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Amata's Journal: AmSam’s major exports — Tuna, Soldiers and Football Players

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 7:44am | Category:
By
Aumua Amata

At a recent conference I lightheartedly told my audience that American Samoa's three major exports were canned tuna, soldiers and football players. All three of those commodities came into play on the fourth stop of my military base tour: Fort Stewart, GA. I would say that close behind those three items is a fourth export: churches.



Amata’s Journal: Samoans at Fort Bragg

Tue, 05/28/2013 - 9:41am | Category:
By
Aumua Amata

FORT BRAGG, NC. —  A five-hour drive southwest of Norfolk, the trip to Fort Bragg was one of the longest legs of our journey to nine military bases in the southeastern states. This is my third time to the fort, which is spread over four counties in North Carolina and is home to 40,000 people in an area five times the size of Tutuila.



Scanlan named Cadet of the Year

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 9:33am | Category:

PLU wins MacArthur Award
 
In a ceremony earlier this month, Jordan Riley Scanlan, a junior at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, Washington, was named the Cadet of the Year for the third year in a row. In addition, Scanlan was selected as the incoming Battallion Commander, which makes him the highest ranking cadet at PLU.
 



ASIAN-PACIFIC AM HERITAGE MONTH HAS REAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR PACIFIC SOLDIERS

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 11:00am | Category:
By
Charles Steitz, 10th Regional Support Group

OKINAWA, Japan - For those of us located in the Pacific Theater, Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month has particular significance as we witness examples of the 2013 theme, “Building Leadership: Embracing Cultural Values and Inclusion” which speaks volumes about their commitment to the United States and the U.S. Army.

For Sgt. Faafetia Taliulu, human resource specialist, 10th Regional Support Group, Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month holds significant meaning.



Amata’s Journal: Many Samoans in Norfolk area

Sat, 05/25/2013 - 10:39am | Category:

Rolling into Norfolk, VA after our visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, there was no question we were in a town dominated by the military. Naval facilities and other service buildings dotted the landscape and, of course, as we went over the many bridges that span the various waterways in the area that ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean, we could see warships of all sizes, including aircraft carriers in port.
 



FORT WAINWRIGHT TO CELEBRATE ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:58pm | Category:
By
Sgt. Michael Blalack

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — Fort Wainwright will celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month at a special event May 28 at 1:30 p.m. at the Physical Fitness Center.
 
American Samoa is also honored during the month, but since it has a population of approximately 60,000 people, it’s occasionally overlooked due to its comparatively small size.
 



AMATA’S JOURNAL: SFC SUSIE S. NU'UVALI-APINERU IS NCO OF THE YEAR

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 10:34am | Category:
By
Aumua Amata

Ever since President George W. Bush appointed me to his White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2001, I have accepted invitations to speak at various military bases celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM).
 



JB MDL CELEBRATES ASIAN-PACIFIC HERITAGE WITH TRADITION & CUISINE

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 8:58am | Category:
By
Pvt. Kathrin Forbes

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Bright leis of pink, yellow, green and blue draped the necks of service members attending the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration at Tommy B’s Community Center.

Soldiers and airmen replaced their uniform blouses for a more celebratory Hawaiian shirt to honor the occasion May 13. With island music and spicy scents, participants converged on a buffet of Asian and Pacific cuisine and cultural experiences.



Pe’a Polu Jr graduates as Warrant Officer

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 10:58am | Category:

Fa’afetai ile Atua Soifua I ana fa’amanuiaga ua mafai ai ona fa’ai’uina male manuia taumafaiga ale atali’I, tama, tuagane ia Pe’a Polu Jr. O le aso lenei ua fa’au’uina ai mai ana a’oa’oga ile a’oga (United States Army Engineer School) ma ua maua ai le fa’ailoga ole Warrant Officer.
 



412TH TEC SOLDIERS CELEBRATE ASIAN-PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH 'SAMOAN' STYLE

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 8:30am | Category:
By
Sgt. 1st Class Lyndon Miller, 412th Theater Engineer Command Public Affairs

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Soldiers of the 412th Theater Engineer Command kicked off commemoration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month by wearing Samoan lavalavas during their Friday morning physical fitness session May 3, 2013.
 
The Samoan lavalava is the principal garment for both sexes in Polynesia, especially in the Samoan Islands, notably (Western) Samoa, an independent country, and American Samoa, a U.S. territory located approximately 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii.