"British Army Welcomes First US General To Join The Ranks"

2015-09-07T10:52:59-04:00

From: Forces TV

A senior US Army officer has spoken of his pride at being the first American General to serve within a British Army division.

Brigadier General Mike Tarsa joins 3rd (UK) Division to become the formation’s first American Deputy Commander. The brand new post has been established as part of a plan to tighten relations between the British and US militaries.

Addressing the staff at a welcome ceremony at the Division’s Headquarters in Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, Brigadier General Tarsa said: “This is a distinct honour and I couldn’t be more delighted to be stood here abrest with you.

“I wear my nation’s uniform as a member of the US Army, but I now have the privilege to be part of the British Army and 3rd United Kingdom Division. I hope to serve both with great distinction and I’m proud to be stood here in your ranks.”

Brigadier General Tarsa is a highly-decorated artillery officer, having served on multiple tours of Iraq. He has held a number of senior appointments within the US military, most recently as the Acting Senior Commander of 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Colorado for which he was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit.

The General Officer Commanding 3rd (UK) Division, Major General Patrick Sanders, told the assembled troops: “We’re enormously privileged to welcome Mike to 3rd Division – the first deputy commander of any British Division, and our first American deputy commander.”

And he offered some practical advice to his new American colleague, adding: “We may use cricket analogies to explain ourselves, one hundred miles is a long way to us, banter is a sign of affection not disrespect, and don’t worry if you can’t always understand our regional accents.”

3rd (UK) Division has a rich heritage as the oldest fighting division in the British Army, earning its nickname ‘The Iron Division’ in the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War; The 3rd Division held the centre of the allied line during the Battle of Waterloo, and was the first division ashore at Normandy on D-Day. Today it commands the more than 16,000 troops forming the British Army’s high-readiness ‘Reaction Force’ from its HQ on Salisbury Plain.

http://forces.tv/43571924

British Army Welcomes First US General To Join The Ranks

A senior US Army officer has spoken of his pride at being the first American General to serve within a British Army division. Brigadier General Mike Tarsa joins 3rd (UK) Division to become the formation’s first American Deputy Commander. The brand new post has been established as part of a plan to tighten relations between the British and US militaries.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 7 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-09-07T10:53:29-04:00

Sweet!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-09-07T10:57:58-04:00

Nice article.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 7 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-09-07T10:58:19-04:00

Thanks for the article, RP staff is Great!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Sep 7 at 2015 11:16 AM

2015-09-07T11:16:56-04:00

Outstanding ... Congratulations General Mike Tarsa!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 7 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-09-07T11:18:34-04:00

Cool.

Response by LTC Gavin Heater made Sep 7 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-09-07T13:42:55-04:00

I was unaware this triumph was such a first. Perhaps because this takes place at Flag Rank. Seems like I recall seeing Allied Officers serve as Liaison Officers in American units. I thought some of them were in leadership roles. Perhaps not.

Response by SPC John Decker made Sep 7 at 2015 2:38 PM

2015-09-07T14:38:00-04:00

Are they planning on creating a joint military command. Maybe to circumvent Constitutional requirements? I'm not a conspiracy nut, but I do hear things that are not good.

Response by SFC Patrick Mahan made Sep 7 at 2015 3:04 PM

2015-09-07T15:04:10-04:00

a leg !

Response by SPC Robert Dembro made Sep 7 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-09-07T16:35:28-04:00

You gave it all to one and sought to find another in need and reached out and became part of another.... Good for you. A Veteran in need is one who cares.

Response by SFC Pete Meyer made Sep 7 at 2015 9:12 PM

2015-09-07T21:12:57-04:00

So did he join the British army?..

Response by SFC Pete Meyer made Sep 7 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-09-07T21:16:48-04:00

"IF" "IF" he joined the British army he would lose his citizenship.... So did he join?
And that it law...
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1481

8 U.S. Code § 1481 - Loss of nationality by native-born or naturalized citizen; voluntary action;...

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original a reference to this Act, meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jul 20 at 2021 1:50 PM

2021-07-20T13:50:54-04:00

Unless things have changed, a US brigadier general is not considered a general in the British Army. I saw that pointed out to a BG I worked for in Germany. Their first general rank is major general.