GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios are encouraging everyone in the Commonwealth to acknowledge and honor past and present service members of the armed forces for their service, sacrifices, and contributions to the nation and their fellow Americans.
On Tuesday, the two officials signed a proclamation designating May 15 as CNMI Armed Forces Day.
According to the proclamation, “for generations, the sons and daughters of the Marianas, arm in arm with the men and women across our nation, have boldly answered the call to serve with great pride and distinction in our nation’s armed forces. These soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, National Guard members, and Coast Guard men and women have endured many sacrifices to defend the freedoms that make our islands and nation what they are today.”
Families of service members were also recognized by the proclamation.
“Behind these brave service members are their families: spouses, children, and parents who, too, have had their share of sacrifices; from long deployments to relocation, adjusting to new neighborhoods and schools, having to make new friends, and sometimes putting their careers on hold,” the proclamation stated.
“Fighting for our freedoms came at a great cost with the ultimate sacrifice. Everyone in the Marianas now enjoys such freedoms that owe a lasting debt of gratitude to our armed forces,” it added.
Recruits
In an interview, CNMI Army Recruiting Center Staff Sgt. Michael Ryan said about 70% of Commonwealth applicants — “four to six individuals a month, about 40 applicants a year” — are usually accepted to the service.
Staff Sgt. Michael Ryan
“[Applicants] have to meet a certain standard and physical requirements,” Ryan said.
He said at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, they had to close their recruitment campaign for three months. “Then we opened for a couple of months before closing again.”
But he said the CNMI Army Recruitment Center is accepting applicants again.
“Since we were officially back up [the pandemic] has not been an issue; we just have to adjust our processes and we’ve been pretty successful,” Ryan said.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I Palacios pose for a photo with Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. Joseph Flores, other Commonwealth officials, servicemembers, including CNMI Army Recruitment Center’s Staff Sgt. Michael Ryan following the signing of the CNMI Armed Forces Day, Tuesday, in the governor’s conference room.
Photo by Bryan Manabat
