Yumul gets 18-month deployment order to Iraq

Saipan Rep. and Army Reserve personnel Ray Yumul will be off for an 18-month deployment in Iraq following an order from Washington, D.C.

Yumul, 32, who is one of the 83 CNMI reservists who went on training in Honolulu last month, returned to the island Tuesday evening.

Other reservists are also back on island for a short break.

In an interview at his office at the House of Representatives yesterday, Yumul indicated that there is no turning back from his military duty.

“I have my deployment orders. I’m being mobilized for 18 months [for Iraq],” said Yumul.

He said he is “positive” about his training and the deployment issue in general.

“I’m positive about it. This is a soldier’s call to defend freedom not only for our people but others as well. I feel a sense of national pride,” he said.

Asked whether he needs to resign from the chamber, he said, he has yet to consult with concerned individuals including key government leaders as well as former associate justice Edward Manibusan, who is the designated Civilian Aid(e) to the Secretary of the Army in the CNMI.

He said he will also update House Speaker Benigno Fitial, who is currently off-island, about his situation.

Fitial, according to House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr., has mentioned that Yumul could choose to file for exemption from military duty given his legislative responsibility.

“The speaker has mentioned that there may be an exemption for him [Yumul] as a lawmaker. There are certain exemptions as long as you have valid reasons,” said Reyes Jr. while acknowledging that Yumul himself had no inclination from backing out from the military.

Yumul yesterday said the issue is not about giving up his legislative seat but “responding to an order” or call of duty.

“That’s an obligation I’m called to,” he said.

He added that his job as lawmaker was not a secret when he reported for training in Hawaii.

He noted that the Soldier Readiness Planning, which determines soldiers’ preparedness for deployment, has found him “deployable.”

Yumul said his family is supportive of him as well.

“My whole family is positive. Of course, they are concerned but they understand that it’s about [the] preservation of our nation’s way of life and it’s a fight against terrorism,” he said.

Yumul declined to give more details about the training and the CNMI unit, citing security reasons.

“We can’t make any comments except on a personal level. We can’t talk on behalf of the unit. That’s the Army policy,” he said.

CNMI Army Reserve commander Franklin Babauta was not available yesterday.