THE Office of Veterans and Military Affairs wants to implement guidelines that will further improve the involvement of visiting U.S. servicemen in community activities.
According to Special Assistant for Veterans and Military Affairs Frank G. Cepeda, the guidelines are being prepared and will be presented to Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta for approval.
These, however, will not be “fixed guidelines,” Cepeda said.
“(What) we need is to have some guidelines for the military ships coming in. We need to know how we are going to receive them and how we are going to extend our hospitality to them,” Cepeda said.
The commonwealth should also “entertain” the visiting military personnel, he said. He cited the recent four-day visit of the USS Chancellorsville, which he said was “very successful.” Some of Chancellorsville’s crewmembers participated in the CNMI commemoration of Memorial Day.
“When they come over here, we will know what to do. We also need to give them briefing on what is going on, and we should give them information about community projects,” Cepeda added.
Secretary Babauta says he supports the guidelines being prepared by the Veterans and Military Affairs Office.
“Proper protocol and military procedures should be followed,” he said. “That is the best way we could coordinate with the military. As we all know, the schools have benefited from the assistance offered by visiting military personnel,” he added.
“That’s why I am strongly supporting and endorsing (Cepeda’s efforts). He is doing a great job,” the DCCA secretary added.
