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Babauta to report back as deputy commissioner?
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Posted on Feb 07 2006
CNMI Army Reserve commander Maj. Franklin Babauta will be reporting back to the Department of Public Safety next month. And he believes he is still the deputy commissioner for administration.
Babauta told the Saipan Tribune that he is still technically employed as DPS deputy commissioner for administration, as guaranteed by the law since he was deployed to Iraq.
Babauta said his contract with DPS as deputy commissioner will expire in August 2006.
Since he received an extension order from the 9th U.S. Army Regional Readiness Command, he said he still has 90 days to report back to DPS.
“As soon as I am done with my order, I will be going back [to DPS]. And we will work from there,” he said.
The DPS management has yet to clarify Babauta’s position in the department.
With respect to his reported new assignment in the U.S. Army, Babauta said his position as commander of the CNMI Army Reserve will be until mid-March and that his new task will be at the training section of the 9th U.S. Army Regional Support Command.
“ I will be doing the training for Saipan and Guam. …It’s pretty much all the units that are conducting trainings. I will be reviewing the trainings that they will be doing here,” he said.
Babauta said they would validate the trainings conducted to see if they meet the requirements; the results of the trainings will be sent to the battalion.
On the reported plan to send more Saipan and Guam troops to Iraq, Babauta said he would be assisting those who are going to be deployed.
“We will be referring their names to make sure we get all the paperwork done for the soldiers,” he said.
Babauta led the 143-man Echo Company, including 88 soldiers from the CNMI, during their one-year mission in Iraq.
According to 9th U.S. Army Regional Readiness Command commander Brig. Gen. John Ma on Sunday, more U.S. Army reserve members from CNMI and Guam will be deployed to Iraq this summer.
Ma also stated that that Babauta would be given another assignment.
