OIA PRESS RELEASE

Samoan Siaosi Wins Us Army First Sergeant Of The Year Award

As reported in the Guam Pacific Daily News in December of 2007, the U.S. Army's Guam Recruiting Detachment Commander, 1st Sgt. Fitimalo Siaosi has won the Army's First Sergeant of the Year award.

The Pacific Daily News reports that she is only the third USAREC First Sergeant of the Year from Portland Battalion since the command began giving out the award in 1988.

"First, I am honored and very humbled to be named USAREC First Sergeant of the Year," said Siaosi. "There are, and have been, many great first sergeants in our command. Their efforts and mentorship are all part of the fiber that makes me who I am, but I feel the same as I did yesterday: proud to be here, proud to serve."

"If there were a secret to the detachment's success, it would be the combination of (hard work and enthusiasm)," she said. "Although hard work is a good quality, it is not enough -- you must have enthusiasm. Is it possible to perform at your best with anything but a whole-hearted effort? Of course not."

Fitimalo Siaosi hails from American Samoa. The Office of Insular Affairs very proudly recognizes the men and women of the insular areas who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.