Reservists leaving on Sunday

CNMI reservists are set to leave Saipan on Sunday to attend a three-week training in Hawaii beginning July 12, in response to calls from the U.S. Department of Defense for immediate activation of Reserve forces in all states and territories.

House Rep. Ray Yumul informed the House leadership during a session yesterday of his being off-island from July 12 to Aug. 4 to participate in the annual U.S. Army Reserve training in Hawaii.

Yumul told the House that the training is an annual scheduled activity for all Reserves and normally takes three weeks to complete.

“After the training, all Reserves would return to their respective states,” he explained.

The training is a simulated combat training that goes through war games that were crafted based on the standards of the U.S Army.

Yumul filed his notice of leave with House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial during the session. He believes that after the annual combat training, it would be business as usual for all reservists.

Yumul is a member of the E Company, 100th Battalion of the 442nd Infantry Division

According to another reservist, though, who refused to be identified, this year’s training would be different from previous trainings that he had attended. With the alert already out to all reservists in the United States and its territories, this year is considered more difficult due to developments that may happen in the next few months.

“Yes, after the training we would be coming back until further official notice. There is the possibility that we would be deployed anytime soon. This is a standard training but we don’t know when we would be summoned again for actual combat,” said the reservist.

He disclosed that all 83 members of the CNMI Reserve unit would depart at the same time on Sunday for the three-week combat training. They are scheduled to return by August 3, depending on the current situation.

He added that experts on ammunitions and weapons, and qualified members of the U.S. Army who are experts in their own fields would handle the training.

CNMI reservists were called to active duty for possible deployment to either Iraq or Afghanistan last Sunday. This comes soon after the Pentagon announced last week the involuntary call-up of inactive personnel to reinforce depleted missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said the local Army Reserve has in fact been notified for such deployment. There are about 83 CNMI reservists, including 30 police officers, would be deployed beginning this week.

In Hawaii, the military announced that more than 75 percent of the state’s Army National Guard has been put on alert. News reports also indicated that American Samoa’s 600 personnel-out of 650-have received alert status.

As early as last year, U.S. military officials had cautioned of an exodus of active and reserve forces if the U.S. is unable to recruit international troops or prevent continued violence in Iraq.

Pentagon’s announcement last week was reportedly “the latest signs of the strain on the U.S. Armed Forces that has about 155,000 service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.”