Due to “legal issues”, American Samoa may not be able to have a National Guard unit attached to the Hawai’i National Guard, says Congressman Faleomavaega Eni following a meeting with two officials of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), which has commenced a federal feasibility study on the possibility of having National Guard units in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The required study is included in a provision of federal legislation signed into law last December and Faleomavaega had requested a meeting with NGB officials to discuss several issues dealing with the study.

Yesterday, the Congressman met at his Washington D.C. office with Brig. Gen. Timothy Wojtecki, Vice-Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment for NGB along with Col. Mike Mellor and Master Sgt. Bryan Rotherham - both of NGB.

During the meeting, the Congressman asked the federal officials to consider foremost the strategic importance of both American Samoa and CNMI, “especially since our military men and women serve our nation in record numbers,” according to a news release by Faleomavaega’s office. It also says that Wojtecki agreed that this would be a “top consideration.”

In the news release, Faleomavaega says other areas that are being reviewed during the study are force structure, demographics, what units would be best suited and if a National Guard unit can be sustained in American Samoa since the local government would have to participate in cost-sharing. 

“Also, there are many legal matters which must be addressed, including the need for lawyers to assess how National Guard legalities would fit with local law but I am confident we can resolve any issues that might be of concern,” he said.

Faleomavaega also said that one issue on which he and Wojtecki agreed and that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga also supports,  “is that due to legal issues American Samoa may not be able to have a guard unit function under the Hawaii National Guard because, unlike the [Army] Reserve, different rules govern the National Guard.”

(Lolo had informed Faleomavaega two months ago to do all possible to ensure that American Samoa has its own unit and not one attached to the Hawai’i National Guard, which was the Congressman’s earlier preference. The local Army Reserve is attached to the Hawai’i Reserve Unit.)

So if the study team recommends a unit for American Samoa and should DOD agree, Faleomavaega said the next step would be to include funding in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016, and after that “we could still be looking at three years out before we transition into a fully functioning National Guard.”

If American Samoa succeeds, then the governor would select an Adjutant General.  A Colonel would also be appointed to work directly with the commander of the NGB. The Colonel would oversee all federal funding, property, and equipment and would report directly to the NGB commander.

“In hopes that we can one day make this a reality, I also suggested, and the Brigadier General... agrees, that we should consider having a National Guard unit co-share the [Army] Reserve building, and the study team would review this option as cost sharing, to strengthen our case for establishing a National Guard presence in American Samoa,” he said.

Wojtecki informed Faleomavaega that the timeline for the study to be completed could be as early as September, or as late as November or December of this year, given that the NGB needs to coordinate with DOD, U.S. Army Reserve, and other federal agencies to make sure the study team has the most accurate information possible upon which to base its recommendation.

Faleomavaega said he and Wojtecki “firmly believe” the NGB and DOD must receive input from U.S. Retired Command Sergeant Major Iuniasolua Savusa, adding that input will be required from Savusa, since he is director of the local Department of Homeland Security.

“To alleviate any concern about his time commitment, I was assured in the meeting that the time commitment on Savusa’s part would be minimal, making it possible for him to devote all of his time and attention to his job as Director of Homeland Security while also contributing his unparalleled expertise to this historic study,” he said.

(Faleomavaega had written to DOD early this year recommending that Savusa be part of the study team, but Lolo had disagreed due to the director’s many other duties in ASG).

Faleomavaega says he looks forward to working closely with the governor to make sure that the study put forward by the team is as strong as possible in hopes that the recommendation from the NGB and the DOD will be for the establishment of a unit in American Samoa. 

He also says that he intends “to work hand in hand with Governor Lolo and our local leaders until we accomplish our goal.”