First Army

Ruhl&Ruhl Welcomes the First Army

First Army mobilizes, trains, validates, and deploys Reserve Component (RC) units IAW Combatant Commander, Department of the Army, and FORSCOM directives. And, as directed, provides training to Joint, Combined, and Active Army forces.        First Army Headquarters is located on Fort Gillem in Forest Park, Ga.  In addition to the headquarters, First Army consists of two divisions, 16 brigades, and 103 battalions. As a multi-component headquarters, the subordinate units are comprised of Active Duty and Reserve Component forces operating at 10 mobilization training centers (MTC) from coast to coast and from the Gulf Coast to the Canadian border. The MTCs are designed to replicate theater conditions as much as possible.

First Army Website Deployment Schedule First Relocation Town Hall

       America's FIRST numbered Army was formed during World War II in France on August 10, 1918 with General John J. ?Black Jack? Pershing commanding.  Gen. Pershing recognized that all components of the Army are essential, saying ?We no longer differentiate in an ultimate sense between Army, National Guard and Reserve Forces.  Every energy?is bent to the development of the Army of the United States.  Our purpose is to think only of the American citizen and to prepare him?for duties in war.?  

       His words resonate today, America is a nation at war and the entire Army; Active, Reserve, and National Guard are key and integral parts of the fight.  The First Army mission remains much the same as it was during those early formative years; to prepare our Soldiers to fight and win.

       Since September 11, First Army has mobilized 24,657 units and 530,675 Soldiers.  First Army trains three of every ten Warriors in theater.  At peak (2004-2005) First Army trained six of every ten Warriors in theater.  In fiscal year 2008, First Army numbered 85,154 personnel ? 2,105 units.  World wide deployments totaled 68,454 Soldiers, 16,700 Airmen and Sailors, 3,876 AC Detainee Ops and 1,500 Canadians.  First Army trained on more than 150 mission sets in support of Iraq; the Horn of Africa; Kosovo; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Afghanistan and the Sinai Peninsula.

       Today, the Army is undergoing the most comprehensive transformation since World War II and First Army is part of that transformation.  Transformed, First Army will be positioned to effectively mobilize, train, validate and deploy required forces while conserving considerable Army resources.  The first phase of First Army?s transformation is ongoing.

       Under Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC [2005]), First Army Headquarters is scheduled to relocate to Rock Island Arsenal, in the Quad Cities in 2011.