KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Twenty-two Palauans and Yapese will undergo military training this year after they successfully passed the rigorous screening of the United States armed forces.
Last week, a Palau Community College student, Lance Wally, was sworn in by an enlisting officer of the U.S. Navy.
The 22 new recruits will undergo nine weeks of basic training at camps in the U.S.
Willy Pizarro of the Navy Recruiting Station on Guam said more recruiters will arrive in Palau this November to administer the aptitude test.
Every year, the Honolulu Military Entrance Processing Station administers the Arms Service Vocational Aptitude Battery Test to the citizens of the Freely Associated States—Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
If they obtain the qualifying score in the aptitude test, the new recruits will then undergo physical training.
The operations officer of the Military Entrance Processing Station, Capt. Sean Cotter, said the aptitude tests are given twice a year and those who achieved qualifying scores are invited to join the military.
Under their Compacts of Free Association with America, FAS citizens who are from 17 to 35 years old can join the U.S. military.
Palau, the Marshalls and the FSM are independent nations “freely associated” with the U.S. which they have to consult regarding their national defense and foreign relations. The Freely Associated States also provide access to the U.S. military.
In return, FAS citizens can freely migrate to the U.S. and its territories. They are also entitled to various federal grants, programs and assistance.
