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Further Reading

First US Army - Training Support XXI

First Army is transforming along with the Army, to support Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) and continue the mission to train, validate and deploy Reserve Component (RC) units. The Army is undergoing the most comprehensive transformation since World War II and in an era of persistent conflict the America's RC forces have transitioned from a strategic reserve to operational forces that mobilize as part of the ARFORGEN cycle for routine periods of employment and potential contingency operations. First Army's legacy training support strategy, organizational design and infrastructure were based on the Army's Training Support XXI mission, and were developed prior to the present realities of constant mobilization of RC forces. The training support was based on providing regional pre-mobilization training support to 16 Enhanced Separate Brigades and other Army National Guard and Reserve units.

Command authority for the Army National Guard in peacetime belongs to the governor of each state and is exercised through the state Adjutant General to subordinate commanders. First Army oversaw the training and monitored the mobilization readiness of Army National Guard units within its area of responsibility. Since the activation of the Army Reserve Command in October 1992, First Army no longer commands the Army Reserve units in its area of responsibility; however, it retains the mission of providing training assistance and training support for Reserve Component units in preparation for war and other missions. First Army has the additional missions of preparing to mobilize and deploy Reserve Component units, planning for the security and key assets protection of the eastern United States, and, on order, providing assistance to civilian authorities during peacetime crises. In 1995 all but two of the Continental United States Armies (CONUSA) were inactivated. First Army's area of responsibility include all states east of the Mississippi River, and Minnesota.

After World War II, First Army headquarters was located on Governor's Island, N.Y. In 1946, First Army was designated as one of six continental U.S. Armies responsible for supervising and training Army National Guard units, as well as commanding all installations in its area of control. First Army mobilized and deployed thousands of Soldiers during the Korean War and Vietnam. On January 1, 1966, First and Second Armies merged and First Army headquarters moved to Fort Meade, Md. In 1973, First Army transitioned from an Active Army oriented organization to one dedicated to improving the readiness of Reserve Components (RC). Once again, in 1983, another reorganization took place. Second U.S. Army was reactivated at Fort Gillem, GA, and assumed responsibility for Reserve Component matters in seven states and two territories formerly belonging to First Army.

In 1990, First Army trained, mobilized and deployed more than 41,000 Army RC Soldiers to Kuwait for the first Gulf War. In 1991, Fourth U.S. Army was deactivated and its seven mid-western states rejoined First Army. First Army left Fort Meade, Md., in 1995 and was reorganized at Fort Gillem, Ga., upon the deactivation of Second Army. First Army's area increased to include the eastern half of the United States and two territories. In 1991, Fourth U.S. Army was deactivated and its seven midwestern states became part of First Army. In 1995, First Army left Fort Meade, MD and was reorganized at Fort Gillem, GA.

Along with the training mission, First Army had a military support to civil authorities mission for many years. This meant that First Army planned for and provided personnel for Department of Defense support to domestic disasters ranging from hurricanes to floods to fires to terrorist attacks. In 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, First Army Defense coordinators and their cells provided DoD support during relief efforts. The years 2004 and 2005 marked not only the busiest training load for First Army, but also record hurricane seasons, culminating when Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coasts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

First Army commander, Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré was named Joint Task Force Katrina commander and First Army was given the mission to coordinate the command and control of all DoD assets for relief efforts. In all 72,000 active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members from all services responded to relief efforts on the Gulf Coast.

First Army gained the entire continental United States in its mission of mobilization, training and deployment of all Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers as part of the Army's transformation efforts in 2006. The military support to civil authorities role went to Fifth Army under U.S. Northern Command. Since 9/11, First Army trained almost 500,000 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen at its 10 Mobilization Training Centers spread throughout the United States.