CNMI Troops-to-Teachers program catches DOD’s eye

The CNMI has caught the admiring eyes of the U.S. Department of Defense for its recently established “Troops-to-Teachers Program” as its officers and members graced DOD’s invitation in Pensacola, Florida.

Public School System education specialist Geri Lynn Willis, together with two former U.S. Army soldiers from the CNMI Fred Camacho and Roman Benavente, just came back from a five-day visit to the Department of Defense in Pensacola last week.

Willis told Saipan Tribune yesterday that their visit was prompted by the DOD officers’ admiration to the Troops-to-Teachers Program.

Willis said the CNMI was invited last month to visit the DOD’s Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Support, or DANTES, to share with the group the success of the local program. She added that the program is the first to be created for the returning U.S. soldiers to continue their education and at the same time become educators in the nation.

John R. Gantz, DOD’s very own chief to its newly formed Troops-to-Teachers program in Pensacola invited the CNMI group to learn more about the program.

He said, “I am particularly interested in establishing a positive working relationship with the CNMI initiative, also referred to as Troops-to-Teachers, to help Guard and Reserve personnel to earn baccalaureate degrees and begin careers as public school teachers,” Gantz said.

He added that the visit would make his group gain and understand further the various educational opportunities and programs available through DANTES, that it would be more valuable to help Guard and Reserve personnel to achieve their educational activities.

Willis said the DOD is not the only group that showed great interest in this program. She said the State of Hawaii and Guam also expressed admiration to the program.

“We [the CNMI] have at least 500 to 600 troop members returning from mission but when they go back, what can they do?” she asked.

More members

When the program started in April only four signed up—Camacho, Benavente, David Thornburgh, and John Babauta. Camacho and Benavente are both lending a hand at Koblerville Elementary School and San Vicente Elementary School as instructional aides.

After the four signed up, more participants followed. Willis said there are currently 15 troop members that have signed up and were trained for the program. She said the number of the returning soldiers and military personnel participating in the program would grow almost double next year to 25.

Willis said she is very proud of the outcome of the program, as it has inspired a federal office as well as Hawaii and Guam.

Willis said she is thankful for the support of the CNMI lawmakers, Rep. Cinta Kaipat in particular, for providing airfare for Camacho’s trip to Florida. She said she is proud of the representatives from the CNMI especially during their visit to Florida.

“They have done a fantastic job. I can see that they’re going go a long, long way,” she said, adding that her experience so far with the program has been very rewarding. “Something positive for the island,” she said.

Invitation

Willis said the program is again inviting the community especially returning soldiers to apply for the program. She said all interested qualified individuals have to do is to “obtain a non-certified application from PSS HRO, 3rd floor, Retirement Building to be returned to Claire Pangelinan at HRO.”

The application must have the following: copy of DD214 military form, copy of high school diploma/GED certification, original copies of any transcripts from colleges to be sent directly to PSS, HRO, PSS HRO with address: PO Box 501370, 3rd Floor, Retirement Fund Building, Capitol Hill, Saipan, MP 96950, Transcripts copies can temporarily be utilized until original arrives, one page essay on “Why I Want to be a teacher,” health clearance and a police clearance.
For further information contact Geri Willis, director of Troops-to-Teachers Program at 237-3293.