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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 01, 2010

Deadline for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Extended

The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to Dec. 3, 2010, allowing personnel more time to apply for the benefits they've earned.

To apply, or for more information on RSLSP, including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.

The deadline extension is included in the continuing resolution signed by President Obama yesterday, providing funding for federal government operations through Dec. 3.

"It's important that all those eligible for this benefit take the opportunity to apply for what they’ve earned," said Lernes Hebert, acting director, Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management. "We encourage those eligible to apply as soon as possible, to avoid the last minute rush, which can increase processing time."

RSLSP was established to compensate military members whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries are required to submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status. The original deadline for claims was Oct. 21, 2010.

When RSLSP began on Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts throughout the year. Efforts including direct mail, engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue throughout the period of eligibility.

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WRMC welcomes new Top NCO

By Sharon D. Ayala,
WRMC Public Affairs Officer

Command Sgt. Maj. Billy R. King relinquished his responsibilities as Command Sergeant Major of the Western Regional Medical Command to Command Sgt. Maj. Tuileama T. Nua, during a Change of Responsibility ceremony held last month at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The Aug. 19 event also culminated a 30-year distinguished military career for King who is set to retire early next year.

Maj. Gen. Philip Volpe, commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, welcomed the attendees and thanked them for being a part of such a special occasion. "Today is about honoring our traditions, and honoring the Soldiers and civilians of the Western Regional Medical Command as we transfer the responsibilities of our senior noncommissioned officer, our senior enlisted leader," Volpe said.

For the last three years, King served as the region's command sergeant major and senior enlisted advisor for a region encompassing 20-states. From 2007 to 2009, he was dual-hatted as the WRMC and Madigan Army Medical Center Command Sergeant Major. Volpe said that during that entire time, his advice and counsel were always on target. "When he spoke, it was from the knowledge and experience that he gained from a career as a seasoned Soldier, superior noncommissioned officer, and magnificent leader," Volpe said. Thank you for your noble service to our AMEDD, our Army and to our Nation."

Command Sgt. Maj. Nua comes to the Western Region following an assignment as the Pacific Regional Medical Command’s Command Sergeant Major, located in Hawaii. This will be his third time serving side-by-side with Volpe.

"I have had the privilege of serving with CSM Nua in Korea and at Fort Bragg, and I can tell you that he too is a Soldier's Soldier, and a leader of enormous character, energy, wisdom and passion," Volpe said.

During his remarks, King told Nua, "You now have the awesome responsibility to train, mentor, and motivate over 15,000 Soldiers and civilians that make up this great team."

A native of American Samoa, Nua joined the Army in 1977 and has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career. He said that he and wife, Anita, are both honored and privileged to serve with Maj. Gen. Volpe once again and they are honored to join Team Western Region.

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Announcement

Source: americansamoa.gov

Gov. Togiola congratulates Lt. Col. Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford on promotion to Colonel in U.S. Army

Fri, 08/27/2010

(UTULEI: Tuesday, August 24, 2010) - Governor Togiola Tulafono today issued the following statement congratulating Human Resources Director Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford for her promotion to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army:

"Mary, Lieutenant Governor Faoa and Mrs. Elisapeta Sunia join me in congratulating Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford on her promotion to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army.

God has blessed Evelyn with this honor as she has demonstrated the determination and the commitment that is necessary for success.

Evelyn is a source of pride for her entire family and for her island home of American Samoa. We join all of the Territory in congratulating Evelyn on this tremendous achievement for American Samoa as a people and as a government.

Colonel Vaitautolu-Langford, may you embrace this promotion with faith and due devotion in protecting and defending the freedom that American Samoa continues to enjoy daily. God bless you and congratulations."

Ongoing investigation into fradulent Special Forces status claim

January 28, 2010

There is an ongoing investigation of a soldier who claimed to have earned the coveted Green Berets, but did not earn it. Both sources expressed great disappointments on what this individual had done. Quoting one soldier, "We are still tracking this Special Forces "fake" North Carolina, National Guard SGM. He ain't getting away from us. I have all his data, his name, his National Guard unit and a high resolution photo of this moron wearing Special Forces patches, Tabs etc. He was recently run out of IRAQ due to his lies, we will catch him - His time is up! He is a Fraud, liar and scumbag."

I've withhold the names of my sources and the individual from this story.

PFC Daniel Maga Graduates Basic Training, Ft Jackson, SC
Tauapai Laupola

Private Fist Class (PFC), Daniel Maga, Finance Specialist (44C), graduated from Basic Training at the US Army Basic Combat Training Center of Excellence, Ft Jackson, South Carolina, Friday, 27 March 2009.

PFC Maga completed the first 9 weeks of Basic Training, where he was taught soldiering skills, and will continue for the next seven weeks of Advanced Individual training with classroom instruction in accounting techniques that dealt with accounting principles and procedures, preparation and maintenance of financial reports and budgets, statistical analyses in order to help interpret financial data, computation of pay and deductions.

As a finance specialist, 44C, PFC Maga’s duties and responsibilities consist of computing payroll and other allowances, auditing accounting records, preparing payments for Army personnel, recording details of financial transactions on accounting forms, auditing financial records and disbursing cash, checks, advance pay and bonds.

Immediately after the graduation, Mrs Mele Hunkin, SFC Pele Hunkin-Tajalle and SSG Sivailoa Uso-Macon hosted a luncheon for PFC Maga, Reverend Mana'omia Tauanuu and those who attended the graduation.

PFC Maga is the son of Moana Salaia Ailua Maga of Fagaitua. He is a 2004 Fagaitua High School graduate and a pianist for the Fagaitua, Congregational Christian Church, AS. When asked of his thoughts, PFC Maga thanked the Lord for his blessings, sent his love for his spiritual parents, Reverend Johnny & Pinto Fano, his mother Moana S. A. Maga and his families in Samoa for their prayers and support.

He also extend his heartfelt appreciation to Reverend Mana'omia Tauanuu and MAJ Laupola of the Ekalesia Kerisiano Amerika Samoa Ft Bragg & Fayetteville for taking that long trip to attend his graduation as well as his sponsored families at Ft Jackson,SC, SFC Pele Hunkin-Tajalle and SSG Sivailoa Uso-Macon. In a telecon with PFC Maga's mother, Moana Maga, she thanked Samoans at Ft Jackson, SC and Ft Bragg, NC for the love and support for her son and confirms her beliefs that there are Samoans in the military that look out for the interest of Samoan service members. Your outreach program has lifted a heavy burden since my son departed, "Thank-you for everything you are doing for the sons and daughters of Samoa."