American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono, is in the Middle East visiting American Samoan soldiers, some of whom may be asked to stay back for as long as 15 months.
The governor accepted an invitation to travel with representatives from Hawaii to Kuwait to visit the soldiers.
He says for the past two years, there has been a troop shortage which has resulted in many American Samoan soldiers in Bravo and Charlie companies having to serve in Iraq for 15 months instead of the standard one year.
The Bravo and Charlie companies are the two combat units of the American Samoa Army Reserves.
There are currently about 50 local reservists serving in the two units.
He said he is grateful for this opportunity because it will allow him to talk with the soldiers on many issues that they have raised.
