Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo said he was pleased by the community’s backing.
“The support from local community and the leadership of the mayor has been very wonderful,” he said on Friday.
His visit with five other officials was part of an information campaign at the Marine Corps Permanent Contact Station on Saipan.
Yoo said local schools have been supportive of the program with 39 high school students already sworn in by the Marine Corps.
Flores said the program is very helpful to new graduates who want to serve their nation and pursue higher education.
“This is the best thing for Saipan because our economy is not good. Each year we have graduates that can be accommodated by the armed forces which will provide them assistance,” he said.
He said every time he visits high school he encourages students to join the Marine Corps.
The mayor told Yoo it would also be helpful to the island if Marines, like Navy sailors, regularly visit Saipan and join community activities.
In an interview, Yoo said “Saipan has a lot of the best and brightest,” adding that joining the Marine Corps is great opportunity for students to start a career and secure education benefits.
He said the biggest challenge in their recruitment is getting qualified applicants.
However, he added, interested CNMI students always strive to meet the Marine Corps standards.
“It’s very competitive right now. There’s limited number in this competitive program but there are opportunities in the Marine Corps,” he said.
Marines, Yoo added, consider Saipan as” holy ground” because of the 1944 battle that resulted in the deaths of many Marines.
