Military Profile Highlights

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Sergeant Paul M. Murphy

Office of Insular Affairs (August 19, 2008): Sgt. Murphy, 26, from Saipan, served in the US Army for four years starting in 2003. He was at Fort Benning, GA and was with the 3rd Ranger Battalion. Serving in the US Armed Forces was Murphy's childhood dream and he cherishes the most the friendships he made while in the military.

OIA Intern Earns Commission into the United States Army

Washington D.C. (August 18, 2008): Former OIA Intern, Randy P. Mendoza of the CNMI, was recently commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. 2LT Mendoza also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at George Mason University. OIA Staffer Randy Beffrey, a Reserve Army Officer, had the honor of administering the oath of office.

Mendoza was assisted by his sisters Raquel and Rhonda at his ROTC commissioning ceremony at George Mason University. Originally from Saipan, he is the son of Elizabeth & Alfredo Mendoza. His brother Ryan is currently serving in the Army in Iraq.

SGT. Cruz (standing), SPC. Quinata, SSG Barcinas and SPC Flores. Four Guam National Guardsmen pictured here in Afghanistan on a short break during construction work.

(August 2008): Sergeant Scott E. Cruz from Guam has deployed with the Guam National Guard to Afghanistan.
A group of about 180 Guam National Guardsmen have been deployed in Afghanistan since February 2008. They are the Alpha Company, 1-294th Infantry. Sgt. Cruz is married and has three children with his wife and an older son.

(May 2008): U.S. Army Sergeant Renster B. Joel, a human resources sergeant with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR – Nightstalkers) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky was named NCO of the Year in a special competition held at Fort Campbell on May 8, 2008. He and a fellow Nightstalker will be representing the 160th SOAR in the 2008 U.S. Army Special Operations Command NCO and Soldier of the Year Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sergeant Joel hails from the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. More PDF Format


Forward Operations Base (FOB) Chapman, Afghanistan 2005 - Major Tim Ohno, U.S. Army Special Forces.
Name:	Eutemio (Tim) R. Ohno
Age:	45
Hometown:	Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Rank:	Major (Retired), U.S. Army Special Forces
Assignment:	Assistant Professor of Military Science, Seattle University
Years in service:	1984-2005
Why did you join the U.S. Armed Forces?	For the challenge and opportunity.
What is your greatest experience being in the U.S. Armed Forces?	Traveling, making friends from all over the world, doing special missions.
Major (retired) Ohno intends to return to the FSM to continue encouraging the younger generation to always pursue their dreams and never stop learning. The future of all the islands and FSMers lie in the hands of the new generation. He says “we must always strive to set good examples and to show that even if you’re from a very small island, the limits of your accomplishments rest on your imagination and the effort you put in to make those dreams a reality.” Biography of Major (Retired) Tim Ohno

Specialist Stevick A. Edwin

USA and FSM flags Office of Insular Affairs (May 21, 2008): Specialist Edwin, 37, from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, enlisted in the U.S. Army to help pay for college and to see the world. He was in the military from 1988-1992. Edwin attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany and later in Utah. Mr. Edwin is an elected legislator in the Pohnpei State Legislature.

Master Chief Petty Officer Brandt S. Weilbacher

Office of Insular Affairs (May 13, 2008): MCPO Weilbacher, 41, from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, has served in the U.S. Navy since 1985. Weilbacher is currently onboard the Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71, out of Norfolk, VA. He is the Command Master Chief for the Commander Carrier Strike Group Two. Weilbacher first joined the U.S. Navy as a young man to travel and see the world. Among the many experiences he has had in the U.S. Navy, Weilbacher finds his most important experience to be mentoring young sailors. Weilbacher also met his wife, Maria, through the Navy.

Seaman Jesse Xavier Haglelfeg

Office of Insular Affairs (May 12, 2008) - SN Haglelfeg, 51, from Eauripik Island, Yap State, in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) was among the first FSM citizens (then the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. He was Active Duty from 1981 – 1985 and in the Reserves from 1985 –1987. Mr. Haglelfeg, a member of the Who’s Who among Junior College Students in America and Phi Theta Kappa, graduated from Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. He moved to Sonoma State University in California to continue his pre-med studies but was not able to pay for his education without the scholarship he was expecting from his home government. He decided then to serve in the military then use the educational benefits after his discharge to complete his degree in medicine. Mr. Haglelfeg is now the Chief Pharmacist in Yap State Hospital.

When he was in the military, Mr. Haglelfeg was stationed at the Keyport Torpedo Station in the State of Washington; Cherry Point Marine Air Station Hospital, North Carolina; and aboard the USS Forrestal CV- 59. He served as a Hospital Corpsman, Senior Seaman, and a Pharmacy Technician. The greatest values Mr. Haglelfeg got from serving in the military are discipline and the camaraderie he developed with friends in the military.

Specialist Patterson K. Shed

USA and FSM flags Office of Insular Affairs (May 6, 2008) - Specialist Shed, 38, born and raised in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, served in the U.S. Army for 8 years. He served an 8 month tour of both Operation Desert Shield and Storm in 1991 with the 5th Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment out of Fort Riley Kansas of the 1st Infantry Mechanized Division "Big Red One" fighting colors. Mr. Shed is the first son in his family to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. His grandfather was a Japanese national who served in the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces during the occupation of the Micronesian Islands.

Mr. Shed is married to Adleen Shed who was always supportive throughout his military career. They have three children. Their eldest son was born two weeks prior to Desert Storm and the second son was born while he was also away on duty.

Mr. Shed is now in Pohnpei where his military experience and discipline continues to be vital to his success in civilian life. He was elected Councilman to the Madolenihmw 7th Legislature and became the second Executive Director of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) in 2006. CSP is the premiere grassroots NGO founded by Pohnpeians to help preserve the natural heritage of Pohnpei for sustainable livelihood of Pohnpeians. The organization started with one staff in 1998 and has grown significantly to a staff of 20 outstanding young Pohnpeians and operating at over $500,000 annually. Some of CSP’s funding support comes from U.S. Federal agencies such as DOI, NOAA, US Fish and Wildlife, and non-profit and private foundations like National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Second Class Petty Officer Ronald Jack

Office of Insular Affairs (May 6, 2008) - PO2 Jack has served both in the U.S. Army and Navy. He was in the Army from 1989 to 1993. After the Army, he returned to his home island of Pohnpei and served in the Federated States of Micronesia National Police for three and half years then another three years as a teacher before joining the U.S. Navy in the year 2000. Jack is Personnel Specialist currently stationed in Bahrain. Through the U.S. Navy, he has traveled to Alaska, Canada, Mexico, all the Hawaiian Islands, Saipan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and several vacation areas in the Middle East. Once he returns to the states, Jack plans to finish up his degree in accounting.

Sergeant James Vance Babauta

Office of Insular Affairs (May 5, 2008) - Sgt. Babauta, 30, from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia joined the U.S. Armed Forces to find his true potential and what he is capable of doing. He enlisted from Pearl Harbor MEPS in Honolulu, Hawaii. His post is Fort Bragg, NC and he is assigned to Charlie Company, 4-73 RECON, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Sgt. Babauta earned a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Chaminade University.

Saipan Woman Graduates from Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland

Saipan Tribune (April 10, 2008) - On April 10, AB Nicole I. Cepeda joined the ranks of the world's greatest air, space and cyberspace force. Cepeda graduated from Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Cepeda, the daughter of David B. Cepeda and Janet Iglesias of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) , successfully completed the U.S. Air Force's rigorous and demanding training process.

Officially sworn in as an Airman in the Air Force, Cepeda joins hundreds of fellow soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard from the CNMI who enlist or currently serve at home and abroad in the nation's Armed Forces. Following graduation, Cepeda will continue on to technical training at Lackland and upon graduating will be deployed.

“I am very proud of AB Cepeda's strength and determination in successfully completing Air Force training. I have no doubt that she will continue to prove to be successful in her future military career,” said CNMI Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio. “We honor AB Cepeda's sense of patriotism and loyalty in helping to ensure the protection of our American values, principles, and way of life.”

She follows in the footsteps of her older brother, Senior Airman David I. Cepeda, Jr., who graduated in 2006 from BMT at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is now stationed at McCord Air Force Base in Washington State.

“I congratulate Mr. David Cepeda, Sr. and Janet Iglesias and all those parents who, over the years, are making great sacrifices in defense of freedom and democracy on behalf of our great country, the United States of America,” said Tenorio. (PR)

Captain Leuila S. Alaimaleata

Captain Leuila S. Alaimaleata Office of Insular Affairs (April 22, 2008) – Cpt. Alaimaleata, 37, is from Alofau, American Samoa. He is deployed to Q-West, Iraq from Fort Carson, Colorado. Cpt. Alaimaleata enlisted from Pago Pago and has served for 12 years. Cpt. Alaimaleata joined the U.S. Armed Forces to serve his country as well as to honor and provide a better life for his parents. Once enlisted, most Samoans have an allotment sent to take care of their parents, he said. Cpt. Alaimaleata's greatest experience in the military is leading the finest group of young men and women during war. It is seeing them grow up from being young boys and girls to mature men and women. It is seeing them at their worst and at their best.

Major Jason Palepoi Mauga

Office of Insular Affairs (April 17, 2008) – Major Mauga, 37, from Nu’uli, American Samoa, is part of the Counterdrug Task Force / 40th IBCT Fire Support Coordinator in California. He has served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 19 years. Mauga joined to fulfill his patriotic duties and to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the military. He was deployed to Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. Describing the experience, he writes, "It is not easy being a soldier. We do what less than one percent of our nation’s population dares to do. We serve our country out of a sense of patriotism, selfless service and sacrifice. Deployments challenge the very core of our character, virtue and moral fiber. We serve in honor of all those Samoan brothers and sisters who served before us."

Captain Vince Guerrero

Office of Insular Affairs (April 15, 2008) – Cpt. Guerrero, 31, from Dededo, Guam is the Commander for F Co 29th BSB, 29th IBCT. Guerrero saw the educational benefits provided by the U.S. Armed Forces and enlisted from Guam in 1999. Some of Guerrero’s memorable experiences in the military include jumping out of an airplane and fastroping.

First Sergeant Fitimalo Siaosi

First Sergeant Fitimalo Siaosi Office of Insular Affairs (April 14, 2008) – 1SG Siaosi, 42, from Vaitogi, American Samoa has been in the U.S. Army for 18 years. She enlisted to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a soldier. Her greatest experience in the military is having the ability to help, mentor, and make a difference in the lives of others. In December of 2007, Siaosi won the Army's First Sergeant of the Year award. According to The Pacific Daily News, she is only the third USAREC First Sergeant of the Year from Portland Battalion since the command began giving out the award in 1988. Siaosi is currently the Detachment Commander for the Guam Recruiting Detachment.