.”