‘More NMI reservists bound for Iraq’

More U.S. Army reserve troops from the CNMI and Guam will be deployed to Iraq this summer, according to 9th U.S. Army Regional Readiness Command commander Brig. Gen. John Ma yesterday.

Ma disclosed the U.S. Army’s plan to send more troops in his remark during a ceremony welcoming the members of Echo Company at Hyatt Regency Saipan.

Ma, in an interview with the Saipan Tribune, said their 657 area support group based in Hawaii has been preparing for another deployment to Iraq.

“They probably need to fill some other empty spaces and we may be looking at some soldiers from Guam or CNMI that have not been mobilized before or possibly those who may want to go back on a volunteer basis,” the commander said.

Those who had already served, he said, will not be “involuntarily asked to go.”

Ma said they are looking at 128 soldiers sometime this summer.

“Most of the unit personnel are in Hawaii, but there are some few spaces that we may have to fill that. We are looking at throughout the command in the Pacific Army Reserve whether it is in Alaska, in American Samoa, Guam, or CNMI,” he said.

In his speech, Ma commended the 143-man Echo Company, including 89 soldiers from the CNMI, for rising to the challenge and accomplishing each task “with outstanding results.”

“You have shown our country the important role of the Army Reserve today—one that complements, and not just supplement, our active Army. It is and will continue to be—one team; one fight!,” he said.

“All of you are now combat veterans and have been bestowed with a gift of insight and experience that few ever receive. We will need your experience and I hope you share it with our future leaders by staying with the team and making the Army Reserve even stronger,” said Ma, as he received loud applause from the soldiers and their family members and supporters.

The Echo Company was fielded in Iraq in Jan. 2005. On Jan. 1, 2006, the troop completed its duty and proceeded to Kuwait. On Jan. 3, the CNMI soldiers proceeded to Hawaii before coming back, in batches, to Saipan. Of the 89 CNMI troop members, two are still in Hawaii processing their papers for active duty.

Meanwhile, Ma also disclosed that Franklin R. Babauta, commander of the Echo Company, will be given another assignment.

The general explained that normally, a company commander is a captain, and now that Babauta is promoted to major, he will be given another assignment that is fitting to his new rank and experience.

“We will use his experience at a more challenging assignment. And we will keep another captain or a senior lieutenant to take over Echo Company,” he said.