7 Jul 2004

American Samoa's Government to call for staggered army mobilization to lessen impact

1:14 pm on 7 July 2004

American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono is to ask the US Department of Defense to stagger the mobilization of army reservists from the territory.

Two cabinet members quoted the governor as saying that having the two infantry units deployed at the same time would have a major impact on families, government and the community.

The governor indicated that if this were to happen American Samoa would be the only jurisdiction among states and territories facing a 100% mobilization.

Last Friday, two companies of about 200 soldiers were put on alert status for possible mobilization.

This follows an alert order last month for the remainder of the engineering unit which already has 40 members on duty in Iraq.