National Guard visit promotes local educational opportunities

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sergeant First Class Billy Faoa and his team from the Hawaii National Guard are in American Samoa again to recruit more local high school students who are interested in becoming National Guards and at the same time carry on with their education.

Samoa News caught up with Sgt. Faoa last Thursday during the Samoa Bowl High School All Star Football Draft, when his team presented gift packages to every player in the territory’s football teams.  

He said although they are based out of Hawaii, they’ve come to American Samoa to recruit, and to give opportunities to all high school students or anyone that wants a opportunity with the National Guard. 

Whereas they would help out wherever they can, as far as the uniform, or sports packages go.

“We are here just for advertising, like buying uniforms or doing whatever it is. If there is something that you want to do, just give us a call, that’s the reason why we brought all these” [referring to the gifts]. 

Sgt. Faoa said they want to help out the kids, community, and government and  to be here for them in any way they can. 

Asked if this would lead them into joining the army? 

“Yes, we have an active duty Army, the Marines, the Navy, we are just another branch of service, offering opportunities. 

“So what we do with our set up is more of an educational side, we are part- time service, but we have full time benefits.

“The difference is, you only work one week in a month with us, and the rest of the time you are going to school.

“We are paying for your education.

“A lot of families, they’d sit down with me and talk more about what we have to offer as well as benefits.”

As far as requirements, according to Sgt. Faoa, it is for the US Citizens or Nationals, as we have a program as long as you get in there, we start your citizenship. 

“As well, as long as you have a Green Card 155, Naturalization Certificate, [or are] a US Citizen, we can help you out.”

This initiative started about a year and half ago, when one of  Sgt. Faoa’s Commanders asked him about coming to Am Samoa for this mission. 

This is the ninth time he's been going to all the high schools, talking to all the classes, giving them the opportunities, and setting up an appointment with their parents.

“And if they want to process with us, we send them to Hawaii, to do the process, and come back to Samoa to wait for a day of training, and that’s been happening for about a year and a half.

As of today, they’ve successfully trained 35 soldiers from American Samoa, under this initiative.