SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands – The National Guard serves in nearly every ZIP code—from the southern U.S. border to remote islands in the western Pacific. For some Guard members, geographic distance adds unique challenges in executing their mission.
Such is the case for those serving in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, the top enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Command Sgt. Maj. Celso Leonen, Guam National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader, visited Saipan April 3–4, 2025, to gain a firsthand look at how Guard members serve their nation and collaborate with joint partners to fulfill mission requirements.
“We’ve got more than 120 Army National Guard Soldiers on this small island, where sustaining readiness can be challenging,” Raines said. “I wanted to gain a better understanding of the unique issues these Guardsmen face—whether it’s the cost and logistics of traveling to drill or securing medical care for them and their families.”
Members of the 430,000-strong National Guard serve their state or territory under the command of the governor and, when federally activated, under the commander-in-chief.
However, U.S. territories like the Northern Mariana Islands do not maintain a separate state-level military force or National Guard due to their size. As a result, local residents who want to serve must enlist in the Guam National Guard. Guam is one of Saipan’s closest neighbors, but 130 miles of Pacific Ocean separate the two. Lodging and transportation can be difficult.
“The question we have to ask is, how can we support these men and women so their service is as effective and fulfilling as possible?” Raines asked. “And how can we help build readiness locally, so Guardsmen here don’t always need to travel back to Guam to meet requirements.”
Readiness remains a top priority for military leaders at every level. Although it was Raines’ first visit to Saipan, it marked the second time in five months that he and Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, traveled to the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our two priority theaters right now are the homeland—which includes the southern border, where U.S. Northern Command is the lead military organization—and the Indo-Pacific,” Raines said.
In addition to the southern border, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are also potential entry points for undocumented migrants. In recent months, law enforcement reports indicate illegal entry schemes involving Chinese nationals have resulted in multiple arrests.
“It’s our responsibility to understand these challenges and to be part of the solution,” Raines said. “To project peace through strength, we first have to be strong ourselves. That means developing strategies that offer the greatest deterrence if our citizens are ever threatened.”
Despite logistical hurdles, Guard members on Saipan are partnering with the U.S. Army Reserve—which has a base on the island—to improve readiness. During the visit, Raines and Leonen toured Saipan’s Department of Military Affairs and the U.S. Army Reserve armory, emphasizing the importance of sharing resources and working together.
“Being able to use these facilities is one step toward ensuring every service member has the tools they need for a rapid and efficient response,” Leonen said. “I expect all my NCOs to lead from the front by building partnerships with the local community and government. Our formations in Guam are unique, and through a collaborative approach, we strengthen collective resiliency, build capacity and increase our ability to respond when needed.”
Raines thanked Reserve members for supporting both the Guard and national defense efforts in Guam and the broader Marianas region.
“We’re a team of teams, including our sister services,” Raines said. “We never fight alone, so we can’t develop warfighting concepts in isolation. These partnerships help ensure we’re good stewards of taxpayer dollars—you can’t wait for war to figure out how to work together. And when resources are tight, we have to find every opportunity to partner up and share what we have.”
As part of a broader itinerary, Raines also accompanied Gen. Nordhaus to Guam and Hawaii, meeting with Guardsmen and commending their dedication despite challenges posed by distance.
“You hear a lot about the propensity to serve,” Raines said. “Well, look at places like Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa. The numbers of service members they provide to the U.S. military are some of the highest per capita.
“Offering opportunities to serve outside the active-duty environment, like the Guard or Reserve, is vital,” he said. “It means these individuals who want to wear a uniform don’t have to choose between a civilian career and military service—they can do both.”