First Army Division East was a division of the First United States Army. With its new role, the First Army developed two subordinate multi-component headquarters – one division to support the eastern United States and the other to support the western United States. First Army Division West was activated at Fort Carson, Colorado, and later moved to Fort Hood, Texas. First Army Division East was activated on 7 March 2007 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and later moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
First Army Division East was established by Department of the Army Permanent Order 156-7 to provide training and readiness oversight and mobilization operations for an area of responsibility spanning 27 states and territories east of the Mississippi River. First Army Division East is responsible for mobilizing, training, readiness oversight and deploying the United States' Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, and selected Sailors and Airmen along with members of multiple interagency and governmental entities.
First Army Division East was deactivated 8 July 2026 at Rock Island Arsenal.
Subordinate commands
The division is organized into five brigades located throughout the eastern United States with 52 total battalions.
4th "Saber" Cavalry Brigade – Fort Knox, Kentucky. Formerly the 85th Division's 4th Brigade. 157th "Spartan" Infantry Brigade – Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Formerly the 87th Division's 5th Brigade. 174th "Patriot" Infantry Brigade – Fort Dix (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst), New Jersey. Formerly the 78th Division's 2nd Brigade. 177th "Spear Head" Armored Brigade – Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Formerly the 87th Division's 3rd Brigade. 188th "Battle Ready" Infantry Brigade – Fort Stewart, Georgia. Formerly the 87th Division's 4th Brigade.
Garrisons Division East currently operates three mobilization training centers located at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Indiana; Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi; and the Fort Dix entity of Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Commanders MG Jay W. Hood, 2006–2008 BG Blake E. Williams, 2008 (interim) MG J. Michael Bednarek, 2008–2011 MG Kevin R. Wendel, 2011–2013 MG Jeffrey L. Bailey, 2013–2015 MG Brian J. McKiernan, 2015–2016 MG Todd B. McCaffrey, 2016–2018 MG Terrence J. McKenrick, 2018–2020 MG Mark H. Landes, 2020–2022 MG Brian M. Howay, 2022–2024 MG Michael J. Simmering, 2024–2025 MG Mark D. McCormack, 2025-2026
Decorations Ribbon Award Year OrdersArmy Meritorious Unit CommendationAfghanistan Retrograde 2021–2022Army Superior Unit Award2008–2011
External links Official Website
References
United States First Army Division East Headquarters, Public Affairs Office