Authorities in the Northern Marianas says local reservists will be able to spend Christmas at home before they are sent to serve in Iraq.
The commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Edward Camacho, has told the Saipan Tribune newspaper that the soldiers have been granted a two-week leave over the Christmas period.
But Mr Camacho says the soldiers would have to foot the bill themselves for travelling home.
The reservists left Saipan in August for training in Hawaii with other components of the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade-including those from Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa.
They are now undergoing further training in Texas and the soldiers will start moving to Iraq in February.
