WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 5, 2004) – The two continental U.S. armies have mobilized, trained and deployed more than 200,000 Army Reserve and National Guard troops in support of the War on Terror, since Sept. 11, 2001.

First U.S. Army oversees the readiness of the Reserve and National Guard in 27 eastern states, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While Fifth U.S. Army oversees the 21 states west of the Mississippi.

First Army, headquartered at Fort Gillem, Ga., has mobilized more than 144,000 Army Reserve and National Guard troops in the past 29 months, said Lt. Col. Rob Saxon, First Army’s public affairs officer.

Fifth Army, headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has mobilized more than 104,000 reserve-component troops, said Lt. Col. Kirk D. Frady, Fifth Army’s public affairs officer.

Once Army Reserve or National Guard units mobilize, they fall under the operational command of the First Army or Fifth Army until they deploy to a theater of operations. The CONUSAs not only help mobilize troops, but also assist in demobilization.

When the Army Reserve and National Guard units leave their combatant commander in theater, they are again under control of the CONUSAs. First Army and Fifth Army handle the demobilization process.

“Since 9-11, Fifth Army demobilized 21,082 Soldiers,” Frady said.

“First Army demobilized 60,000 Soldiers,” Saxon said.

The post 9-11 Army has made the “role of CONUSA greater than ever,” said Col. George Beshenich, Fifth Army’s Deputy G-3, training.

“The main effort of our mission has shifted from training support to wartime footing, which is mobilization and post mobilization,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Clark, Fifth Army commander.

Saxon said the mission of the CONUSAs is unchanged. “Yet, the dynamics within have changed. Since 9-11 occurred we have seen more emphasis on our Department of Defense role in military support to civil authorities under homeland defense,” he said.

DoD is the lead agency for homeland defense, which is part of homeland security. The CONUSAs play two roles in homeland defense — national defense and civil support.

First and Fifth Army’s emergency operations centers have been running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since Sept. 11, 2001 for national defense purposes.

Under national defense, the CONUSAs mobilized reserve-component forces for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, the Balkans and Armored Falcon, which provides Army troops to various Air Force installations across the United States for base security.

In civil support, the CONUSAs are responsible for providing military support to civil authorities, Frady said. When necessary, they also staff and train a Joint Task Force.

The Joint Task Force is set-up in response to a major disaster resulting from a “catastrophic natural disaster” or a weapon of mass destruction, Frady said.

“Our role in civil support varies depending on the magnitude of the disaster,” Saxon said. “In the recent past, First Army activated a crisis action team after Hurricane Isabel.”

Frady said that Fifth Army also has provided military support to civil authorities in the recent past. “The most recent activity was supporting the wildland fire fighting in California. We are also currently preparing for a Joint Chiefs of Staff exercise led by Northern Command occurring in February 2004, which will include a major hurricane hitting the Texas coast at Corpus Christi,” he said.

In peacetime, First Army and Fifth Army support other vital missions.

Both provide support to the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army program. Civilian Aides are community members who serve as advisers and advocates for Army issues. They also explain Army programs to key leaders and the general public in their appointed state.

Fifth Army also has the mission of working with the Mexican Army and Air Force.

Currently, Fifth Army is establishing a “stronger relationship” with the Mexican Army and Air Force relating to disaster relief and humanitarian assistance issues, said Lt. Col. Paul Garrah, Fifth Army Mexican liaison officer.

"The CONUSAs play a vital role in the training and readiness of our reserve-component forces,” Frady said. “They prepare our reserve-component forces to deploy, fight and win our nation's wars.”

“Our bottom-line mission is to ensure that National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and units deploy with the proper equipment, Soldiers are trained for their mission and their families are taken care of,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph R. Inge, commander of First Army.