U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular AffairsOver 500 NMI Resdients ServingBy Gemma Q. Casas MORE than 500 individuals CNMI are now serving in the U.S. military and their number continues to rise as the nation’s call for more men and women to enlist continues, according to the governor’s special assistant for military affairs, Maj. Edward Camacho. Camacho at the same time urged the 300 former "stateless" persons to consider serving their nation by enlisting in the military."My message to them is that citizenship is not just about new passports and traveling all over the world. U.S. citizenship also means obligations and responsibilities (to) their country," Camacho said.The former public safety commissioner said more members of the local community are enlisting as reservists despite the danger they may face once they are deployed in war zones."We thought that in the midst of these conflicts going on against terrorism, people were not going to join. But they are signing up, especially in little communities like the CNMI. (Their number is) growing, contrary to what’s happening in the United States where people are reluctant to join the service because of the things going on around the world. Our folks here are asking what they can do to join," Camacho said.The need for more military personnel has resulted in the expansion of the age range requirement for applicants. Previously, applicants had to be between 17 and 34 years old. Now it’s between 17 and 39.Alvin Borja, a senior student of Kagman High School, said he is scheduled to leave in June to train with the U.S. military. Borja, who has been with the JROTC since his freshman year, said it’s always been his dream to join the armed forces. Justin Santos, the battalion commander of KagHS, is also scheduled to leave in June for Fort Benning, Georgia. Santos hopes to pursue higher education through the help of the military’s scholarship program. "I’m excited," he said, adding that he’s prepared for the consequences of his choice, even if he’s sent to Iraq. |