Veterans to receive U.S. military benefits in the RMI

TOPICS:
Marshall Islands President David Kabua (middle) with Marshallese servicemen from the US Army Sergeant Major Lymman "Beta" Langijota (left) and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Anjain inside Parliament following the official opening session for Parliament on Monday 7 Aug, 2023.

Posted By: Hilary Hosia August 9, 2023

Hilary Hosia, reporter and writer for the Marshall Islands Journal of 10 years, freelance writer for news groups like Vice, The Guardian, CNN, Bloomberg, NY Times etc.

Marshallese veterans who served in the US Armed Forces will soon receive treatment and care in their home country, according to a statement by Marshall Islands President David Kabua during his state of the union address on Monday this week in the opening of the Parliament.

For years, Marshallese veterans who are eligible for health benefits from their time in service have find it difficult to get the care they deserve because they’ve relocated to their home islands in the Marshall Islands, where Veterans Affairs presence is nonexistence.

The issue has been a longtime topic of discussion among Marshallese veterans and government leaders.

To tackle the issue, veterans on Majuro have formed its own American Legion chapter called Post 22, which is compiled of local and expatriate veterans from various arms of the US military.

While Post 22 is in its development stages, it has garnered enough members to be eligible for VA benefits. This has prompted leaders in government to push for a local VA office in Majuro or its equivalence. 

Majuro Senator and retied US Army veteran Kalani Kaneko has been championing the effort for local veterans to receive needed care in their home island. Joining Senator Kalani is another retired US Army veteran Frederick Nysta, who holds a high position in the US Embassy in Majuro. The two and other veterans in the region have made developments with the formation of Post 22 and veterans’ presence in key government and community activities.

Part of the justification for having a VA headquarters in Majuro is the ongoing Compact of Free Association relationship between the US and Marshall Islands. This was a keynote supported by US Senator John Barrasso during the July Congressional hearing between the US Senate Committee of Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) and members of the three Compact of Freely Associated States, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands.

In the hearing, Senator Barrasso, a Republican Senator from Wyoming and ranking member of the ENR Committee said “I would also like to highlight the contribution of the citizens of the Freely Associated States to the US Armed Forces.” “They serve at high rates and with distinction. We owe them a debt of gratitude. I am pleased that the proposal that the Administration has sent us includes provisions that will ensure these veterans receive the care they have earned.”

Senator Barrasso was in favor of the renewal and continued relationship between the US and the three COFA nations. 

In the same hearing, US Chief Negotiator Joseph Yun confirmed development will be in place for veterans to receive care as part of the COFA negotiations.

Yun and a large delegation of US officials have visited the Marshall Islands in the past year to negotiate for a renewed compact agreements with the US and the three COFA nations.

As of this week, President David Kabua has publicly announced that Marshall Islands will join its neighboring nations of Palau and FSM in signing the amended Compact which will allow US to have unlimited access for its military in the combined Pacific regions.